PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Rotmensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Mack's choice of entrance music: Shadow Dancing. Bernard Mack is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rotmensen
vs
Mack

183 cm
27
220 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

188 cm
29
210 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johannes Rotmensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bernard Mack!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mack paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Johannes Rotmensen has been cut.
Rotmensen works Mack's body with a nice hook.
A shot to the liver by Mack. Beautiful body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big right from Rotmensen misses.
Mack staying out of range there.
Mack fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rotmensen manages to avoid it.
Rotmensen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mack can pounce on him.
Mack throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rotmensen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mack ducks under a wild hook from Rotmensen.
A combination from Mack does no damage.
A slow jab from Rotmensen misses its intended target.

Rotmensen forces Mack back against the cage and clinches.
Mack is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rotmensen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rotmensen is looking to control Mack's arms but Mack gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rotmensen has his back to the cage.

Rotmensen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mack is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rotmensen to the mat. Rotmensen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Mack postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rotmensen is keeping the position for now.
Mack wants to control from the top but Rotmensen keeps moving.
Mack is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rotmensen keeping full guard, as Mack tries to pass.
Rotmensen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rotmensen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mack looking to sit in guard and control but Rotmensen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mack has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mack avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Mack escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rotmensen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rotmensen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rotmensen trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.
Rotmensen looking to pass the guard.
Mack has control of Rotmensen's left arm, preventing Rotmensen from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotmensen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rotmensen throws a big right hand that misses.

Mack is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rotmensen defends well.
Mack wants to sweep here but Rotmensen controlling him for the moment.
Rotmensen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mack manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rotmensen manages to get himself to full guard.
Mack wants to pass the guard but Rotmensen is keeping the position.
Mack stays in close to Rotmensen's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mack trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rotmensen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mack is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mack wants to control from the top but Rotmensen keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bernard Mack hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mack lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rotmensen circles away quickly and effectively.
An inside leg kick from Rotmensen misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Mack dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johannes Rotmensen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mack avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rotmensen scores with the left hand. Mack knows he should have avoided that one.
Mack staying out of range there.
Mack throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johannes Rotmensen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rotmensen missing with a left hand there. Mack was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rotmensen scores with a jab to the body.
Mack fails to land with a series of punches.
Mack looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rotmensen takes a swing at Mack's ribcage but misses.
Rotmensen tries to clinch but Mack is having none of it.
Rotmensen throws a looping overhand right but Mack ducks down to avoid it.
Rotmensen misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotmensen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Mack displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rotmensen throws out the jab.
A low kick from Rotmensen is predictable there
and Mack counters with a nice uppercut.
Mack tries a low kick but Rotmensen avoids it.
Mack misses with a few strikes there.
Rotmensen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mack takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Good exchange - Rotmensen coming out on top.
Johannes Rotmensen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice defenses there by Mack.
Rotmensen misses with a hook.
Mack looks to land a combination but Rotmensen avoids it well.
Rotmensen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mack sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mack walks into a straight right hand from Rotmensen.
Mack misses with a looping left.
Rotmensen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mack is out of range and Rotmensen settles back down.
Mack shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rotmensen throws the left hand but Mack avoids the punch easily.
Rotmensen throws a looping overhand right but Mack ducks down to avoid it.
Rotmensen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mack moves away.
Rotmensen digs a good hook to Mack's body.
Rotmensen misses with a looping right.
Rotmensen misses with a hook to the body
letting Mack counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rotmensen misses with a two punch combination.
Mack throws a front kick aimed at Rotmensen's knee but Rotmensen avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mack misses with a few strikes there.
A slow jab from Mack misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Rotmensen.
Rotmensen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rotmensen misses with a looping left.
Mack missing with a left hand there. Rotmensen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circling - Rotmensen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rotmensen lands a nice hook to Mack's body. Mack takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mack moves out of range of the leg kick from Rotmensen.
Mack steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rotmensen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rotmensen!
Rotmensen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mack counters with a stiff right hand.
Mack fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mack throws a head kick but Rotmensen moves out of range.
Rotmensen throws a body punch but Mack moves out of range.
Mack looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mack works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rotmensen misses with a looping right.
Rotmensen throws a front kick aimed at Mack's knee but Mack avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rotmensen looks to land a left hand but Mack moved out of range nicely.
Mack takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rotmensen misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johannes Rotmensen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johannes Rotmensen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rotmensen throws a lazy right hand but Mack sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mack will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mack drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rotmensen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rotmensen throws a leg kick
and Mack makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mack tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rotmensen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mack somewhat.
Rotmensen connects with a jab.
Rotmensen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mack counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bernard Mack seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Rotmensen is predictable there

and Mack counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rotmensen!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack controlling his opponent.
Rotmensen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mack raining down shots from the mount!
The referee warns Rotmensen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mack with good strikes from the mount here!

Mack is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rotmensen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rotmensen!
Mack is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotmensen tries to get to full guard but Mack has control of the leg.
Rotmensen manages to get to full guard.
Mack postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mack stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rotmensen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mack slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mack is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rotmensen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rotmensen is refusing to be controlled, as Mack sits in half guard.
Mack might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rotmensen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mack with the ground and pound but Rotmensen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mack looking to pass the guard.

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.
Rotmensen keeping moving, preventing Mack from controlling successfully.
Rotmensen wants to sweep here but Mack controlling him for the moment.
Mack looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Mack comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mack has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernard Mack!