PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Haidar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Poncho Rojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojo has chosen War is my destiny as his entrance music. 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.

Haidar
vs
Rojo

178 cm
23
269 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
280 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Reggie Haidar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Poncho Rojo!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojo staying out of range there.
Rojo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haidar is fending him off so far but Rojo persists. Nope, Haidar circles away and we're back to standing.
Rojo is looking to clinch.
Haidar pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rojo back to the cage. Haidar follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Poncho Rojo has been cut.
Rojo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Haidar.
Haidar fails to land with a series of punches.
Rojo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Haidar counters with a straight right hand.
Haidar throws an overhand right that lands on Rojo's shoulder, as Rojo tries to avoid the shot.
Haidar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rojo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rojo shoots in but Haidar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Haidar cracks a nice hook into Rojo's ribs.
Haidar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rojo fails with a takedown attempt.
Reggie Haidar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poncho Rojo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haidar misses with the combination.
The fighters circling - Haidar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haidar is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Haidar throws a hook but Rojo avoids it easily.
Haidar misses with an uppercut

and Rojo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rojo slips nicely into half guard.
Haidar is looking to escape.

Rojo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Haidar is trying to stand back up but Rojo is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rojo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haidar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rojo on the ground.
Haidar is refusing to be controlled, as Rojo sits in half guard.
Haidar won't allow Rojo to pass to mount.
Haidar is trying to stand.

Rojo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Haidar is just riding it out for now. Rojo eventually gives up the hold.
Haidar keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojo is trying to control the action in half guard but Haidar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Rojo is trying to work for a kimura but Haidar is defending well.
Haidar wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rojo is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Haidar is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Poncho Rojo!