PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rodri (ranked 19343 p4p, 818 weight class) and Luis Ganador (ranked 5550 p4p, 566 weight class). Ganador has chosen We Will Rock You as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rodri
vs
Ganador

170 cm
27
250 lbs
6 - 22 - 0

200 cm
25
240 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Rodri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Luis Ganador!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ganador scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice body punch from Ganador.

Ganador drops Rodri with a left and a right! Oh, Rodri is hurt - Ganador dives into side control looking to finish!

It looks like Jose Rodri has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodri being controlled for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Rodri's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ganador looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rodri taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ganador taking a breather here.
Ganador is trying to move to mount but Rodri reverses beautifully and ends up in Ganador's guard.
Ganador keeping moving, preventing Rodri from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodri wants to stand but Ganador is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ganador keeping moving, preventing Rodri from controlling successfully.
Ganador wants to stand and escape but Rodri is having none of it.
Our spies down at at Tycoon Gym inform us that Ganador has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganador pulls Rodri in close to prevent any damage.
Rodri trying to control but Ganador is working from the bottom.
Ganador looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rodri trying to control the position from guard on top but Ganador is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodri.
No joy there for Ganador, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rodri avoids the body shot from Ganador.
Rodri avoids a kick to the body.
Ganador fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodri manages to avoid it.
Ganador gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Rodri counters with a nice uppercut.
Ganador throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ganador tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ganador loads up on a big right hand but Rodri slips the punch.
Rodri half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rodri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodri or perhaps it was just good defense by Ganador, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Rodri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodri fails with the takedown.
Ganador ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Ganador dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jose Rodri's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ganador with a nice cross.
Ganador fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodri closes the distance and clinches up with Ganador, looking for a takedown. Rodri pushes Ganador against the cage but Ganador circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ganador throws a head kick that misses.
Luis Ganador seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ganador jabs Rodri to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ganador ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rodri is looking to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Ganador on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rodri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodri tries to clinch but Ganador moves out of range.
Rodri goes for a double leg but Ganador avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ganador continues to drive forward.

Ganador tries to keep at a distance but Rodri has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rodri is working for takedown but Ganador is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Rodri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodri tries to break free but Ganador pushes him back against the cage.
I was talking to Rodri's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ganador has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ganador is trying to force a seperation but Rodri has the dominant position.
Ganador is looking to break free of the clinch but Rodri has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ganador manages to break the clinch.
Luis Ganador seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ganador changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rodri looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rodri is looking to reverse the position.

Ganador decides to stand back up.

Ganador has Rodri up against the cage in a clinch.

Ganador breaks the clinch.
Rodri doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rodri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ganador lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rodri takes a step back to recover.
Ganador lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horrible takedown attempt by Ganador or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodri, which made it look bad.
Ganador takes a swing at Rodri's ribcage but misses.
Rodri drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ganador sprawls and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganador fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rodri is out of range.
Ganador is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rodri rather than just go for the knockout.
Rodri moves in looking to clinch but Ganador pushes him off.

Ganador scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Ganador decides to stand back up.
Ganador just misses with a punch to the body.
Ganador closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodri circles away.
Rodri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodri is defended easily by Ganador.
Ganador throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodri.
Rodri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ganador tries to avoid it but Rodri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ganador to the ground. Ganador escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ganador lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganador fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rodri avoids the body shot from Ganador.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodri is defended easily by Ganador.
Ganador dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rodri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rodri scores with a leg kick.
Rodri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ganador is looking to clinch but Rodri is avoiding it.
A counter left hand to the body from Rodri misses its target.

Rodri throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ganador was covering up waiting for the punch and Rodri finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rodri has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodri wants to pass the guard but Ganador is keeping the position.
Ganador is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodri is controlling him.
Rodri might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ganador keeping full guard, as Rodri tries to pass.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ganador manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Ganador showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jose Rodri's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ganador stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodri. Rodri gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ganador.
Rodri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ganador lands a nice hook to Rodri's body. Rodri takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ganador lands a nice shot that snaps Rodri's head back.

Jose Rodri's cut is getting worse.
Ganador swings for the body but Rodri moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Rodri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ganador tries for a takedown but Rodri circles away easily
and Rodri counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ganador takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodri looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Ganador pushes Rodri off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganador throws out a powerful jab.
Rodri takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ganador getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rodri shoots for a double leg takedown but Ganador sprawls well. He's pushed Rodri's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ganador looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ganador misses with a few strikes there.

Rodri moves into the clinch.

Rodri pulls guard.
Rodri keeping full guard, as Ganador tries to pass.
Ganador postures up.
Rodri knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ganador on the ground.
Rodri wants to stand up but Ganador is controlling him.

Ganador gets to his feet - Rodri follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganador fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ganador is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ganador goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rodri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ganador paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ganador swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodri.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ganador. Rodri does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jose Rodri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ganador throws a series of punches but Rodri moves out of range.
Ganador tries to clinch up but Rodri circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodri shoots in looking for a takedown but Ganador manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodri's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Rodri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ganador throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rodri counters with a one-two to the body.
Rodri tries to bum rush Ganador with a series of wild strikes but Ganador uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ganador throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodri goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Rodri has managed to clinch.

Ganador's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodri on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rodri throws a body punch but Ganador moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ganador. Rodri does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rodri dives in and grabs Ganador's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ganador pushes down on Rodri's head and hops out.
Ganador scores with the left hand. Rodri knows he should have avoided that one.
Ganador lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rodri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ganador throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rodri on the side of the head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ganador, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodri avoids the body shot from Ganador.
A little feinted left hand from Rodri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Rodri drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ganador has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Rodri is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganador has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ganador is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rodri jumps guard but Ganador turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ganador pulls Rodri into guard.
Rodri would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ganador looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rodri trying to control but Ganador is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Ganador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ganador winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Ganador!
Luis Ganador was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.