PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Wright (ranked 6395 p4p, 542 weight class) and Paulo Rodrigues (ranked 8139 p4p, 614 weight class). Ethan Wright has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wright
vs
Rodrigues

178 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethan Wright!
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, Paulo Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wright drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rodrigues trying to keep a closed guard but Wright is proving a slippery customer.
Rodrigues doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Wright stops Rodrigues from standing up.
Rodrigues looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Rodrigues manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Paulo Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wright displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rodrigues.
Wright throws a wild body kick that Rodrigues sees coming a mile off.
Wright will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rodrigues looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Wright looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rodrigues lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wright circles away quickly and effectively.
Rodrigues falls off balance throwing a combination

and Wright counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rodrigues!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodrigues takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Wright tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
A lull in the action here.
Wright scoring with punches from side control.

Wright tries for a kimura but Rodrigues is defending well.
Wright lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to escape but Wright is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rodrigues tries to bench press Wright off him but Wright keeps the position.
Rodrigues is letting Wright control him for a moment.
Rodrigues pushes Wright away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Wright gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wright moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rodrigues tries to buck Wright off but Wright is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues wants to control but Wright postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wright wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodrigues, who protects the arm well.
Rodrigues wants to control but Wright postures up.
Wright wants to stand but Rodrigues has his arm trapped.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wright looks to land a body kick but Rodrigues moved away.
Rodrigues is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rodrigues moves in looking to clinch but Wright pushes him off.
Rodrigues doesn't manage to clinch there - Wright circles away.
Rodrigues misses with a combination
and Wright counters with a series of strikes. Rodrigues will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rodrigues connects with the punch.

Wright darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues is trying to stand.
Wright is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rodrigues on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodrigues trying to control here.
Wright tries to stand and escape but Rodrigues is controlling the position.
Wright looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!

Wright is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rodrigues defends it well.
Wright content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Wright dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodrigues shoots for a takedown but Wright saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ethan Wright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodrigues.
Wright misses the shot to the body.

Wright shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rodrigues manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wright trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wright with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wright is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright wants to stand but Rodrigues has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wright is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Wright's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Wright has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rodrigues prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodrigues is trying to force a seperation but Wright has the dominant position.
Rodrigues fails to pull guard.
Ethan Wright has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Rodrigues.
Rodrigues is trying to pull guard but Wright turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rodrigues pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wright sprawls well. Wright wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodrigues gets slowly back to his feet.
Wright swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rodrigues throws a nice looking combination but Wright bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rodrigues rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wright moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rodrigues throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wright's waist but Wright gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodrigues off to one side.
Rodrigues is breathing heavily.
Rodrigues fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wright avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Wright darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodrigues is in trouble now - Wright has advanced to mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wright lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rodrigues hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to lock up and control but Wright gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wright in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rodrigues's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Wright tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wright seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rodrigues for as long as he can get away with.
Further stalling from Wright.
Wright has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wright working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright lands a big elbow.
Rodrigues is bucking up trying to escape but Wright cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Wright wants to control the pace but Rodrigues is squirming around nicely.
Wright avoids the attempt from Rodrigues to control.
Wright lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Wright connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Wright takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rodrigues is looking to get to half guard.
Rodrigues throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Wright dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Wright looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rodrigues!
Rodrigues is trying to control Wright's posture but Wright avoids it.
Rodrigues holds on to Wright's head and controls the position momentarily.
Rodrigues tries to buck Wright off but Wright is having none of it.
Wright tries to stand but Rodrigues is controlling his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright takes a little break here. Rodrigues wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping him busy.
Wright tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rodrigues struggling a bit here.
A lull in the action here as Wright stalls from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Wright shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rodrigues is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wright scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to get to full guard but Wright has control of the leg.
Wright performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rodrigues tries to kick Wright off but Wright keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wright is taking a breather. Rodrigues says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ethan Wright overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright wants to stand but Rodrigues has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Wright is keen to just control but Rodrigues is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wright tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wright swinging wildly here.
Wright dodges the punch combination from Rodrigues.
Wright jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wright fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodrigues avoids it really well and circles away.

Wright shoots in and gets a takedown into Rodrigues's guard.

Rodrigues pushes Wright off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rodrigues!
Rodrigues takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Wright forces Rodrigues back against the cage and clinches.
Rodrigues wants to break free but Wright has control.
Rodrigues is trying to force a seperation but Wright has the dominant position.
Rodrigues is looking to break free of the clinch but Wright has double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wright tries to pull guard but Rodrigues won't allow it.
Wright misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wright is trying to pull guard but Rodrigues has him pressed against the cage.
Paulo Rodrigues has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ethan Wright is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Wright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodrigues lands a left hand that snaps the head of Wright backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paulo Rodrigues.
I think Wright has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Wright!