PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Bonsai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bonsai comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mama Said Knock You Out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodriguez
vs
Bonsai

170 cm
25
169 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Union Fight Gear

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Bonsai!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonsai connects with a jab.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Bonsai pushes him off.
A left lands for Bonsai.
Bonsai connects with a jab.
A combination from Bonsai does no damage.
Bonsai scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.

Bonsai fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rodriguez to the ground. Bonsai is now in Rodriguez's guard.
Bonsai looking to pass the guard.
Bonsai trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bonsai drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rodriguez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bonsai has Rodriguez in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bonsai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bonsai is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
Bonsai keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.

Bonsai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rodriguez passes Bonsai's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control. Bonsai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is thwarting Bonsai's attempts to control the position.

Bonsai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodriguez content to control rather than advance.
Bonsai is trying to stand.
Bonsai moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bonsai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rodriguez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bonsai on the ground.
Bonsai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bonsai is trying to keep Rodriguez in close.
Rodriguez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Bonsai is keeping the position.
Bonsai trying to control the position.
Rodriguez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Rodriguez.
Bonsai shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rodriguez eats them both and turns towards Bonsai to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bonsai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnny Bonsai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bonsai is looking to chop away at Rodriguez's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonsai keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez tries to move into range but Bonsai moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bonsai throws a leg kick

and Rodriguez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A body shot lands from Bonsai.
I was talking to Rodriguez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Stalling in the clinch from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bonsai lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonsai fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodriguez is pushing Bonsai up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bonsai misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Bonsai dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice uppercut there from Bonsai.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Rodriguez.
Bonsai takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rodriguez lands an elbow just above Bonsai 's eye.
Rodriguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bonsai's face.

It looks like Johnny Bonsai has been cut.
Rodriguez tries a body shot but Bonsai blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez connects with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez misses with the head strike.
Rodriguez trying to control the position but instead, Bonsai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodriguez into the cage.
Bonsai has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rodriguez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rodriguez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short right from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is pressed up against the cage. Bonsai has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodriguez down to the mat. Rodriguez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Bonsai. Those never looked like landing.
Ivan Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonsai misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice cross by Bonsai.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rodriguez lands an elbow inside.
Bonsai has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodriguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bonsai in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rodriguez tries to throw a body punch but Bonsai avoids it by throwing Rodriguez back against the cage.
Rodriguez has Bonsai pushed against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez scores with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonsai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodriguez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ivan Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Bonsai.
Rodriguez bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Bonsai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodriguez's waist but Rodriguez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bonsai off to one side.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that Bonsai semi-blocks.
Bonsai shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodriguez pinned against the cage. Rodriguez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Bonsai is having none of it.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bonsai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rodriguez counters with a head kick. That will keep Bonsai thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Bonsai is rocked!
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Bonsai moves out of range.
Bonsai is still on wobbly legs! Can Rodriguez finish him?
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good exchange - Bonsai coming out on top.
Rodriguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
Bonsai seems to have recovered his senses.
Bonsai misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonsai throws a leg kick
and Rodriguez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bonsai takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bonsai is breathing heavily.
Bonsai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bonsai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bonsai walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rodriguez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Bonsai moves out of range.
Bonsai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
Bonsai looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bonsai circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez dodges the punch combination from Bonsai.

Rodriguez rushes Bonsai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Rodriguez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Bonsai's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bonsai misses with a wild body shot.
A combination from Bonsai does no damage.
Ivan Rodriguez is winning the standup battle so far.
Bonsai tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily
and Rodriguez counters with a nice body kick.
Bonsai throws a leg kick but Rodriguez checks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Rodriguez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Rodriguez gets a clinch.
Good body shot from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Rodriguez for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Bonsai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.
Rodriguez throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes one to the chin there.
Bonsai tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ivan Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Bonsai.
Good shot there by Bonsai.
Bonsai swinging wildly here.
Bonsai misses with a double jab.
Bonsai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Bonsai in a clinch.
Rodriguez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rodriguez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonsai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rodriguez taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ivan Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bonsai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodriguez lands a head kick!
Bonsai throws a low kick but Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Rodriguez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bonsai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodriguez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rodriguez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bonsai throws a leg kick

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bonsai missing with knees to the body.
Rodriguez effectively controlling the action here.
Bonsai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rodriguez.
Bonsai takes an elbow to the forehead.

That has opened up Johnny Bonsai's cut even more.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rodriguez stalling the fight.
Bonsai fails to pull guard.
Rodriguez has Bonsai pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Bonsai is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Rodriguez - that's hurt Bonsai badly! Oh, another knee lands and Bonsai is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Bonsai doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Ivan Rodriguez!
In defeat, Johnny Bonsai stepped up to the mic, saying 'I shouldn't have eaten the steak tar tar.'.