PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jericho Cane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RJ Rodgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cane kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Mustache: Double Nature. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cane
vs
Rodgers

170 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jericho Cane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, RJ Rodgers!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cane shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodgers sprawls well. He's pushed Cane's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cane shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodgers but Rodgers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cane shoots in for a double leg but Rodgers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jericho Cane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cane on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rodgers tries a head kick but it misses.

Rodgers clinches.
Rodgers blocks a body shot from Cane.

Rodgers jumps guard and drags Cane to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rodgers seems keen to control Cane's posture.
Cane wants to control from the top but Rodgers keeps moving.
Cane is breathing heavily.
Rodgers keeping full guard, as Cane tries to pass.
Rodgers wants to stand but Cane is controlling the position.
Rodgers looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cane thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rodgers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Rodgers.
Rodgers goes for a takedown attempt but Cane pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rodgers has managed to clinch.
Rodgers content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Rodgers breaks from the clinch.
Rodgers works over Cane's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rodgers slips a nice elbow through Cane's hands, connecting with Cane's forehead.
Rodgers wants to control but Cane is keeping him busy.
Cane tries to kick Rodgers off but Rodgers keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Rodgers seems content to control.

Cane is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rodgers pulls his head out easily.
Rodgers not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Well, if Rodgers is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Cane actively working from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rodgers rushes Cane and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers landing knees to the body.
Rodgers content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Rodgers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rodgers drives through and clinches with Cane against the cage.
Cane fails to pull guard.

Rodgers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cane gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rodgers decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cane's guard.
Rodgers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rodgers wants to control from the top but Cane keeps moving.
Cane is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers stands and throws Cane's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rodgers trying to control the action but Cane is working from the bottom.
Check out the look on Rodgers's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Rodgers decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cane to his feet.
Rodgers throws a combination. Cane tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cane takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cane takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodgers shoots in but no luck this time.
Cane misses with a takedown
and Rodgers counters with a three punch combo that has Cane backing up. Cane nods at Rodgers to acknowledge the strikes.

Rodgers shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodgers showed some decent athleticism there.

Rodgers decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Rodgers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cane gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rodgers moves into the clinch.

Rodgers breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodgers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cane looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cane is not content to let Rodgers control the position.
Cane manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rodgers's best efforts.
Cane wants to improve his position but Rodgers is controlling well.

Cane actively working from the bottom here.

Cane actively working from the bottom here.
Rodgers trying to control the action but Cane is working from the bottom.
Cane tries to get to full guard but Rodgers has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cane looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cane shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodgers counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cane thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jericho Cane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodgers throws a head kick that Cane semi-blocks.

Rodgers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rodgers wants to control but Cane is keeping busy.
Rodgers is trying to stand up here but Cane is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers tries to roll over but Cane keeps him under control.
Cane landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodgers is refusing to be controlled, as Cane sits in half guard.

Cane wants to work for an arm triangle but Rodgers is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rodgers is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Cane shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Rodgers to counter with a crisp jab.
Cane shoots and misses
and Rodgers counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Cane gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cane tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodgers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rodgers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cane is on top in guard.
Cane trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodgers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodgers lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cane!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RJ Rodgers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Cane fails with the takedown
and Rodgers counters with a leg kick.

Rodgers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rodgers tries to pass to full mount but Cane defends it.
Rodgers moves nicely into side control.
Cane tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rodgers is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cane is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rodgers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cane keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane is looking for a sweep.
Cane gets back to half guard.
Cane tries to roll over but Rodgers keeps him under control.
RJ Rodgers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cane slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Cane working for a triangle but Rodgers defends it easily.
Cane has a closed guard, preventing Rodgers from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cane is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cane is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodgers looking to control.
Cane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rodgers throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cane passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rodgers is trying to control Cane's posture but Cane avoids it.

Cane tries for a kimura but Rodgers is defending well.
Rodgers is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cane is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rodgers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rodgers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cane. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodgers sneaks back into half guard.

Cane is looking for a kimura here.
Cane is keen to just control but Rodgers is a slippery customer.
Cane wants to pass the guard but Rodgers is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rodgers is looking to escape.

Rodgers manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Cane misses with a takedown

and Rodgers counters by clinching up.
Rodgers gets underhooks to prevent Cane's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jericho Cane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodgers landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Rodgers gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rodgers postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cane to stand up.
Cane shoots and misses

and Rodgers moves into the clinch.
Rodgers lands a nice knee to the body.

Rodgers manages to pull guard.
Jericho Cane has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cane chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
RJ Rodgers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rodgers has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... RJ Rodgers!