PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Lavoie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez comes to the cage accompanied by Stairway to Heaven. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rodriguez
vs
Lavoie

170 cm
19
165 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

177 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ruthless Results 141+ Energy SALE $21

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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mario Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Lavoie!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Mario Rodriguez has been cut.
Lavoie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lavoie misses the shot to the body.
Lavoie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Lavoie.
Lavoie fails to land with a series of punches.
Lavoie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.

Rodriguez clinches with his opponent.
Rodriguez keeps control of Lavoie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lavoie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lavoie tries to circle away but Rodriguez has him pinned against the cage.
Rodriguez has Lavoie pressed against the cage, preventing Lavoie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lavoie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodriguez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lavoie tries to break free but Rodriguez pushes him back against the cage.
Rodriguez prevents Lavoie from breaking the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavoie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but Lavoie blocks it.
Rodriguez is working for takedown but Lavoie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rodriguez has Lavoie pressed against the cage.
Lavoie is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.

Lavoie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Lavoie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lavoie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Rodriguez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rodriguez connects with a nice short shot to Lavoie's temple.
Lavoie pushes Rodriguez off looking to stand but Rodriguez dives back in and keeps control.
Lavoie looks gassed!
Rodriguez thows a huge punch but Lavoie dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lavoie is trying to stand.
Rodriguez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rodriguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lavoie wants to improve his position but Rodriguez is controlling well.
Rodriguez is nestled in close to Lavoie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lavoie wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lavoie misses with a head kick.
Rodriguez thuds his shin into the meat of Lavoie's side.
Horrible takedown by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Lavoie which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Rodriguez clinches up with Lavoie and pushes him back against the cage.
Lavoie gets underhooks to prevent Rodriguez's takedown attempt.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lavoie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lavoie wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez wants to improve his position but Lavoie is controlling well.
It looks like Lavoie is going to stand back up.
Rodriguez is controlling Lavoie's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but Lavoie is very close to passing his half guard.
Lavoie looks to land a strike but Rodriguez avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lavoie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rodriguez is controlling Lavoie's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mario Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Rodriguez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A combination from Lavoie does no damage.
Lavoie lands with a nice combination. Rodriguez backs away looking to recover.
Lavoie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lavoie.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lavoie napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rodriguez working the ground and pound.
Lavoie wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rodriguez scores with punches from side control.
Rodriguez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rodriguez landing a few strikes.
The ground and pound from Rodriguez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lavoie is looking to regain half guard here but Rodriguez keeps moving and retains side control.
Lavoie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rodriguez cracks Lavoie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lavoie is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodriguez in side control lands a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lavoie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez landing a few strikes.
Rodriguez is chipping away with strikes.
Lavoie is looking to regain half guard here but Rodriguez keeps moving and retains side control.
Rodriguez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez scores with a couple of short elbows.
Lavoie is looking for a sweep.
Rodriguez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lavoie some visible discomfort.
Sloppy strikes there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is putting a hurting on Lavoie here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lavoie throws a lazy head kick

and Rodriguez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lavoie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rodriguez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rodriguez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lavoie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodriguez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lavoie wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Lavoie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez won't allow Lavoie to get back to his feet.
Lavoie 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lavoie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick.
Rodriguez misses with an attempted mid kick.

Rodriguez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Lavoie bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Lavoie misses with a combination

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lavoie won't be happy with that.
Rodriguez looks up at the clock and then as Lavoie takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rodriguez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mario Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lavoie is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodriguez in side control, throwing shots but Lavoie defends.
An elbow from Rodriguez crashes against the mat.
Rodriguez working the ground and pound from side control.
Rodriguez scoring with punches from side control.
Rodriguez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lavoie is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavoie wants to control but Rodriguez postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lavoie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but Lavoie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lavoie lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lavoie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lavoie tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away
and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that stings Lavoie.
Lavoie stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lavoie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Rodriguez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lavoie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodriguez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lavoie is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Rodriguez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mario Rodriguez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lavoie.
Rodriguez shoots in for a double leg but Lavoie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lavoie misses with a series of wild punches.
Lavoie lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lavoie lands a jab-cross combination.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lavoie swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavoie working hard to break the clinch.
Lavoie is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
Lavoie blocks a body shot from Rodriguez.
Lavoie tries to break free but Rodriguez pushes him back against the cage.
Lavoie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mario Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lavoie slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodriguez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A big left from Lavoie misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.

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 uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lavoie.
Lavoie with a poor takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Lavoie didn't expect that.
Lavoie controlling Rodriguez's posture.
Lavoie looking for a sweep. Not yet Lavoie, not yet.
Lavoie is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
Lavoie has momentary wrist control but Rodriguez slips an elbow through the middle.
Rodriguez distracts Lavoie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rodriguez working some strikes from top position.
Rodriguez is pushing down on Lavoie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lavoie is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodriguez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rodriguez thows a huge punch but Lavoie dodges it nicely.
Rodriguez working Lavoie over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavoie is pressing down on Rodriguez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Lavoie is keeping the position.
Rodriguez won't allow Lavoie to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez with a nice head shot there.

Lavoie pushes Rodriguez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lavoie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lavoie throws a body punch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Rodriguez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lavoie's waist but Lavoie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodriguez off to one side.
Lavoie misses with a double jab

and Rodriguez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lavoie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavoie is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
Lavoie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lavoie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rodriguez throwing strikes from guard but Lavoie blocks nicely.
Lavoie doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mario Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rodriguez trying to control but Lavoie is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lavoie misses with a double jab

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodriguez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

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