PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between BJ Walters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rogers has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Mickey Rogers will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Walters
vs
Rogers

179 cm
24
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
176 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, BJ Walters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mickey Rogers!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Walters with that takedown attempt.

Walters drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rogers looks gassed!
Walters controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Walters seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rogers for as long as he can get away with.

Walters is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Walters seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walters has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

BJ Walters has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Walters dives in and scores a takedown into Rogers's guard.
Walters lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Walters landing with the ground and pound.
Walters trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walters slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of BJ Walters.
Walters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rogers tries to avoid it but Walters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rogers to the ground. Rogers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walters drives through with a takedown into Rogers's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Walters controls from within his opponent's guard.
Walters postures up and lands a big shot to Rogers's brow.
Walters controls from within his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rogers can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

BJ Walters has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Walters shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rogers sprawls well. Rogers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Walters gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Walters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walters shoots in for a double leg but Rogers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Walters shoots for a double leg takedown but Rogers sprawls well. He's pushed Walters's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Walters dives in and scores a takedown into Rogers's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogers can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Walters controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Walters dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Walters closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Walters is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rogers doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Walters.
Walters works his way into full mount!
BJ Walters overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rogers is breathing heavily.
Walters lands a heavy elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walters lands with some strikes.
Walters content just to control the position here.
Walters landing strikes from the mount.
Walters dominating with strikes here.
Walters lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walters takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Walters landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walters tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Walters's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of BJ Walters.
Horrible takedown by Walters or perhaps it was just good defense by Rogers which made him look bad.
Walters is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rogers can do to turn this around?
Rogers looks to score with a jab to the body but Walters is just out of range.

Walters closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walters is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Walters controlling the action here.
Walters winds up and cracks Rogers with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Walters sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Walters dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Walters shoots in for a takedown but Rogers shows good takedown defense.
Rogers leaves Walters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Walters closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rogers quickly recovers to half guard.
Still in half guard, Walters seems content to control.
Rogers is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Walters scores with a couple of nice shots.
Walters with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. BJ Walters wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rogers tries to sprawl but Walters drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Walters is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Walters thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rogers's head.
Rogers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Walters. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Walters slips a nice elbow through Rogers's hands, connecting with Rogers's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Mickey Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because BJ Walters just wasn't active enough.
Rogers slaps away a takedown attempt from Walters, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Walters. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Walters gets a double leg takedown into Rogers's guard.
Walters content to stall in guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walters working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rogers's head.
Walters is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Walters landing with the ground and pound.
Walters slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
BJ Walters is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up because BJ Walters just wasn't active enough.
Walters looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Walters tries for a takedown but Rogers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Walters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
BJ Walters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers slaps away a takedown attempt from Walters, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Walters tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rogers swivels and escapes.
Walters shoots in for a takedown but Rogers shows good takedown defense.

Rogers gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Walters to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Walters 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.
Walters is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rogers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Walters gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Walters showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Walters has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:25
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BJ Walters!