PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brad Opuss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conrad Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brad Opuss could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Conrad Rodriguez's chin.

Opuss
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brad Opuss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conrad Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt.
Opuss looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A punch lands to the side of Opuss 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Brad Opuss has been cut.
Opuss misses with a takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lands a couple of digs.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opuss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez 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.
Rodriguez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Opuss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Opuss is controlling from the bottom.
Rodriguez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Opuss is trying to keep Rodriguez in close.
Rodriguez trying to control but Opuss is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez is in close to Opuss's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Opuss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Opuss keeps moving.
Rodriguez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Opuss keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
Rodriguez is looking to work some ground and pound but Opuss has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opuss is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Opuss keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Opuss is trying to hold Rodriguez in close to prevent damage but Rodriguez has managed to pass into half guard.
Rodriguez lands strikes from half guard.
Rodriguez trying to mount his opponent but Opuss defends it.
Rodriguez not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
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. Rodriguez connects with a nice short shot to Opuss's temple.
Opuss is staying active underneath Rodriguez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez is working for a submission of some sort.
Opuss is looking to get back to full guard here but Rodriguez has managed to pass to side control instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conrad Rodriguez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brad Opuss's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Opuss.
Jab from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Opuss sprawls well initially but Rodriguez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Opuss is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriguez sits in half guard.
Rodriguez drops an elbow to the side of Opuss's head.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Opuss is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriguez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opuss is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Opuss blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is thwarting Opuss's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodriguez with a poor takedown

and Opuss counters with a single leg into guard. Rodriguez didn't expect that.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rodriguez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opuss trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Opuss stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Opuss sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Opuss accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opuss wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

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

Rodriguez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Opuss throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Opuss keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opuss is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodriguez won't allow Opuss to get back to his feet.

Opuss is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Opuss scores a takedown into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Conrad Rodriguez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Brad Opuss's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Opuss scores with the left hand. Rodriguez knows he should have avoided that one.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Opuss counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Opuss cracks Rodriguez with a solid left hand.
Opuss preventing the sweep.
Opuss slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Opuss's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opuss manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Opuss prevents Rodriguez from getting the reversal.
Opuss lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rodriguez reaches up and holds on to Opuss to control the position.
Rodriguez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opuss not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Opuss won't let him.
Opuss looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Opuss utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Opuss looking for a sweep. Not yet Opuss, not yet.
Opuss wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Opuss circles away easily

and Opuss counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to get back to full guard.
Opuss trying to control from Rodriguez's half guard. Rodriguez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Opuss stays in close to Rodriguez's body and controls the position.
Opuss trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriguez, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Opuss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodriguez 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

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