PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rob Koi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koi comes to the cage accompanied by Cross Out the Eyes. 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.

Koi
vs
Rodriguez

178 cm
19
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rob Koi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Al Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Koi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Koi showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodriguez is looking to escape.
Rodriguez is refusing to be controlled, as Koi sits in half guard.
Koi wants to free his trapped foot but Rodriguez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rodriguez is staying active underneath Koi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rodriguez kicks off Koi and gets to his feet.
Koi throws a head kick that half lands.
Koi fails with the takedown.
Koi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up.
Koi has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Koi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodriguez drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koi wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Koi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Koi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rodriguez's guard.
Koi stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Koi tries to pass.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koi is controlling him.
Koi is breathing heavily.

Rodriguez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Koi shoots and misses

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Koi!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Koi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Koi wants to hold on but Rodriguez pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez is working for a guillotine from mount but Koi frees his head quite easily.
Koi wants to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Koi tries to hold on but Rodriguez pushes him away.
Rodriguez breaks from Koi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Koi tries to buck Rodriguez off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez prevents Koi from getting the reversal.
Koi taking shots to the head.
Koi tries to hold on but Rodriguez postures up.

Rodriguez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Koi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Koi and Rodriguez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Koi is looking for a sweep.
Koi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Rodriguez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Koi misses with a takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koi tries to buck Rodriguez off but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Koi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Koi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rodriguez's best efforts.
Koi wants to get back to full guard.
Koi wants to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Koi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Koi shoots and misses

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Koi didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez distracts Koi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rodriguez shoots for a double leg takedown but Koi sprawls well. He's pushed Rodriguez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Koi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Koi's guard.
Koi controls Rodriguez momentarily but Rodriguez frees himself.

Koi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rodriguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Al Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rodriguez stands up from Koi's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Koi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Koi is controlling him.
Koi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rodriguez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodriguez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koi circles away.
Rob Koi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Al Rodriguez.
Koi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch.
Koi has had enough of the clinch but Rodriguez keeps him there for the moment.

Rodriguez has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Koi regains guard immediately.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koi wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.

Koi is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Koi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rodriguez counters with a nice body shot.

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez tries to stand but Koi is controlling from the bottom.
Koi wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Rodriguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Koi kicks Rodriguez off and gets to his feet.

Rodriguez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Koi tries to escape but Rodriguez is in control.
Koi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rodriguez lands strikes from half guard.
Koi regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Koi is controlling his posture from full guard.

Rodriguez stands up from Koi's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koi misses with a takedown attempt

so Rodriguez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Rodriguez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Koi's guard.
Rodriguez stops Koi from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Koi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Koi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Koi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Koi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control.
Koi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Rodriguez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Koi shoots and misses

and Rodriguez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koi has momentary wrist control but Rodriguez slips an elbow through the middle.

Rodriguez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Koi misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Koi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Rodriguez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koi has his takedown stuffed

and Rodriguez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rodriguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Koi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Koi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Koi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rodriguez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Koi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rodriguez's back instead.
Koi throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Rodriguez avoids the strikes from Koi.
Rodriguez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rodriguez punching to the body and holding on for dear life.
Rodriguez squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Koi's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Koi misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Rodriguez is looking to improve his position but Koi isn't that keen on the idea.
Koi won't let Rodriguez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Koi scoring with strikes but Rodriguez is staying in there.
Rodriguez tries to buck Koi off but he can't manage it.
Rodriguez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Koi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodriguez is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Koi is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Rodriguez is in real trouble.
Rodriguez rolls, trying to escape but Koi keeps control of the position.
Will Koi go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Koi not allowing Rodriguez to control his hands.
Koi is looking to control Rodriguez but Rodriguez is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Rodriguez is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

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.
Rodriguez trying to get back to his feet but Koi is in full control for now.
Koi thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Rodriguez is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Koi gets his way!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koi trying to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight for Al Rodriguez!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Al Rodriguez!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Al Rodriguez!

Al Rodriguez wins by unanimous decision!