PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bartholomew Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Metroman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Roberts
vs
Metroman

173 cm
20
130 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

162 cm
22
142 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartholomew Roberts!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Art Metroman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roberts throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Metroman's head.
Metroman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roberts is fending him off so far but Metroman persists. Nope, Roberts circles away and we're back to standing.
Metroman misses with a looping left.
Metroman fails with the takedown.
Roberts keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bartholomew Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Art Metroman.
Metroman fails with the takedown.
Roberts looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Roberts throws a sloppy head kick and Metroman moves out of range easily.
Roberts attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Metroman throws a hook to the side of Roberts's head but Roberts sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Metroman checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metroman looks to score with a jab to the body but Roberts is just out of range.

Roberts gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Metroman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Roberts is trying to control the position but Metroman postures up.
Roberts keeping full guard, as Metroman tries to pass.
Roberts has control of Metroman's left arm, preventing Metroman from doing any damage.
Metroman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Roberts's guard.

Metroman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metroman is looking to take a break and control but Roberts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Metroman slows the pace down in half guard.
Metroman is keen to just control but Roberts is a slippery customer.

Metroman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roberts doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Metroman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Metroman is looking for a kimura but Roberts is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Metroman to get the leverage.
Roberts is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Metroman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Metroman's back!
Roberts controlling the position well here. Metroman rolled but Roberts kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Metroman wants to control his opponent's hands but Roberts gets his hands free.

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.
Metroman turns into Roberts and is now in his guard.
Metroman pushes down on Roberts's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Roberts is not content to let Metroman control the position.
Metroman trying to pass the guard but Roberts defending well.

Metroman wants to work for an arm triangle but Roberts is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roberts is refusing to be controlled, as Metroman sits in half guard.
Roberts trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Metroman manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Art Metroman will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Metroman fails to land the takedown.

Metroman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Metroman is looking to take a break and control but Roberts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roberts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Metroman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Roberts is not content to let Metroman control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Metroman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Metroman wants to pass the guard but Roberts is defending well.
Roberts really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Roberts wants to control but Metroman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Metroman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roberts wants to control but Metroman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Metroman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roberts defends it well.
Metroman controlling the action here.

Metroman is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Roberts to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

Metroman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Metroman from controlling successfully.
Metroman wants to pass the guard but Roberts is keeping the position.
Metroman content to stall in guard here.
Metroman passes into half guard.

That's four 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.

Metroman is trying to work for a kimura but Roberts is defending well.
Metroman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Metroman landing strikes from the mount and Roberts is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Art Metroman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Metroman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roberts sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Metroman somewhat.
Roberts misses with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Metroman blocks the leg kick.

Metroman scores with a takedown into Roberts's guard.
Metroman wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.
Roberts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metroman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Metroman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Metroman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roberts has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Metroman has managed to get both his arms back between Roberts's legs - danger averted.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Metroman from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Art Metroman was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A clash of legs there as Metroman blocks the low kick.
Art Metroman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Metroman moves out of range of the body kick.
Roberts walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Metroman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Roberts throws a leg kick that misses.
Roberts throws a leg kick but Metroman moved away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Roberts enables Metroman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Roberts manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Metroman trying to control but Roberts is working from the bottom.
Art Metroman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Metroman is pushing down on Roberts's leg trying to pass to half guard. Roberts is fighting to maintain full guard but Metroman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is looking to improve his position.
Metroman moves nicely into side control.

Metroman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Metroman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Metroman throws a strike aimed at the side of Roberts's head but Roberts avoids it well.

That's four 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.

Metroman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Metroman is trying to get an arm triangle but Roberts is defending well.
Metroman wants to control but Roberts is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Art Metroman really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Metroman misses with a body shot.
Roberts stuffs the takedown.

Metroman closes the distance and clinches.

Metroman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Metroman tries to clinch but Roberts moves out of range.
Roberts ducks under a wild hook from Metroman.
Metroman fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Metroman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Metroman swings for the body but Roberts moves out of range.

Metroman scores a takedown into full mount!
Metroman controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts tries to lock up and control but Metroman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Metroman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Metroman dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Roberts blocking the ground and pound.
Metroman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Metroman is in the full mount, landing strikes.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Metroman controlling the position easily from mount.
Roberts is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Metroman is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Roberts is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Roberts flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Metroman anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Roberts and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Metroman slips an arm under Roberts chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Metroman has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Metroman is squeezing on Roberts like an anaconda would it's prey. Roberts fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Art Metroman! Art Metroman retains his bantamweight title!