PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Felix Rodrigo (ranked 5005 p4p, 216 weight class) and Freddie Zamora (ranked 2722 p4p, 129 weight class). Freddie Zamora will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rodrigo
vs
Zamora

169 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

158 cm
20
142 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good low kicks
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Felix Rodrigo !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Freddie Zamora!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zamora in his tracks.
Rodrigo throws a body punch but Zamora moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Rodrigo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rodrigo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zamora will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zamora misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rodrigo tries to clinch there but Zamora circles away.

Rodrigo rushes Zamora and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodrigo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zamora misses with a body punch.
Rodrigo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rodrigo lands with a short shot to the head.
Zamora is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zamora swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodrigo uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zamora goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodrigo prevents it.
Rodrigo throws a head punch that misses.
Zamora is trying to break free.
Rodrigo lands with a light punch inside.
Rodrigo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodrigo tries to work over Zamora's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Zamora fails to land.
Zamora is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zamora changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodrigo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Felix Rodrigo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Freddie Zamora.
A head kick misses from Zamora.
Rodrigo moves to clinch but Zamora breaks away
and Zamora counters with a thumping low kick.
Rodrigo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rodrigo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zamora buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Rodrigo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zamora blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodrigo .
Rodrigo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rodrigo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodrigo misses with a punch on the inside.
Zamora misses with a hook to the ribs.

Zamora jumps into guard, dragging Rodrigo to the mat.
Rodrigo is working Zamora over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Zamora is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rodrigo pulls his head out easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zamora is trying to maintain the position but Rodrigo is very close to passing his half guard.
Zamora wants to get back to full guard.

Rodrigo is looking for a kimura but Zamora is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rodrigo to get the leverage.
Zamora works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rodrigo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zamora swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodrigo won't allow Zamora to sweep him here.
Zamora looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rodrigo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo lands strikes from half guard.

Zamora looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Rodrigo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zamora wants to improve his position but Rodrigo is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zamora is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rodrigo is pressing down on Zamora's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zamora is holding on for now.

Zamora looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zamora actively working from the bottom here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rodrigo is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Zamora is rocked!
Zamora is looking to get to half guard.
Zamora is still in real trouble! Can Rodrigo finish him?
We've been hearing good reports from Rodrigo 's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rodrigo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rodrigo controlling the position easily from mount.
Rodrigo postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Zamora in real trouble here! The ref calls for Zamora to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Felix Rodrigo !
After winning the bout, Felix Rodrigo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.