PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rourke
vs
Slater

172 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Rourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Slater!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slater throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rourke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Slater manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rourke tests Slater's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Slater blocks a low kick nicely.
Rourke shoots in looking for a takedown but Slater manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rourke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Slater misses with a lunging right hand

and Rourke counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rourke.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Slater is keeping the position.
Rourke thows a big elbow that misses.

Rourke stands up and waves to Slater to follow him.
No luck for Slater with that takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slater works Rourke's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke tries to score a power double leg takedown but Slater sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rourke somewhat.
Rourke with a poor takedown
and Slater cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Rourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slater looks to score with a jab to the body but Rourke is just out of range.
Slater jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Slater shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rourke manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rourke is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Slater stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Slater thows a body shot but no joy.
Slater takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sam Rourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rourke fails with the takedown
letting Slater counter with a right hand.
Slater thuds his right hand into Rourke's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rourke moves out of range as Slater strikes.
Slater connects with a crisp jab.

Rourke is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke tries a head kick but it misses.

Slater scores with a takedown into Rourke's guard.
Oh Rourke is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Slater is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Slater is in close to Rourke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rourke seems to have got his legs back now.
Slater really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rourke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Slater tries to free his leg and advance position but Rourke is retaining full guard.

Slater stands up and waves to Rourke to follow him.
Slater dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Slater.
Slater misses with a body shot.
Rourke shoots in for a takedown but Slater shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke shoots for a takedown but Slater saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Slater jabs Rourke right on the nose. Rourke blinks but takes it well.
Slater looks to land a left hand but Rourke moved out of range nicely.
Rourke shoots for a double leg takedown but Slater sprawls well. He's pushed Rourke's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Slater closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Slater lands in his opponent's guard.
Slater wanted to stand there but Rourke had control of the position.
Slater sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slater has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rourke is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tom Slater hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rourke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Slater.
Rourke misses with a wild body shot.
A shot to the liver by Slater. Beautiful body shot.
Rourke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Slater swivels and escapes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rourke takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Slater scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rourke ducks under a wild hook from Slater.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Slater dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Slater scores with a jab to the body.
Slater with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Slater swings for the body but Rourke moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Slater - just one landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Slater scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tom Slater seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Slater drives through with a powerful takedown. That's hurt Rourke!

Slater stands and steps away. Rourke gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rourke gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Slater gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Rourke is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Slater!