PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Niewiadomski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rodriguez
vs
Niewiadomski

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gilbert Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pawel Niewiadomski!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niewiadomski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niewiadomski unleashes a big counter combination but Rodriguez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Niewiadomski moves out of range of the body kick from Rodriguez.
As Rodriguez backs off Niewiadomski throws a huge counter combo but Rodriguez manages to avoid it all.

Niewiadomski rushes Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Niewiadomski manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Niewiadomski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rodriguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Niewiadomski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodriguez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodriguez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niewiadomski keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Niewiadomski looks winded!
Rodriguez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niewiadomski is trying to keep Rodriguez in close.

Niewiadomski has his foot on Rodriguez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rodriguez works his way back into a safe position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Niewiadomski stuffs the takedown.
Niewiadomski scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Niewiadomski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodriguez pinned against the cage. Rodriguez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodriguez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Gilbert Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niewiadomski throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Niewiadomski on the side of the head.
Rodriguez throws a nice looking combination but Niewiadomski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Rodriguez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Niewiadomski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've been told by Rodriguez's head coaches at Cozad MMA Hilo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Niewiadomski misses with a few strikes there.
Rodriguez throws a body shot but no joy.
Niewiadomski swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
No joy there for Rodriguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niewiadomski throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez shoots in but Niewiadomski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Niewiadomski avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Niewiadomski moves into the clinch.
Niewiadomski tries to score a body lock takedown but Rodriguez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Niewiadomski prevents Rodriguez from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez can't break the clinch.
Niewiadomski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rodriguez walks away with a smile on his face. Niewiadomski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Niewiadomski has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Niewiadomski tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rodriguez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rodriguez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Niewiadomski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Niewiadomski stuffs the takedown.
Niewiadomski slips under a jab from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a wild body kick that Niewiadomski sees coming a mile off.
Niewiadomski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Niewiadomski tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Niewiadomski but Niewiadomski pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Niewiadomski changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Niewiadomski tries to clinch up but Rodriguez circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Niewiadomski shoots in and drives through. Rodriguez sprawls well.
Niewiadomski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
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 Gilbert Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodriguez is looking to land body kicks.
Rodriguez dives in for a single leg takedown but Niewiadomski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Niewiadomski is looking for the big counter here.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Niewiadomski avoids nicely.
Rodriguez backing away here, and Niewiadomski unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rodriguez connects with the punch.
Rodriguez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Niewiadomski is able to avoid easily.
Rodriguez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Niewiadomski's head.
Niewiadomski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
Rodriguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niewiadomski can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez looks to land a combination but Niewiadomski avoids it well.
Niewiadomski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Niewiadomski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niewiadomski circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Niewiadomski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gilbert Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Niewiadomski.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Niewiadomski shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez connects with a single shot there.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown but Niewiadomski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodriguez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rodriguez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Niewiadomski shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl out of it but Niewiadomski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Niewiadomski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodriguez somewhat.
Nice defenses there by Niewiadomski.
Niewiadomski throws a low kick but Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Niewiadomski.
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Niewiadomski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Niewiadomski holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Niewiadomski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niewiadomski is trying to push Rodriguez away but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rodriguez tries to break free but Niewiadomski pushes him back against the cage.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch but Niewiadomski keeps him there for the moment.
Rodriguez wants to get back to striking at distance but Niewiadomski won't allow it.
Niewiadomski keeps control of Rodriguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Niewiadomski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodriguez throws a punch but it's blocked by Niewiadomski.
Niewiadomski prevents Rodriguez from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to break the clinch but Niewiadomski is controlling the position.
Niewiadomski with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rodriguez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rodriguez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rodriguez tries to circle away but Niewiadomski has him pinned against the cage.
Niewiadomski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rodriguez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rodriguez is trying to break the clinch but Niewiadomski is controlling him.
Niewiadomski prevents Rodriguez from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niewiadomski just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Niewiadomski is defending well.
Niewiadomski jumps guard but Rodriguez stands there with Niewiadomski around his waist. Niewiadomski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Rodriguez dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Niewiadomski fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Rodriguez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Niewiadomski with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rodriguez to score with a decent uppercut.
Niewiadomski dives in for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rodriguez cracks Niewiadomski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Niewiadomski as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez cracks Niewiadomski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez catches Niewiadomski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Niewiadomski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodriguez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gilbert Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Niewiadomski.
Rodriguez digs a good hook to Niewiadomski's body.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Niewiadomski moves out of range.
Niewiadomski has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rodriguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Niewiadomski slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Niewiadomski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rodriguez to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to push Niewiadomski away but Niewiadomski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rodriguez is trying to push Niewiadomski away but Niewiadomski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Niewiadomski pulls guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rodriguez throws an elbow that misses. Niewiadomski uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rodriguez's guard. Nice move by Niewiadomski!

Niewiadomski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Niewiadomski has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez's legs - danger averted.
Niewiadomski stops Rodriguez from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niewiadomski content to stall in guard here.

Rodriguez is working an open guard so Niewiadomski takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Niewiadomski is looking for the big counter here.
A punch lands to the side of Niewiadomski 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.

Niewiadomski gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niewiadomski keeps control of Rodriguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Niewiadomski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez wants a takedown.
Niewiadomski keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rodriguez's efforts to push away.
Rodriguez is looking to break free of the clinch but Niewiadomski has double underhooks.
Niewiadomski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Niewiadomski keeps control of Rodriguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niewiadomski tries to pull guard but Rodriguez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Niewiadomski has Rodriguez pressed against the cage, preventing Rodriguez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pawel Niewiadomski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gilbert Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Niewiadomski prevents Rodriguez from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

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