PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lorik Kapllani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberts comes to the cage accompanied by ridda. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kapllani's choice of entrance music: Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Roberts
vs
Kapllani

185 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

179 cm
19
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Rastafarii Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lorik Kapllani!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts dips to his left and cracks Kapllani with an uppercut!

It looks like Lorik Kapllani has been cut.
Nice body punch from Roberts.
Roberts misses with the combination.
Kapllani tries to clinch but Roberts is having none of it.

Roberts shoots in and bounces Kapllani off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Kapllani keeps moving.
Roberts preventing the sweep.
Kapllani is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Kapllani keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberts pushing down on Kapllani's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Roberts is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kapllani gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts is fighting to break Kapllani's control of his arms but Kapllani is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kapllani looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Roberts puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kapllani is trying to maintain the position but Roberts is very close to passing his half guard.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kapllani tries to roll over but Roberts keeps him under control.
Roberts is looking to advance position but Kapllani won't allow it.
Roberts thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kapllani is trying to maintain the position but Roberts is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Roberts blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kapllani throws a body kick that misses.
Kapllani misses with a shot to the body

and Roberts counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kapllani's guard now.
Kapllani wants to sweep here but Roberts controlling him for the moment.
Roberts sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Roberts won't allow Kapllani to get back to his feet.
Roberts postures up and lands a big shot to Kapllani's brow.
Roberts won't allow Kapllani to sweep him here.
Roberts wants to get up but he can't break Kapllani's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Roberts stopping the sweep attempt from Kapllani.
Roberts has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kapllani looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Roberts puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is trying to control. Kapllani wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kapllani desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kapllani wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy.
Roberts is keen to just control but Kapllani is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kapllani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kapllani checks a low kick from Roberts.
Kapllani throws a jab when Roberts was well out of range.
Kapllani lands a nice leg kick that just misses Roberts's sensitive parts.

Roberts shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kapllani's guard.
Roberts tries to stand but Kapllani is controlling from the bottom.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
Roberts trying to control but Kapllani is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kapllani looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roberts is one step ahead there.
Kapllani keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Kapllani is controlling Roberts's posture.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kapllani bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Roberts's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberts keeping full guard, as Kapllani tries to pass.
Roberts throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Kapllani won't allow Roberts to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Roberts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lorik Kapllani's cut.
That's time! Roberts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Roberts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kapllani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Roberts shoots in and drives through. Kapllani sprawls well.
Roberts thows a leg kick but Kapllani checks it
and Kapllani makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Roberts really felt that one!
Kapllani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roberts slips under a jab from Kapllani.
The crowd cheers as Kapllani lands an impressive looking overhand right. Roberts doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Jake Roberts has been cut.
Kapllani throws a sloppy head kick
and Roberts counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A slow jab from Kapllani misses its intended target.
Kapllani scoring well with a low kick there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kapllani lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lorik Kapllani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kapllani dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Kapllani clinches with his opponent.
Roberts looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kapllani wants to get back to striking at distance but Roberts won't allow it.
Kapllani looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kapllani gets underhooks to prevent Roberts's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapllani is trying to break the clinch but Roberts is controlling him.
Kapllani prevents the takedown attempt.

Kapllani breaks from the clinch.
Kapllani dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kapllani just misses with a punch to the body.
Kapllani swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Roberts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kapllani jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kapllani misses with a straight right.
Jake Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Roberts takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kapllani moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lorik Kapllani seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roberts takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Roberts is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kapllani.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kapllani tries to clinch but Roberts is having none of it.
Kapllani misses with a wild body shot.
Kapllani closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kapllani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roberts manages to avoid it.
Lorik Kapllani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roberts closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kapllani circles away.
Kapllani with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kapllani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Roberts shoots in and drives through. Kapllani sprawls well.
Kapllani uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Roberts has time to react.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roberts.
Roberts moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Roberts ducks under a wild hook from Kapllani.

Kapllani gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kapllani managing to control the position.
Roberts throwing strikes from guard but Kapllani blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kapllani not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kapllani has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Roberts has passed into side control.

Roberts decides to stand back up. Roberts steps back and let's Kapllani get back to his feet.
Kapllani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Roberts connects with a looping right hand.
Roberts defending well as Kapllani loads up on a big left hand.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kapllani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kapllani throws the left hand but Roberts avoids the punch easily.
Kapllani stuffs the takedown attempt from Roberts. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kapllani.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kapllani fakes the leg kick and cracks Roberts in the body.
Kapllani throws a head kick that misses.
Kapllani just misses with a punch to the body.
Kapllani looks to score with a jab to the body but Roberts is just out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roberts.
Kapllani lands a nice looking body kick.
Kapllani throws the left hand but Roberts avoids the punch easily.
Roberts staying out of range there.
Kapllani tries to clinch but Roberts is having none of it.
Kapllani throws a lazy right hand but Roberts sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Roberts scores with a nice head shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice leg kick lands there from Roberts.
Kapllani connects with a looping right hand.
Roberts uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kapllani.
Kapllani misses with a body shot.
Kapllani fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorik Kapllani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Roberts shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kapllani sprawls well. Kapllani wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet.
Kapllani throws a hook but Roberts avoids it easily.
Roberts staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Roberts.
A jab from Kapllani misses.
A combination from Roberts does no damage.
Kapllani throws a big shot that misses.
Kapllani looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kapllani misses with a looping right.
Roberts avoids the head kick by Kapllani.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts shoots in but Kapllani avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roberts scores with a sloppy right hand. Kapllani should have avoided that one.

Kapllani gets caught flat footed, as Roberts shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Roberts postures up in Kapllani's guard and throws a big left but Kapllani blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapllani tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roberts sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kapllani's guard.
Kapllani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roberts is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kapllani manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roberts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kapllani working a defensive guard here.
Kapllani wants to sweep here but Roberts controlling him for the moment.
Kapllani is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roberts is controlling him.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Roberts shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kapllani napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Roberts just content to control the position.
Kapllani is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kapllani manages to get back to half guard.

Roberts has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Kapllani defend it? Roberts steps over the head and cranks it - Kapllani is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Roberts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jake Roberts!