PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sean Loucks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Limpy Rotherford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Limpy Rotherford will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Loucks
vs
Rotherford

175 cm
20
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

168 cm
20
183 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

MaliceStar Clothing {$7 Specials}
MaliceStar Clothing {$7 Specials}

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sean Loucks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Limpy Rotherford!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rotherford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Loucks fails to land the takedown.
Rotherford lands a nice shot that snaps Loucks's head back.

Loucks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rotherford throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Rotherford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Loucks trying to control the action but Rotherford is working from the bottom.
Loucks gets to mount! Rotherford was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Loucks working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rotherford working to try and regain half guard.
Loucks looking to control but Rotherford is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Loucks postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rotherford looks a forlorn figure.
Loucks punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotherford is trying to escape the mount.

Loucks is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rotherford to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rotherford shrugs it off.
Loucks working the ground and pound effectively.
Rotherford is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rotherford sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rotherford is looking for a sweep. Loucks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rotherford looking for submissions off his back.
Rotherford avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Loucks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loucks trying to pass the guard but Rotherford defending well.
Rotherford is staying active underneath Loucks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rotherford flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rotherford missing with punches from the bottom.

Loucks stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rotherford to get to his feet.
Rotherford thows a body shot but no joy.
Loucks shoots for a takedown but Rotherford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Loucks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rotherford throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Loucks takes one to the chin there.
Rotherford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Loucks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rotherford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Loucks somewhat.
Loucks is breathing heavily.

Rotherford shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotherford misses with a head shot. Loucks uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rotherford's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rotherford throws and elbow that misses. Loucks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rotherford's guard. Nice move by Loucks!

Rotherford looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rotherford trying to strike off his back.

Loucks gets to his feet - Rotherford follows without any prompting.
Nice sprawl there from Loucks as Rotherford shoots in.
Loucks fails with the takedown
and Rotherford makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Loucks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rotherford is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Loucks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Loucks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rotherford manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rotherford seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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 Sean Loucks will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Loucks gets caught flat footed, as Rotherford shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rotherford working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rotherford passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rotherford creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Rotherford tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rotherford has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rotherford misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Loucks regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rotherford is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Loucks has managed to free his arm - good work.
Loucks is positioning himself well to prevent Rotherford advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loucks wants to improve his position but Rotherford is controlling well.
Loucks is trying to stand back up but Rotherford is controlling him
Loucks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rotherford.
Rotherford not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Loucks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rotherford.

Rotherford is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rotherford scores with a shot to the body.

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.
Loucks shoots in but Rotherford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rotherford lands with a right hand.

Loucks darts in and clinches Rotherford up against the cage.
Loucks is trying to drag Rotherford to the mat but Rotherford just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Loucks prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rotherford manages to pull guard.
Rotherford tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Loucks sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rotherford's guard.
Sean Loucks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Loucks is pressing down on Rotherford's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rotherford is holding on for now.

Rotherford looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Loucks trying to pass the guard but Rotherford defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotherford makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rotherford.
Rotherford keeping moving, preventing Loucks from controlling successfully.

Rotherford looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Loucks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Loucks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rotherford working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Loucks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Loucks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rotherford had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Loucks defends it easily.
Rotherford will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotherford throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rotherford is on top in guard.

Rotherford postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Loucks is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rotherford, into his guard.

Loucks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Loucks thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rotherford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Loucks's guard.

Rotherford thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Limpy Rotherford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Loucks.
Loucks tries for a takedown but Rotherford circles away easily
and Rotherford counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rotherford closes the distance and clinches up with Loucks, looking for a takedown. Rotherford pushes Loucks against the cage but Loucks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Loucks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rotherford looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rotherford is not content to let Loucks control the position.
Rotherford gets back to half guard.
Loucks is trying to control the action in half guard but Rotherford is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rotherford actively working from the bottom here.

Rotherford looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Loucks is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loucks is trying to control. Rotherford wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rotherford tries to roll over but Loucks keeps him under control.
Rotherford throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rotherford blocking the ground and pound attempt from Loucks.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rotherford misses with a two punch combination.
Rotherford throws a head kick but Loucks moves out of range.
Rotherford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Loucks is fending him off so far but Rotherford persists. Nope, Loucks circles away and we're back to standing.
Rotherford fails to land the takedown.
Sean Loucks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Limpy Rotherford.
Loucks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rotherford cracks Loucks with an open hand slap.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Loucks.
Loucks takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Loucks takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Donk. Rotherford catches Loucks right on the button with a cross.

Rotherford shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Loucks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Loucks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rotherford fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Loucks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rotherford in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Loucks is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Limpy Rotherford!
Limpy Rotherford is the new welterweight champion!