PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nico Rodriquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Givens
vs
Rodriquez

191 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raylan Givens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nico Rodriquez!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriquez tries to sprawl but Givens drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rodriquez tries to get to full guard but Givens has control of the leg.
Givens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Givens is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rodriquez sees it coming and defends easily.
Rodriquez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rodriquez trying to control the position.
Givens wants to pass the guard but Rodriquez is keeping the position.
Givens trying to control but Rodriquez is working from the bottom.
Givens is really struggling to control Rodriquez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rodriquez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rodriquez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Givens slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rodriquez looking to control.
Givens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Raylan Givens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Givens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez tries for a takedown but Givens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raylan Givens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Givens slams his shin into Rodriquez's torso.
Rodriquez looks gassed!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodriquez is defended easily by Givens.
Raylan Givens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nico Rodriquez.
Rodriquez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Givens moves in looking to clinch but Rodriquez pushes him off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Givens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Givens shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriquez sprawls well. He's pushed Givens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Givens lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Givens shoots in for a takedown but Rodriquez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriquez tries to clinch but Givens moves out of range.
Rodriquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Givens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriquez misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Givens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodriquez pinned against the cage. Rodriquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Givens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodriquez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Givens throws out the jab.
Givens looks to land a right hand but Rodriquez moved out of range.
Rodriquez misses with a takedown attempt - Givens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Givens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Givens looks for a takedown but Rodriquez sprawls well.
Rodriquez tries to clinch there but Givens circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Givens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Givens is working for a submission of some sort.
Givens stops Rodriquez from getting back to his feet.
Givens is keen to just control but Rodriquez is a slippery customer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriquez is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriquez is staying active underneath Givens, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Givens is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rodriquez is just riding it out for now. Givens eventually gives up the hold.
Givens passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rodriquez!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Givens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Givens fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriquez is looking to clinch but Givens is avoiding it.
Givens wants to clinch.
Rodriquez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Givens pushes Rodriquez away with a front kick.
Givens lands with a shot to the body.
Rodriquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Givens pinned against the cage. Givens gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens shoots in and drives through. Rodriquez sprawls well.
Rodriquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Raylan Givens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriquez is breathing heavily.
Rodriquez tries for a takedown but Givens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Givens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Givens fakes the leg kick and cracks Rodriquez in the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Givens sprawls well. Givens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodriquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodriquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Givens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Givens's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rodriquez under the eye.
Givens connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rodriquez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Givens is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Rodriquez.
Givens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Givens avoids the body shot from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez walks into a stiff left hand from Givens.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Givens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Givens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodriquez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Givens looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Givens throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The fight stays on the outside here - Givens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriquez throws a sloppy head kick and Givens moves out of range easily.
Givens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Givens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodriquez manages to avoid it.
Givens throws a hook but Rodriquez blocks it.
Givens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rodriquez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Givens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rodriquez.
Givens lands a head shot.

Givens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rodriquez quickly recovers to half guard.
Rodriquez is trying to stand up here but Givens is controlling him well.
Givens working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Givens seems to be looking for submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriquez wants to get back to full guard.

Givens is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rodriquez is refusing to be controlled, as Givens sits in half guard.
Rodriquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Givens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriquez tries to roll over but Givens keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Givens looks to land a right hand but Rodriquez moved out of range.
No luck for Givens with that takedown attempt.
Givens misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rodriquez throws a nice looking combination but Givens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Givens throws a head kick that misses
and Rodriquez counters with a head kick.
A punch combination from Rodriquez misses.
Rodriquez has his takedown stuffed
and Givens makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rodriquez really felt that one!

Givens tries to keep at a distance but Rodriquez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rodriquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriquez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Givens misses with a wild combination.
Givens throws a head kick but Rodriquez moves out of range.

Givens forces Rodriquez back against the cage and clinches.
Givens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Givens wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriquez won't allow it.
Givens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rodriquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Givens is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Givens jumps guard but Rodriquez stands there with Givens around his waist. Givens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriquez gets control of Givens's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rodriquez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Givens tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriquez is retaining full guard.
Givens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rodriquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriquez, not yet.
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Givens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Givens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Givens stands and throws Rodriquez's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens is looking to take a break and control but Rodriquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriquez is looking for a sweep.
Givens working the ground and pound.
Rodriquez is looking to regain half guard here but Givens keeps moving and retains side control.
Rodriquez can't do much from the bottom here.
Givens trying to control the position but Rodriquez is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Givens has an Americana. Rodriquez didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Givens is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Givens hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Raylan Givens!