PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Tanlagu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanlagu has chosen Where The Hood At as his entrance music. David Tanlagu is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rodriguez
vs
Tanlagu

172 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 21 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 21 - 0, fighting out of The Island, David Tanlagu!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tanlagu looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Tanlagu wants to clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Rodriguez.
Tanlagu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodriguez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodriguez connects with a leg kick. Tanlagu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tanlagu swings for the body but Rodriguez moves out of range.

Rodriguez rushes Tanlagu and presses him up against the cage.

Rodriguez jumps into guard, dragging Tanlagu to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tanlagu is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Tanlagu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tanlagu's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tanlagu's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Rodriguez gets through Tanlagu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tanlagu was covering up waiting for the punch and Rodriguez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rodriguez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tanlagu trying to control the position.
Rodriguez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rodriguez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanlagu is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
Tanlagu striking off his back but it's not causing Rodriguez any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez stops Tanlagu from standing up.
Rodriguez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanlagu is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tanlagu walks into a stiff left hand from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
Rodriguez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanlagu pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rodriguez jumps guard and drags Tanlagu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Rodriguez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodriguez stalks Tanlagu and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tanlagu's face. Tanlagu staggers backwards, shaken.
Crunch! Rodriguez slams his shin into Tanlagu's torso.

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanlagu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanlagu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodriguez manages to get himself to full guard.

Rodriguez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rodriguez 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tanlagu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rodriguez counters with a two punch combo.
David Tanlagu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rodriguez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rodriguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanlagu can do to turn this around?
Tanlagu wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rodriguez postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tanlagu 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rodriguez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Tanlagu kicks Rodriguez off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Rodriguez tenderised Tanlagu's leg. Tanlagu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rodriguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Tanlagu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanlagu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanlagu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodriguez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tanlagu to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanlagu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.

Tanlagu has Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanlagu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown.

Tanlagu jumps into guard, dragging Rodriguez to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanlagu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Tanlagu lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tanlagu defends it easily.
Tanlagu works over Rodriguez with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tanlagu keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanlagu fails to land with a series of punches.

Rodriguez shoots in and gets a takedown into Tanlagu's guard.
Tanlagu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodriguez controls the pace.
Rodriguez tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanlagu is retaining full guard.
Rodriguez landing some decent shots from guard.
Rodriguez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez distracts Tanlagu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanlagu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodriguez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Tanlagu tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanlagu tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Rodriguez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tanlagu.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Tanlagu sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Tanlagu circles away and keeps his distance.
Mark Rodriguez is winning the standup battle so far.

Tanlagu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Tanlagu is proving a slippery customer.
Mark Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tanlagu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tanlagu shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rodriguez.

Tanlagu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tanlagu lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Tanlagu from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanlagu gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tanlagu avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Tanlagu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodriguez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tanlagu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rodriguez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tanlagu is trying to defend but Rodriguez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Tanlagu has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rodriguez is on him like a limpet, forcing Tanlagu back against the cage.
David Tanlagu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tanlagu can't get the takedown.
Tanlagu tries to land a knee to the head but Rodriguez blocks with his arms.
Tanlagu tries to pull guard but Rodriguez holds him up against the cage and eventually Tanlagu drops back down to his feet.
Mark Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Tanlagu.
Rodriguez stalling the fight.

Tanlagu breaks the clinch.
Tanlagu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodriguez defends well and Tanlagu ends up having to push Rodriguez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rodriguez looking to score a takedown here. Tanlagu is defending well but Rodriguez drives through and ends up in Tanlagu's guard.
Rodriguez prevents Tanlagu from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David Tanlagu.
Well Rodriguez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Rodriguez!
In defeat, David Tanlagu stepped up to the mic, saying 'Don't Worry Bro, Im Gonna Win Bro'.