PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Rodwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Santos Kazashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roger Rodwell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rodwell
vs
Santos Kazashi

185 cm
20
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger Rodwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Santos Kazashi!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos Kazashi leaves Rodwell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Santos Kazashi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Rodwell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodwell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Santos Kazashi.
Rodwell fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Rodwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodwell misses with a head kick.
Rodwell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santos Kazashi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodwell.
Santos Kazashi looks to land a combination but Rodwell avoids it well.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Santos Kazashi enables Rodwell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Santos Kazashi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rodwell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Santos Kazashi keeping moving, preventing Rodwell from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodwell throws a big right hand that misses.

Rodwell stands and steps away. Santos Kazashi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rodwell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Santos Kazashi shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodwell tries to sprawl out of it but Santos Kazashi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rodwell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Santos Kazashi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rodwell looks to land a combination. Santos Kazashi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rodwell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodwell tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodwell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rodwell gets a double leg takedown into Santos Kazashi's guard.
Rodwell throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodwell wants to pass the guard but Santos Kazashi is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodwell is stalling in the full guard.
Santos Kazashi wants to get back to his feet but Rodwell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rodwell is stalling in the full guard.
Rodwell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roger Rodwell wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rodwell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Santos Kazashi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodwell manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Santos Kazashi on his heels. He'll look to pass Santos Kazashi's guard now, I'm sure.

Rodwell stands up from Santos Kazashi's guard - Rodwell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rodwell checks a low kick from Santos Kazashi.

Rodwell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Rodwell looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos Kazashi is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Rodwell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rodwell manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Santos Kazashi on his heels. He'll look to pass Santos Kazashi's guard now, I'm sure.
Rodwell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rodwell wants to pass the guard but Santos Kazashi is keeping the position.
Rodwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos Kazashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodwell is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Santos Kazashi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Santos Kazashi is breathing heavily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roger Rodwell wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rodwell clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodwell decides to pull guard.
Santos Kazashi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Rodwell is looking for a triangle but Santos Kazashi pushes his legs off easily.
Rodwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rodwell is looking for a triangle but Santos Kazashi pushes his legs off easily.
Santos Kazashi is looking to stand up but Rodwell won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodwell wants to sweep here but Santos Kazashi controlling him for the moment.
Santos Kazashi wanted to stand there but Rodwell had control of the position.

Rodwell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santos Kazashi defends well.
Rodwell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos Kazashi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rodwell throws a push kick but Santos Kazashi slaps the foot to one side.
Santos Kazashi throws an off balance right hand
and Rodwell counters with a stiff right hand.
Michael Santos Kazashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos Kazashi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santos Kazashi closes the distance but Rodwell moves to the side
and Rodwell counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodwell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodwell dives in and grabs Santos Kazashi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Santos Kazashi pushes down on Rodwell's head and hops out.

Santos Kazashi rushes Rodwell and presses him up against the cage.
Rodwell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Santos Kazashi pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi keeping moving, preventing Rodwell from controlling successfully.
Rodwell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos Kazashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodwell trying to control but Santos Kazashi is working from the bottom.
Santos Kazashi wants to stand and escape but Rodwell is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roger Rodwell wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Santos Kazashi does no damage.
Santos Kazashi keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Rodwell dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos Kazashi misses with a body shot

and Rodwell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Santos Kazashi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rodwell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Santos Kazashi keeping full guard, as Rodwell tries to pass.
Rodwell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santos Kazashi wants to stand but Rodwell is controlling the position.
Rodwell trying to control but Santos Kazashi is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi keeping full guard, as Rodwell tries to pass.
Rodwell won't allow Santos Kazashi to get back to his feet.
Rodwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos Kazashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Roger Rodwell.
Rodwell closes the distance and clinches up with Santos Kazashi, looking for a takedown. Rodwell pushes Santos Kazashi against the cage but Santos Kazashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rodwell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos Kazashi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodwell somewhat.
Rodwell looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodwell moves in looking to clinch but Santos Kazashi pushes him off.
Santos Kazashi tries to clinch up but Rodwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Roger Rodwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodwell tries to land a front kick but Santos Kazashi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Santos Kazashi blocks a head kick by Rodwell.

Santos Kazashi moves into the clinch successfully.

Rodwell jumps into guard, dragging Santos Kazashi to the mat.
Rodwell trying to strike off his back.
Santos Kazashi preventing the sweep.
Santos Kazashi throwing strikes from guard but Rodwell blocks nicely.
Rodwell tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodwell pulls Santos Kazashi in close to his closed guard and prevents Santos Kazashi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rodwell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos Kazashi on the ground.
Rodwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rodwell has his foot on Santos Kazashi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Santos Kazashi works his way back into a safe position though.
Santos Kazashi wanted to stand there but Rodwell had control of the position.
Santos Kazashi won't allow Rodwell to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodwell keeping full guard, as Santos Kazashi tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodwell holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rodwell slips under a jab from Santos Kazashi.
Rodwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santos Kazashi as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Rodwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodwell looks to land a combination. Santos Kazashi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Michael Santos Kazashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santos Kazashi lands with a good body shot.
Rodwell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos Kazashi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodwell somewhat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santos Kazashi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Rodwell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodwell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Rodwell!