Gregory Rodrigues got a chance to show off his hard-hitting striking and his ground game tonight at UFC 304 on his way to a unanimous decision victory over Christian Leroy Duncan.
Round One:
Body kick from Rodrigues doesn’t quite find the mark. Thigh kick from Duncan. Body punch from Duncan. Another from him.
Body kick from Rodrigues. Leg kick for Duncan. Duncan thinks about a jumping knee but doesn’t commit to it.
Right hand from Rodrigues. Duncan closes the distance but eats a chopping overhand from Rodrigues. Punch lands for Duncan and off that Rodrigues works a nice takedown in the center of the octagon.
Rodrigues in half-guard and trying to improve his position. Duncan trying to keep him in place so Rodrigues drops down a few elbows to the head.
Now body punches from Rodrigues. Right hand for Rodrigues too. Duncan has big swelling on the left side of his forehead, likely from those earlier elbows.
Duncan scrambles to his knees. Rodrigues staying on top though. Duncan almost upright now, but then tries to drop back down to improve his position without success.
Duncan on his knees and Rodrigues lands a few elbows as the round comes to an end.
Round Two:
Inside leg kick from Duncan. Another low kick from Duncan, but Rodrigues threatens with a powerful punch on the counter.
Duncan goes for the clinch as Rodrigues tries to work a knee strike. Duncan tries for a takedown, but Rodrigues stuffs it. Duncan continues to press him up against the cage.
Rodrigues tries for a trip without success but is able to reverse the clinch position. Rodrigues with some short punches in close. Duncan with a spinning elbow. Rodrigues remains in the pocket and looks to clinch and work around to the back.
Duncan manages to reverse the clinch and tries for a takedown that doesn’t work out. Rodrigues reversese again and then before he can get to work the ref separates them.
In close they are both throwing heat without landing cleanly. Duncan back into the clinch against the cage.
Duncan backs off, but not before landing a punch. Big right hand for Rodrigues. He is bleeding too now to the left eye.
Rodrigues into the clinch and lands a takedown late in the round.
Round Three:
Missed kick from Duncan but then lands one to the inside of the calf. Another inside leg kick from Duncan. Now a big spinning kick that misses.
Front kick to the body from Duncan. Now a spinning elbow. Rodrigues manages to steer clear of that and then clinches up.
Rodrigues hoists Duncan up into the air and slams him down. Duncan does well to scramble straight back up though and now he’s pressing Rodrigues into the cage.
Rodrigues reverses the clinch position. Single-leg attempt from Rodrigues and as he tries to finish it Duncan tries a creative head kick from this awkward angle but it misses.
Rodrigues continues to work from the clinch and gets Duncan down to one knee. Rodrigues getting onto the back with one hook in.
Rodrigues trying to work a rear-naked choke, but nothing doing for now and Rodrigues own blood from that earlier cut is leaking on them both.
The Brazilian is looking for some punches now and that makes Duncan battle to stand up in the final seconds of the round, which he does.
Decision:
Both fighters ended this fight bloodied, but it was Rodrigues who clearly got the better of the action with some dangerous striking and solid ground work ensuring he emerges with a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x3).
