PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Hayl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Hayl will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rodrigo
vs
Hayl

180 cm
26
220 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

192 cm
24
207 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jose Rodrigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Hayl!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Hayl bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Rodrigo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hayl napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hayl is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rodrigo off and has taken his back!
Hayl is striking well from the back but Rodrigo escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Hayl is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Rodrigo as he works his way to full guard.

Rodrigo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hayl off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigo gets a takedown into half guard.
Hayl is looking to improve his position.
Rodrigo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hayl's head.
Hayl is trying to get back to full guard.
Rodrigo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rodrigo trying to mount his opponent but Hayl defends it.
Rodrigo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hayl keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hayl is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodrigo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rodrigo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rodrigo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rodrigo winds up and cracks Hayl with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Rodrigo there.
Hayl taking some punishment here, with Rodrigo in his half guard.
Rodrigo working the head and body with strikes.
Rodrigo 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.
Rodrigo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hayl trying to control but Rodrigo postures up.
Rodrigo is nestled in close to Hayl, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hayl is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rodrigo is nestled in close to Hayl, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rodrigo drops an elbow to the side of Hayl's head.
Hayl is trying to maintain the position but Rodrigo is very close to passing his half guard.
Ground and pound from Rodrigo.
Hayl taking some punishment here, with Rodrigo in his half guard.

Rodrigo decides to return to a standing position.

Rodrigo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hayl quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodrigo thows a huge punch but Hayl dodges it nicely.
Hayl is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodrigo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rodrigo working the head and body with strikes.

Rodrigo stands up and beckons Hayl to join him on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo wants to clinch up but Hayl keeps it at a distance.

Rodrigo forces Hayl back against the ropes and clinches.
Hayl is looking to control Rodrigo's arms but Rodrigo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hayl has his back to the ropes.

Rodrigo has clasped his hands together around Hayl's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hayl tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodrigo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo working the body and head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Hayl's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hayl takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rodrigo looks up at the clock and then as Hayl takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rodrigo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rodrigo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Rodrigo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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!

Rodrigo drives through and clinches with Hayl against the ropes.
Hayl is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hayl tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodrigo just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Hayl wants to stall.
Hayl tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodrigo smiles and moves away.
Jose Rodrigo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Hayl.

Rodrigo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hayl has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rodrigo is working away from the top position though.
Ground and pound from Rodrigo.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hayl manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rodrigo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hayl's head.
Rodrigo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hayl has momentary wrist control but Rodrigo slips an elbow through the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodrigo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rodrigo scoring with punches to the head and body.

Hayl looking for a guillotine here but Rodrigo defends easily.
Rodrigo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo lands a couple of elbows.
Rodrigo landing some decent shots from guard.

Hayl is rocked!
Rodrigo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hayl is still in real trouble! Can Rodrigo finish him?
Rodrigo arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Hayl's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jose Rodrigo!
A victorious Jose Rodrigo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.