PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manu Ropati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ropati
vs
Rodriguez

169 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
146 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manu Ropati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Manuel Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ropati keeps the fight on the outside.

Ropati clinches up against the cage.
Rodriguez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ropati looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ropati tries to pull guard but Rodriguez holds him up against the cage and eventually Ropati drops back down to his feet.
Ropati is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown. No joy.

Ropati manages to break the clinch.

Ropati takes the fight into the clinch.
Ropati lands a nice elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ropati just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rodriguez's brow.
Rodriguez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rodriguez can't get the takedown.
A right hand to the body from Rodriguez.
Ropati tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rodriguez avoids it.
Rodriguez tries to break the clinch but Ropati is controlling the position.

Ropati escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ropati is defended easily by Rodriguez.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodriguez is defended easily by Ropati.
Manu Ropati has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ropati.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ropati swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ropati tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Ropati delivers a nice body kick.
Ropati keeps the fight on the outside.
Ropati scores with a spinning back kick!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriguez.

Ropati clinches with his opponent.
Ropati lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ropati tries to break the clinch but Rodriguez is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Ropati breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ropati tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ropati is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ropati is breathing heavily.

Rodriguez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ropati's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Rodriguez wants to control the pace but Ropati is squirming around nicely.
Ropati knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodriguez on the ground.
Ropati is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rodriguez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ropati is looking to escape.
Rodriguez working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ropati wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Rodriguez lands a big elbow.
Ropati wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Ropati on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ropati tries to get out of the position.

Rodriguez is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Rodriguez extends the arm and Ropati is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Manuel Rodriguez!
Manuel Rodriguez got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'