PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jamaal Boone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Boone
vs
Rhodes

192 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jamaal Boone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boone shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rhodes sprawls well. Rhodes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Boone gets slowly back to his feet.
Boone tries for a takedown but Rhodes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Rhodes.
Boone is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rhodes.

Rhodes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Boone swings wildly with an uppercut but Rhodes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhodes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

It looks like Jamaal Boone has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rhodes breaks from the clinch.
Boone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamaal Boone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Boone gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rhodes to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhodes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rhodes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boone working a defensive guard but Rhodes manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Boone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rhodes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Boone is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Boone avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rhodes.
Boone is not content to let Rhodes control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rhodes working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Let's hope that Rhodes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rhodes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rhodes passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Boone!

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.
Boone wants to control but Rhodes is having none of it.

Rhodes is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Boone can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rhodes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rhodes raining down hammerfists from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rhodes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Rhodes has hold of Boone's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Boone manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Rhodes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jamaal Boone's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Rhodes. No joy for Boone on that attempt.
Boone slaps away a takedown attempt from Rhodes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Boone throws a big counter combination but Rhodes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Rhodes misses with an attempted mid kick.
Boone is looking to counter the offense by Rhodes and move into the clinch.
Rhodes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Boone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rhodes pinned against the cage. Rhodes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Boone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rhodes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rhodes throws Boone to one side and escapes!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Rhodes. No joy for Boone on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamaal Boone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rhodes moves into the clinch.
Boone has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rhodes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rhodes is looking for a takedown.
Boone is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rhodes is defending well for now.

Rhodes has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Boone clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Boone looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boone is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Rhodes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boone just trying to survive but Rhodes is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rhodes lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rhodes's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Rhodes connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Boone to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhodes has the hooks in. Boone is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boone just trying to survive but Rhodes is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rick Rhodes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rhodes working for a choke but Boone is defending well.
Rhodes trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Boone doesn't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rhodes not allowing Boone to control his hands.

Rhodes is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Boone defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Boone looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rhodes.
Rhodes looking to hold on to the position here but Boone rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Boone managing to control the position.
Rhodes sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Rhodes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jamaal Boone's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rhodes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boone keeping control of the position.
Still in half guard, Rhodes seems content to control.

Rhodes wants to work for an arm triangle but Boone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rhodes passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boone is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boone wants to hold on but Rhodes pushes him away.
Boone really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rhodes landing strikes from the mount.
Boone tries to lock up and control but Rhodes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rhodes with a couple of short strikes.
Rhodes avoids the attempt from Boone to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes working Boone over with strikes here.

Boone is rocked!
Rhodes controlling from the full mount.
Rhodes tries to control but Boone wriggling away.
Rhodes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Boone haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Rhodes is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Boone has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Boone!
Rhodes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boone throws a strike but Rhodes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rhodes won't allow Boone to sweep him here.
Rhodes is pushing down on Boone's leg trying to pass to half guard. Boone is fighting to maintain full guard but Rhodes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rhodes slows the pace down in half guard.
Rhodes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boone is trying to control but Rhodes manages to pass to mount!
Boone tries to control the position but Rhodes now has his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Boone right now.
Rhodes connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Boone to escape the position.
Oh Boone is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rhodes has the hooks in. Boone is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. Rhodes passes his arm under Boone's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Boone taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rick Rhodes!