PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erick Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Doniteli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Doniteli has chosen momma said knock you out-LL cool j as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodriguez
vs
Doniteli

178 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erick Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezio Doniteli!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Doniteli misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Good body shot from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Doniteli's efforts to push away.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doniteli stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Doniteli wants it to stay on the feet.
Rodriguez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown. Doniteli tries to sprawl out of it but Rodriguez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Doniteli manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Doniteli shoots in for a double leg but Rodriguez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Doniteli.
Rodriguez misses with a body kick.
Doniteli throws a hook to the side of Rodriguez's head but Rodriguez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez gets control of Doniteli's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rodriguez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Doniteli is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Doniteli wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his posture from 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.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Doniteli is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Doniteli wants to break free but Rodriguez has control.
Rodriguez wants to stall.

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 Doniteli uses from the top position.

Doniteli stands up and waves to Rodriguez to follow him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Doniteli throws a series of strikes that have Rodriguez backpedaling.
A telegraphed right hand from Doniteli misses the target.
Doniteli is looking to clinch but Rodriguez is avoiding it.
Doniteli displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rodriguez drops his hands momentarily and Doniteli takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez shoots in for a double leg but Doniteli sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Doniteli tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Doniteli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodriguez somewhat.
Doniteli tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Doniteli ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez.
Ezio Doniteli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodriguez dodges the punch combination from Doniteli.
Rodriguez takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Rodriguez is rocked!

Doniteli gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Oh Rodriguez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Doniteli has had enough of the clinch but Rodriguez keeps him there for the moment.

Doniteli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Doniteli. That's going to slow Rodriguez down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No luck for Doniteli with that takedown attempt.
Doniteli steps in with a hook that catches Rodriguez right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Doniteli follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Rodriguez looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:08 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ezio Doniteli!
After the fight, Ezio Doniteli was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.