PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edmond Chabazian (ranked 2420 p4p, 1621 weight class) and Frankie Rodriguez (ranked 323 p4p, 228 weight class). Frankie Rodriguez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Chabazian
vs
Rodriguez

184 cm
28
184
9 - 6 - 0

183 cm
28
170
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Edmond Chabazian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Rodriguez !
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Chabazian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rodriguez controls Chabazian momentarily but Chabazian frees himself.
Chabazian pushes down on Rodriguez 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez is looking to control Chabazian's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodriguez avoid being mounted?
Chabazian thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodriguez 's head.
Chabazian not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chabazian takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Chabazian is working for a submission of some sort.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chabazian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Chabazian is trying to work for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chabazian wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rodriguez is in trouble now - Chabazian has advanced to mount!
Chabazian 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.
Chabazian working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Chabazian working for a submission but Rodriguez is keeping him at bay.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Chabazian has hold of Rodriguez 's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rodriguez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Rodriguez defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Chabazian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chabazian is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rodriguez is surviving well by controlling Chabazian's body position as best he can.
Rodriguez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rodriguez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez taking shots to the head.
Chabazian controlling the position easily from mount.
Chabazian looking to control but Rodriguez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rodriguez defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Chabazian.
Chabazian lands a big shot there that rocks Rodriguez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chabazian is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rodriguez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rodriguez is in a horrible position here. Chabazian smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Chabazian is working for a guillotine from mount but Rodriguez frees his head quite easily.
Rodriguez is trying to escape the mount.

Chabazian wants to finish this one by submission but Rodriguez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Chabazian.

Chabazian jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rodriguez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rodriguez and Chabazian has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Chabazian goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rodriguez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Chabazian's guard! Nice work there by Rodriguez !

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rodriguez is refusing to be controlled, as Chabazian sits in half guard.
Chabazian trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Rodriguez wants to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez has hold of Chabazian's hands but Chabazian slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chabazian trying to control from Rodriguez 's half guard. Rodriguez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edmond Chabazian dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Chabazian changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Chabazian manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rodriguez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Chabazian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rodriguez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Chabazian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?
Rodriguez with a nice calf kick.
Rodriguez stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmond Chabazian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chabazian feinted with a counter takedown.

Chabazian looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rodriguez !

Chabazian is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rodriguez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chabazian tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Chabazian has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chabazian sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rodriguez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Chabazian tries to score with some ground and pound. Rodriguez controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Edmond Chabazian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Chabazian thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Chabazian lands a decent elbow from side control.
Chabazian moves into full mount!
The referee warns Rodriguez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rodriguez is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Chabazian is working for a guillotine from mount but Rodriguez frees his head quite easily.
Chabazian landing strikes, looking to finish!

Chabazian jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rodriguez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rodriguez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Chabazian connects with a decent elbow.
Chabazian working the ground and pound from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Chabazian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rodriguez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rodriguez 's legs.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom here.
Chabazian is chipping away with strikes.

Chabazian has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Rodriguez is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Chabazian yanks on the arm and Rodriguez is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Chabazian.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Edmond Chabazian!
A very excited looking Edmond Chabazian made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.