PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Bourne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Roberts
vs
Bourne

185 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Bourne!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bourne rushes Roberts and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bourne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Roberts is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bourne is defending well for now.
Roberts avoiding damage as Bourne throws knees to the body.
Bourne stalling in the clinch.
Roberts pushes Bourne back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Bourne manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Bourne keeps moving.

Roberts thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bourne keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Roberts postures up.

Bourne has an active guard here but Roberts has managed to pass into half guard.

Bourne is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roberts pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts prevents Bourne from standing back up.
Roberts is looking to take a break and control but Bourne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bourne has managed to clinch.
Bourne wants to get back to striking at distance but Roberts won't allow it.

Roberts pulls guard.
Roberts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roberts is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bourne stopping the sweep attempt from Roberts.
Bourne stops Roberts from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Roberts wants to sweep here but Bourne controlling him for the moment.
Roberts doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bourne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roberts pinned against the cage. Roberts gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bourne shoots in but no luck this time.
Matt Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Bourne.
Roberts closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bourne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Roberts keeps control of Bourne as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Roberts wants a takedown.
Roberts jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bourne walks away with a smile on his face. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Roberts has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Roberts there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
Roberts throwing strikes but Bourne manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Roberts trying his best to control but Bourne has mounted him.
Poor strikes thrown by Bourne there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Roberts blocking the ground and pound.
Bourne sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Roberts tries to lock up and control but Bourne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Roberts really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Roberts slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Roberts trying to control but Bourne postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bourne is keen to just control but Roberts is a slippery customer.
Bourne takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Roberts trying to hold on to Bourne's head to control him but Bourne postures up.

Bourne is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Roberts is trying to get back to full guard.
Roberts blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bourne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Roberts will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

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

Bourne is defending against the submission attempts here by Roberts.
Roberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bourne keeps working.

Bourne pushes Roberts off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourne with a lazy takedown attempt
and Roberts counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Roberts closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bourne circles away.

Bourne has managed to clinch.
Bourne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The referee calls for Roberts to work.
Roberts jumps guard but Bourne stands there with Roberts around his waist. Roberts gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Bourne has clasped his hands together around Roberts's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Bourne in side control, throwing shots but Roberts defends.
Roberts sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bourne prevents Roberts from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts looking for submissions off his back.
Bourne scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bourne not doing much here.
Roberts wants to get back to full guard.
Bourne 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.
Bourne missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bourne lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Roberts gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourne is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Roberts is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bourne tries to kick Roberts off but Roberts keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bourne is looking to control Roberts's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bourne avoid being mounted?
Bourne has hold of Roberts's hands but Roberts slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Roberts is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bourne defends it well.
Bourne trying to control but Roberts postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Roberts seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bourne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bourne wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Roberts displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bourne.
Matt Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Bourne.
Roberts dives in and grabs Bourne's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bourne pushes down on Roberts's head and hops out.
Bourne with a poor takedown

and Roberts counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matt Roberts overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roberts throwing strikes from guard but Bourne blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Roberts dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bourne getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bourne wants to clinch up but Roberts keeps it at a distance.
Roberts misses with a takedown

and Bourne counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Roberts trying to control the position.
Roberts tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bourne is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Roberts is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Roberts has escaped and now he's on top!
Roberts trying to control but Bourne is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts pushing down on Bourne's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bourne wants to get back to his feet.
Roberts working Bourne over with strikes.
Roberts trying to control from half guard but Bourne is working away.
Roberts frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

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.
Bourne is trying to reverse the position but instead Roberts has taken his back - oops!

Roberts looking for the RNC.

Roberts looking for the choke from the back.
Roberts doesn't have the hooks in and Bourne manages to turn into his guard.

Bourne gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Roberts closes the distance but Bourne moves to the side

and Bourne counters with a shoot takedown. Roberts fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourne won't allow Roberts to sweep him here.

Roberts is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bourne defends well.
Roberts is trying to hold Bourne in close to prevent damage but Bourne has managed to pass into half guard.
Roberts has hold of Bourne's hands but Bourne slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Matt Roberts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bourne not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bourne prevents Roberts from improving his position.
Roberts blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bourne.
Jason Bourne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Roberts trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Bourne with that takedown attempt.
Bourne tries to close the distance and clinch but Roberts swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roberts shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bourne pinned against the cage. Bourne gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bourne wants to clinch.

Bourne forces Roberts back against the cage and clinches.
Bourne wants to get back to striking at distance but Roberts won't allow it.
Bourne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Roberts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bourne pulls him back up using the underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Bourne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Roberts has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Roberts!