PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Lavrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riccardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lavrov
vs
Rodriguez

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Lavrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riccardo Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavrov tries to clinch

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Lavrov didn't expect that.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Lavrov is keeping the position.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lavrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez stops Lavrov from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lavrov is fending him off so far but Rodriguez persists. Nope, Lavrov circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez moves out of range as Lavrov throws a body kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Lavrov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lavrov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rodriguez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lavrov!
Rodriguez controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez staying calm.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Lavrov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lavrov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rodriguez is controlling him well.
We've been informed that Rodriguez has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Riccardo Rodriguez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Lavrov doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.

Rodriguez darts in and clinches Lavrov up against the cage.
Rodriguez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lavrov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yuri Lavrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riccardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lavrov prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lavrov cracks the inside of Rodriguez's front leg.
Lavrov fails with a takedown attempt.
Lavrov tries to clinch up.
Lavrov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lavrov throws a shot to the body.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but Lavrov shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Lavrov stands there with Rodriguez around his waist. Rodriguez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Lavrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lavrov throws a right hand that Rodriguez ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodriguez also avoids with ease.
Lavrov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodriguez's waist but Rodriguez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lavrov off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Lavrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lavrov pinned against the cage. Lavrov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodriguez throws a body punch but Lavrov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lavrov swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lavrov!
Lavrov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rodriguez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rodriguez works to advance to full mount. Lavrov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lavrov is trying to stand up.
Lavrov prevents Rodriguez from taking his back.
Rodriguez looking to control but Lavrov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riccardo Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rodriguez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lavrov. Lavrov obviously looking to wear him down.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Yuri Lavrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lavrov counters with a nice uppercut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lavrov is defended easily by Rodriguez.
Lavrov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Lavrov.
Rodriguez slips a jab and a cross from Lavrov.
Lavrov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lavrov gets slowly back to his feet.

Rodriguez gets the takedown into side control.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lavrov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez trying to control the position but Lavrov is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lavrov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lavrov is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.

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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riccardo 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riccardo Rodriguez!