PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Felix Rodrigo (ranked 4836 p4p, 418 weight class) and Uriah Barnes (ranked 4668 p4p, 408 weight class). Barnes is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bring Me The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart. Felix Rodrigo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Uriah Barnes's chin.

Rodrigo
vs
Barnes

169 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
140 lbs
10 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Felix Rodrigo !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uriah Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodrigo rushes Barnes and presses him up against the cage.
Barnes wants to break the clinch but can't.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes tests Rodrigo 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barnes throws a good cross that connects.
Barnes tests Rodrigo 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes connects with a crisp jab.
Rodrigo keeps the fight on the outside.
No joy there for Barnes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've been hearing reports that Rodrigo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rodrigo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rodrigo throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodrigo shoots in for a double leg but Barnes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodrigo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barnes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rodrigo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Barnes enables Rodrigo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Barnes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but Rodrigo is having none of it.
Rodrigo wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.
Rodrigo won't allow Barnes to get back to his feet.
Rodrigo distracts Barnes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rodrigo wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but Rodrigo is having none of it.
Rodrigo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rodrigo wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Rodrigo from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodrigo passes Barnes's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rodrigo is trying to control. Barnes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rodrigo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rodrigo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rodrigo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodrigo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barnes keeps working.

Rodrigo seems to be working for a kimura but Barnes defends the submission attempt.

Barnes makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Barnes was covering up waiting for the punch and Rodrigo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rodrigo trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigo slips nicely into half guard.

Rodrigo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barnes is just riding it out for now. Rodrigo eventually gives up the hold.
Barnes is looking to escape.

Rodrigo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to stand back up but Rodrigo is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigo is keen to just control but Barnes is a slippery customer.

Rodrigo is working for a submission of some sort.
Barnes is looking to escape.
Rodrigo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Barnes has one foot on Rodrigo 's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Barnes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A lazy body kick from Barnes

and Rodrigo counters with a shoot takedown. Barnes fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodrigo is controlling him.
Rodrigo works over Barnes with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Uriah Barnes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnes throws a hook to the side of Rodrigo 's head but Rodrigo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barnes jabs Rodrigo right on the nose. Rodrigo blinks but takes it well.
Barnes throws a series of strikes that have Rodrigo backpedaling.
Barnes cracks Rodrigo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches.
Rodrigo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Rodrigo is controlling him.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Rodrigo is controlling him.
Barnes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barnes gets underhooks to prevent Rodrigo 's takedown attempt.
Rodrigo tries to pull guard but Barnes won't allow it.
Rodrigo is trying to pull guard but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Rodrigo . That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes tries to break free but Rodrigo pushes him back against the cage.

Rodrigo jumps into guard, dragging Barnes to the mat.

Barnes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodrigo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnes has managed to get both his arms back between Rodrigo 's legs - danger averted.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.

Rodrigo is looking for a triangle but Barnes pushes his legs off easily.
Barnes wants to stand but Rodrigo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Barnes won't allow Rodrigo to sweep him here.

Rodrigo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barnes defends well.

Barnes stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodrigo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barnes finds it's way round the side to connect with Rodrigo 's head.
Uriah Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barnes throws a good cross that connects.
Barnes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rodrigo on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigo clinches up against the cage.
Rodrigo is trying to pull guard but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Rodrigo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rodrigo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Barnes with a nice cross.
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!
Rodrigo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barnes lands with a shot to the body.
Rodrigo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Rodrigo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Rodrigo from controlling successfully.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodrigo tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnes is retaining full guard.
Rodrigo wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet but Rodrigo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Felix Rodrigo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodrigo with a nice head shot there.
Rodrigo lands a couple of elbows.
Rodrigo prevents Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Rodrigo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Rodrigo from controlling successfully.
Rodrigo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rodrigo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Barnes takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigo is working to tighten his grip on Barnes's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Barnes has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Rodrigo is really squeezing tight and eventually Barnes passes out! Rodrigo breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Felix Rodrigo !
Felix Rodrigo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.