PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Even Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bodies Hit the Floor. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rodriguez's choice of entrance music: Comprendes Mendez. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steven
vs
Rodriguez

169 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Even Steven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Giovanni Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steven tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Steven is looking to clinch but Rodriguez is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown by Steven or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodriguez which made him look bad.
Rodriguez misses with a double jab.

Steven scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Steven.
Rodriguez is not content to let Steven control the position.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Steven has control of the leg.
Steven trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Steven scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Steven.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steven fails with the takedown.
Steven shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl out of it but Steven keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Even Steven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steven swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two 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.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown
and Steven counters with a head kick.
Steven has a takedown stuffed.
Steven has a takedown stuffed.
Steven missing with a left hand there. Rodriguez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch but Steven is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rodriguez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Rodriguez tries for a kimura but Steven is defending well.

Rodriguez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steven, who protects the arm well.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Steven gets back to half guard.
Steven is in trouble now - Rodriguez has advanced to mount!
Steven is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Steven has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Steven sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steven defends it well.
Steven gets back to full guard.
Steven is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Even Steven dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick from Steven lands but Rodriguez takes it in his stride.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steven paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Steven closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Rodriguez pushes Steven off and gets back to his feet.

Steven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Steven lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Steven from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steven trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Steven is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rodriguez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Steven's back instead.

Rodriguez tightening his grip on Steven, looking for the choke.
Rodriguez is trying to stick to Steven's back but Steven is turning into Rodriguez. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rodriguez's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Steven.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steven wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Rodriguez wants to stand and escape but Steven is having none of it.

Rodriguez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Steven has passed into half guard!

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rodriguez tries to kick Steven off in order to stand up. Steven Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Steven drags him back down.
Rodriguez tries to bench press Steven off him but Steven keeps the position.
Steven controls the position.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet here but Steven is keeping cool and he's managed to take Rodriguez's back.
Rodriguez trying to get back to his feet but Steven is in full control for now.
Steven softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's four 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.
Rodriguez controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Steven connects with a big shot to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Rodriguez tries to roll but Steven sticks to his back.
Rodriguez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rodriguez is trying to stand up.

Steven is working for a guillotine from mount but Rodriguez frees his head quite easily.
Steven cracks Rodriguez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rodriguez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Rodriguez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Steven is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriguez, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Even Steven dominated that second round.
That's time! Steven's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

A head kick misses from Steven.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown

and Steven counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodriguez pulls his leg out and moves away.

Steven closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodriguez to the mat! Rodriguez manages to get full guard.
Steven looking to pass the guard.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Steven passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Steven pulls his head out easily.
Rodriguez tries to kick Steven off but Steven keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Steven wants to take a breather but Rodriguez is having none of it.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez gets full guard.

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle but Steven pushes his legs off easily.
Steven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Steven is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rodriguez.

Steven stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Steven tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily

and Rodriguez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Steven prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodriguez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Even Steven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Rodriguez.

Steven manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Steven is controlling Rodriguez's posture.

Steven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steven's guard.

Rodriguez stands up from Steven's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Steven throws a series of strikes that have Rodriguez backpedaling.

Steven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Giovanni Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Even Steven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but Steven blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Even Steven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steven has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Even Steven!