PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Travis Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Rodriguez (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.

Knight
vs
Rodriguez

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Travis Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Miguel Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Knight's waist but Knight gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodriguez off to one side.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
Knight showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.

Knight closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Knight wants to pass to mount but Rodriguez is defending the position.

Knight is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Knight looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
Rodriguez regains full guard. Nicely done.

Rodriguez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knight gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rodriguez wants to sweep but no luck.
Knight looking to pass the guard.
Knight preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez wants to stand and escape but Knight is having none of it.
Knight stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Knight is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Travis Knight has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Knight moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knight looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Knight.
Rodriguez is not content to let Knight control the position.

Knight decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez rushes Knight and presses him up against the cage.
Rodriguez scores with a shoulder strike.
Knight can't find room to land a body shot as Rodriguez controls the action.
Knight keeps control of Rodriguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knight is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Travis Knight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Rodriguez.
Knight tries to pull guard but Rodriguez holds him up against the cage and eventually Knight drops back down to his feet.
Rodriguez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Knight walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Knight dives in and scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Knight dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches up with Knight, looking for a takedown. Rodriguez pushes Knight against the cage but Knight circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Knight closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Knight getting side control.
Rodriguez tries to kick Knight off but Knight keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Knight throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight is keen to just control but Rodriguez is a slippery customer.

Knight is trying to work for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez is staying active underneath Knight, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Knight seems to be working for a kimura but Rodriguez defends the submission attempt.
Knight trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Knight keeps him under control.
Rodriguez is refusing to be controlled, as Knight sits in half guard.
Knight tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rodriguez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rodriguez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard but Knight passes into half guard.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rodriguez is in trouble now - Knight has advanced to mount!
Rodriguez can't escape the position.

Knight looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Knight trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Knight can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodriguez is looking to escape.
Travis Knight overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodriguez blocking the ground and pound.
Knight avoids the attempt from Rodriguez to control.
Knight looking to control but Rodriguez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.

Knight moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rodriguez has worked his arm free - good work by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez is not content to let Knight control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Knight dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Knight throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Knight connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Knight counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard here.
Knight forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Knight connects with a nice short shot to Rodriguez's temple.
Knight trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Knight not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Knight wants to work for an arm triangle but Rodriguez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Knight trying to control from half guard but Rodriguez is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez trying to control here.
Knight wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control but Knight postures up.
Rodriguez holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Knight stalling away here and it's allowed Rodriguez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard but Knight manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knight trying to control the position but Rodriguez is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rodriguez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Knight are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rodriguez gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Knight connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Knight tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Knight putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Knight trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Knight is really struggling to control Rodriguez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Knight showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Knight, 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Knight!