Ronaldo Rodriguez emerged with a unanimous decision victory tonight in a back-and-forth battle with Ode Osbourne at UFC 306.
Round One:
Osbourne with a quick punch. He lands a nice left. Now a fast body kick. Missed low kick from Rodriguez. Inside leg kick for Osbourne. Now a body kick for him.
Chopping leg kick from Rodriguez as he steps forward, but then Osbourne catches him with a big right and drops Rodriguez.
Rodriguez trying to survive as Osbourne follows him to the mat. Triangle choke from Osbourne and it looks in tight. Rodriguez is in big trouble here, but refusing to quit. Osbourne blasting him with a few elbows for good measure now, but Rodriguez is trying to break free, and does so. Great effort from Rodriguez to survive and now he’s on top.
Osbourne looking for elbows from his back. Now a nice elbow from Rodriguez. Another elbow lands for him. Osbourne lands a few heavy hammerfists.
Osbourne tries for a kimura, but nothing doing. Rodriguez with a few punches to the body. He’s happy to just be clearing the cobwebs now as the remaining time in the round ticks down.
Round Two:
Exchange of punches in close to start the second round. Low kick for Osbourne and now a kick. Rodriguez ducks under his offense and goes for a takedown.
Osbourne gets Rodriguez in a guillotine and again he has his opponent in a bad spot, but he rolls and manages to escape and improve his position.
Now Rodriguez gets to Osbourne’s back with the body triangle in. Now Rodriguez is landing big ground-and-pound. Heavy punches, but Osbourne almost turns into him. There’s a battle for position and Rodriguez stay in control as he moves to full mount.
Rodriguez gets to the back again and gets his body triangle in. He tries for a rear-naked choke, but Osbourne fights it off.
Osbourne trying to improve his position, but he’s trapped in that tight body triangle whichever way he turns.
Final 20 seconds and Osbourne does finally manage to turn into Rodriguez and immediately starts to land some good ground-and-pound strikes, but then slows down before the round ends. Osbourne looks very tired as he makes his way back to the corner.
Round Three:
Overhand from Rodriguez and tried to transition into a takedown, but it doesn’t pay off.
Body kick for Rodriguez and then tries for a takedown, but Osbourne sprawls and escapes.
Body kick for Osbourne. Left hand for him. Now a jab. Leg kick for Osbourne. And again.
Left hook lands for Osbourne. Now a crips jab. Rodriguez presses forward and lands a nice left hook of his own. He tries for a wheel kick, but Osbourne moved away from it.
Another wheel kick attempt from Rodriguez. Osbourne tries for a takedown of his own, but Rodriguez sprawls on that nicely.
Back to striking they go. Osbourne clinches up and presses Rodriguez into the cage. Rodriguez moves out of that though.
Punch for Osbourne, but then Rodriguez lands one on the counter. Osbourne in on a takedown and lands it. Rodriguez counters by going for a kimura. Rodriguez is using this to work back to his feet successfully.
Jab for Osbourne. Leg kick for Rodriguez. Missed overhand from him and then sprawls to stop an Osbourne takedown.
Osbourne trying for a guillotine choke attempt. Osbourne goes to his back. Punches on top from Rodriguez. He gets an elbow in there too. We’re headed to the judges.
Decision:
Great back-and-forth fight to start the pay-per-view then with Osbourne having the biggest moments in the opening round as he scored a knockdown and had his opponent in a tight triangle choke, but Rodriguez showing great heart to survive and get back into the fight with a strong second round display on the mat and a crucial takedown late in the third helping him to a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-27 x2).
