PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donald Cerrone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez has chosen Comprendes Mendez as his entrance music. Giovanni Rodriguez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cerrone
vs
Rodriguez

170 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donald Cerrone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Giovanni Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cerrone wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Cerrone shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cerrone.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cerrone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck for Cerrone with that takedown attempt.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cerrone tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cerrone moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cerrone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cerrone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
Cerrone is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a double jab.
Cerrone wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cerrone moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cerrone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez keeps the fight on the outside.
Cerrone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Cerrone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cerrone tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodriguez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cerrone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cerrone shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two 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 swats away the attempt to clinch by Cerrone.
Cerrone doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
Cerrone tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cerrone.
Cerrone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cerrone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cerrone tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cerrone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cerrone tries to clinch up.
Cerrone tries to clinch up.
Cerrone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cerrone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cerrone throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cerrone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cerrone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four 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.
Cerrone tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Cerrone is looking to clinch.
Cerrone shoots in but no luck this time.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cerrone wants to stand up but Rodriguez is controlling him.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cerrone tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Donald Cerrone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cerrone looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cerrone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cerrone won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cerrone wants to clinch but Rodriguez slips to the side

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Cerrone didn't expect that.

Rodriguez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodriguez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cerrone is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a leg! Cerrone is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cerrone manages to kick Rodriguez off! Rodriguez jumps back into Cerrone's guard.
Rodriguez slips nicely into half guard.

Rodriguez wants to work for an arm triangle but Cerrone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Cerrone has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cerrone tries to kick Rodriguez off but Rodriguez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cerrone is looking for a sweep. Rodriguez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura here.

Rodriguez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rodriguez stops Cerrone from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Cerrone didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodriguez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rodriguez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cerrone is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriguez, into his guard.

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cerrone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rodriguez has his foot on Cerrone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cerrone works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cerrone trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cerrone stands up and waves to Rodriguez to follow him.
Cerrone closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cerrone won't be happy with that.
Cerrone is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Rodriguez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rodriguez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cerrone rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rodriguez's guard! Nice work there by Cerrone!
Cerrone wants to stand but Rodriguez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Cerrone 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.

Rodriguez looking for a guillotine here but Cerrone defends easily.

Rodriguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Cerrone from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cerrone would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Cerrone tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily

and Rodriguez counters with a shoot takedown. Cerrone fights it but they end up in guard.

Rodriguez gets to his feet. Cerrone looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cerrone fails with the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Cerrone didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cerrone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cerrone with a poor takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rodriguez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Cerrone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cerrone, up you get!
Cerrone tries to clinch up
and Rodriguez counters with a series of strikes. Cerrone will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cerrone misses with a takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling the position.

Rodriguez stands and steps away. Cerrone gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cerrone scores with a head kick.
Cerrone clinches but Rodriguez breaks the clinch

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cerrone has his feet on Rodriguez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Donald Cerrone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cerrone tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Cerrone didn't expect that.
Rodriguez stops Cerrone from standing up.

Rodriguez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rodriguez counters with a shoot takedown. Cerrone fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.
Cerrone is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cerrone wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cerrone looks to clinch

so Rodriguez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Giovanni Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cerrone is on top in guard.

Rodriguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cerrone is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle but Cerrone pushes his legs off easily.
Cerrone is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cerrone wants to stand but Rodriguez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giovanni Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rodriguez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovanni Rodriguez!