PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Rodger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oscar Cardozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oscar Cardozo looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Rodger
vs
Cardozo

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Rodger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oscar Cardozo!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardozo lands a leg kick that knocks Rodger off balance momentarily.
Rodger tries to clinch up.
Rodger tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cardozo counters with a big head kick but Rodger shrugs it off.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown but Rodger shows good takedown defense.
Cardozo looks winded!
Rodger misses with a takedown attempt - Cardozo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cardozo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodger fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Rodger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cardozo circles away.
Cardozo shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodger manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cardozo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rodger swats away the attempt to clinch by Cardozo.
Rodger lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rodger.
Rodger defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cardozo.
Rodger misses with a takedown attempt - Cardozo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cardozo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rodger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cardozo as he avoids it easily.
Rodger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rodger tries to clinch but Cardozo moves out of range.

Rodger rushes Cardozo and presses him up against the cage.

Rodger decides to pull guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rodger will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodger wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rodger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cardozo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rodger working for a triangle but Cardozo defends it easily.
Cardozo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cardozo tries to stand but Rodger is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodger wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cardozo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodger's guard.
Rodger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cardozo manages to get himself to full guard.

Cardozo is working an open guard so Rodger takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodger shoots in and drives through. Cardozo sprawls well.
Rodger wants to clinch.
Cardozo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rodger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cardozo defends it nicely.
Cardozo dives in and grabs Rodger's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodger pushes down on Cardozo's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Cardozo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck for Cardozo with that takedown attempt.
Rodger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cardozo sprawls well. Cardozo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodger gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Rodger. No joy for Cardozo on that attempt.
Rodger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodger fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Rodger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardozo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodger shoots in and drives through. Cardozo sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rodger has closed the distance and engaged Cardozo in a clinch.

Rodger pulls guard effortlessly.
Cardozo throwing strikes but missing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodger holds on and takes a little breather.
Rodger tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cardozo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodger is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodger is proving hard to escape from.
Cardozo is fighting to break Rodger's control of his arms but Rodger is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Jeff Rodger has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rodger tries to bum rush Cardozo with a series of wild strikes but Cardozo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rodger stuffs the takedown attempt from Cardozo. Cardozo gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodger but Rodger pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodger shoots in for a takedown but Cardozo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cardozo misses with a takedown attempt - Rodger sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rodger shoots in looking for a takedown. Cardozo tries to sprawl out of it but Rodger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cardozo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodger looks for a takedown but Cardozo sprawls well.
Rodger shoots in and drives through. Cardozo sprawls well.
Cardozo digs a good body shot into Rodger's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodger tries to clinch there but Cardozo circles away.
Rodger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardozo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jeff Rodger is winning the standup battle so far.
Cardozo wants to clinch.
Cardozo shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodger shoots in for a takedown but Cardozo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodger as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Rodger dominated that second round.
That's time! Rodger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Rodger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodger fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rodger drives through and clinches with Cardozo against the cage.
Rodger tries to score a body lock takedown but Cardozo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rodger drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cardozo pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Rodger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Rodger with that takedown attempt.
Rodger avoids the body shot from Cardozo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo shoots for a takedown but Rodger saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodger is defended easily by Cardozo.

Cardozo rushes Rodger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rodger controlling the action here for a moment.
Cardozo misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodger is trying to push Cardozo away but Cardozo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Cardozo breaks from the clinch.
Rodger shoots in for a double leg but Cardozo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cardozo misses with a takedown attempt - Rodger sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cardozo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cardozo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodger sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cardozo somewhat.

Rodger darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodger missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodger throwing shots but Cardozo is blocking nicely.
Cardozo trying to control here.
Rodger with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cardozo is refusing to be controlled, as Rodger sits in half guard.

Cardozo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rodger pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodger works his way into side control.
Rodger just content to control the position.
Cardozo is pushing Rodger's head away, looking to escape. Rodger manages to hold on to the position though.

Rodger decides to take the fight back to the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Rodger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodger has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Rodger!