PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Irwin Rodriguez (ranked 23072 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Roger Leboulanger (ranked 5358 p4p, 0 weight class). Jean Roger Leboulanger will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rodriguez
vs
Roger Leboulanger

187 cm
27
346 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Irwin Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jean Roger Leboulanger!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Leboulanger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rodriguez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rodriguez has escaped and now he's on top!

Leboulanger wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodriguez works over Leboulanger with some ground and pound from guard.
Leboulanger trying to control the position.
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leboulanger wants to stand up but Rodriguez is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.
Rodriguez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Rodriguez stands up from Leboulanger's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rodriguez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leboulanger circles away.

Leboulanger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Leboulanger showed some decent athleticism there.

Rodriguez manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Leboulanger dives in and scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Leboulanger jumps into guard, dragging Rodriguez to the mat.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Leboulanger won't let him.

Rodriguez gets to his feet - Leboulanger follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leboulanger closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Leboulanger lands in his opponent's guard.

Rodriguez is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Leboulanger presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Leboulanger is trying to break the clinch but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.

Rodriguez pulls guard.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leboulanger controls the pace.
Leboulanger stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Leboulanger has passed into side control.

Leboulanger tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Leboulanger prevents Rodriguez from escaping the position.

Leboulanger decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Leboulanger looking to score a takedown here. Rodriguez is defending well but Leboulanger drives through and ends up in Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Leboulanger forces Rodriguez back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Leboulanger uses from the top position.
Leboulanger passes Rodriguez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Leboulanger working Rodriguez over with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leboulanger wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Leboulanger not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Leboulanger passes to full mount!

Leboulanger looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Leboulanger trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irwin Rodriguez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leboulanger has Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leboulanger walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Leboulanger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Leboulanger throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leboulanger ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Leboulanger no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rodriguez enables Leboulanger to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rodriguez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Leboulanger's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leboulanger scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Leboulanger throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Leboulanger is in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Leboulanger tries to pass.
Leboulanger preventing the sweep.
Leboulanger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Leboulanger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leboulanger sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rodriguez's guard.
Irwin Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodriguez moves into full guard.
Leboulanger wants to get up but he can't break Rodriguez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Leboulanger trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leboulanger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Leboulanger stacks Rodriguez on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Leboulanger!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leboulanger just content to control the position.
Leboulanger postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rodriguez is trying to get back to his feet.

Leboulanger tries for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leboulanger working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ground and pound from Leboulanger seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rodriguez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Leboulanger is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rodriguez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is pushing Leboulanger's head away, looking to escape. Leboulanger manages to hold on to the position though.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Leboulanger closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez wriggles free and stands up.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Leboulanger. No joy for Rodriguez on that attempt.
Leboulanger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodriguez throws a quick counter head kick but Leboulanger was just out of range.

Rodriguez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leboulanger to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Rodriguez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Leboulanger has Rodriguez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Leboulanger pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rodriguez tumbling to the mat - Leboulanger dives into Rodriguez's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Roger Leboulanger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Leboulanger changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rodriguez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
Leboulanger is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Rodriguez explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.

Leboulanger has Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez can't get the takedown.
Leboulanger has Rodriguez pushed against the cage.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Leboulanger turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Leboulanger breaks the clinch.

Leboulanger closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rodriguez throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Leboulanger misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leboulanger forces Rodriguez back against the cage and clinches.

Leboulanger manages to pull guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leboulanger thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Leboulanger wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.

Leboulanger working for submissions but it's allowed Rodriguez to get to half guard.
Rodriguez thows a huge punch but Leboulanger dodges it nicely.
Leboulanger looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leboulanger trying to control but Rodriguez postures up.

Rodriguez stands up from half guard.
Leboulanger throws a leg kick

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control.

Leboulanger explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Leboulanger has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.

Leboulanger gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Rodriguez pushes Leboulanger off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Leboulanger shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rodriguez's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rodriguez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leboulanger digs a right hand into Rodriguez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rodriguez's gas tank.

Rodriguez jumps guard and drags Leboulanger to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Leboulanger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leboulanger has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez's legs - danger averted.
Leboulanger slips nicely into half guard.
Rodriguez punching from the bottom.
Leboulanger slips a nice elbow through Rodriguez's hands, connecting with Rodriguez's forehead.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up here but Leboulanger is controlling him well.
Leboulanger looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up here but Leboulanger is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Irwin Rodriguez.
I think Rodriguez 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Irwin Rodriguez!