PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zula Usman (ranked 4368 p4p, 565 weight class) and Fernando Rodriguez (ranked 5553 p4p, 672 weight class). Rodriguez has chosen Slipknot-Duality as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Usman
vs
Rodriguez

192 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Level Up!

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zula Usman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fernando Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Usman drives through with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Usman from controlling successfully.
Usman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Usman tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
Usman's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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

Usman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Usman has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez wriggles free and stands up.
Usman takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Usman closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Usman getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rodriguez actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Usman has control of the leg.
Rodriguez trying to hold on to Usman's head to control him but Usman postures up.
Usman trying to control the pace.
Usman is looking to advance position but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Usman stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is looking to improve his position.
Rodriguez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Usman is working away from the top position though.
Usman sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Usman trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Usman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Usman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rodriguez wants to stall.
Usman lands a body punch in the clinch.

Rodriguez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Usman is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rodriguez to the mat. Rodriguez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Usman throwing strikes from guard but Rodriguez blocks nicely.
Usman stays in close to Rodriguez's body and controls the position.
We've been informed that Rodriguez has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Usman passes Rodriguez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Usman wants to pass to mount but Rodriguez is defending the position.
Usman trying to control from half guard but Rodriguez is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usman looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nice strikes from Usman there.
Usman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to full guard here but Usman has managed to pass to side control instead.

Usman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Usman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Usman trying to control the position but Rodriguez is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zula Usman dominated that round.
That's time! Usman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Usman lands an overhand right.
Rodriguez misses with a head kick.

Usman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Rodriguez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Usman pulls his head out easily.
Well, if Usman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rodriguez trying to hold on to Usman's head to control him but Usman postures up.
Usman content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rodriguez for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Usman is stalling here. Rodriguez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Usman seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rodriguez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Usman is trying to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura but Usman is defending well.
Usman defending against the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Usman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usman is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.

Usman sneaks out the side door and pushes Rodriguez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Usman tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez is looking to control Usman's arms but Usman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez looks to land a body kick but Usman moved away.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Usman lands a shoulder strike.
Nice elbow from Rodriguez.
Usman tries for a takedown. No joy.

Usman has hold of one of Rodriguez's legs. Rodriguez is fighting the takedown attempt but Usman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Usman wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

Usman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Usman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
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.
Rodriguez has momentary wrist control but Usman slips an elbow through the middle.
Usman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zula Usman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Usman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rodriguez's guard.
Usman is thwarting Rodriguez's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Usman content to control rather than advance.
Usman is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriguez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full 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 Zula Usman will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Usman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodriguez defends well and Usman ends up having to push Rodriguez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a leg kick that knocks Usman off balance momentarily.
Usman moves forwards but Rodriguez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rodriguez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rodriguez delivers a nice body kick.
Zula Usman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rodriguez has managed to clinch.
Usman wants to take the fight to the mat but Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rodriguez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to score a body lock takedown but Usman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.

Rodriguez successfully pulls guard.
Usman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Usman tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Usman is in close to Rodriguez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Usman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Usman pushes down on Rodriguez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, if Usman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Usman blocks the strikes from Rodriguez.

That's two 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 is not content to let Usman control the position.
Usman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rodriguez is looking to improve his position.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but Usman is very close to passing his half guard.
Usman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Usman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rodriguez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Usman.
A jab from Usman does it's job there.

Usman has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.
Usman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Usman.
Usman lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Usman lands a takedown into guard.
Usman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Usman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Usman defends it easily.
Usman is stalling in the full guard.
Zula Usman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fernando Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Usman stands and throws Rodriguez's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zula Usman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Usman, 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zula Usman!
In defeat, Fernando Rodriguez stepped up to the mic, saying 'Chamba'.