PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sandy Rotoure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tigyu Solih (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rotoure comes into the arena with you can hate me now-Nas blaring out of the sound system. On his way into the cage it seems that Sandy Rotoure has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sandy Rotoure seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rotoure
vs
Solih

176 cm
23
160 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sandy Rotoure!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tigyu Solih!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solih clinches.

Solih breaks the clinch.

Rotoure gets caught flat footed, as Solih shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Solih stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rotoure swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Solih really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rotoure. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Solih wants to control from the top but Rotoure keeps moving.
Solih throwing strikes from guard but Rotoure blocks nicely.
Solih has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rotoure is proving hard to escape from.
Solih throwing strikes from guard but Rotoure blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rotoure working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Solih doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Solih manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Solih pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rotoure is keeping the position for now.

Solih stands up and waves to Rotoure to follow him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotoure wants to get back to striking at distance but Solih won't allow it.
Rotoure prevents the takedown attempt.
Rotoure has Solih pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Solih manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Solih tries to throw a body punch but Rotoure avoids it by throwing Solih back against the cage.
Solih goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Solih has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rotoure clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Solih is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Rotoure up.
Rotoure trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Solih misses with a punch to the head.
Solih punches the canvas rather than the man.
Rotoure rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Solih sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rotoure defending well though.

Rotoure is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Solih pulls his head out easily.
Solih throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Solih looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotoure works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rotoure looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Solih tries to free his leg and advance position but Rotoure is retaining full guard.
Solih postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rotoure is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rotoure moves nicely into side control.
Rotoure is looking to take a break and control but Solih is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Solih tries to buck Rotoure off but Rotoure is having none of it.
Rotoure trying to control the action but Solih is working from the bottom.
Solih misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solih tries to improve position but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Solih fails with the takedown.
Rotoure misses with a two punch combination.

Solih closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Solih lands in his opponent's guard.
Rotoure avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Solih trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rotoure working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Solih.
Rotoure is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rotoure avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rotoure wants to sweep here but Solih controlling him for the moment.
Solih passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotoure is not content to let Solih control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Solih shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rotoure's guard.
Rotoure keeping full guard, as Solih tries to pass.
Solih is looking to work some ground and pound but Rotoure has wrist control.
Rotoure looking for a sweep. Not yet Rotoure, not yet.

Rotoure is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Solih avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rotoure looking to hit a scissor sweep but Solih is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solih trying to control the position from guard on top but Rotoure is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solih stops Rotoure from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tigyu Solih dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A combination from Rotoure does no damage.

Solih closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rotoure manages to get back to half guard.
Rotoure avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Solih.
Solih looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rotoure with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Solih scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Solih trying to control the action but Rotoure is working from the bottom.
Rotoure has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Solih is working away from the top position though.
Solih tries to pass to full mount but Rotoure defends it.
Rotoure is trying to get back to full guard.
Rotoure is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Solih drives through with a takedown into guard.

Solih gets to his feet - Rotoure follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solih misses with a wild body shot.
Solih is breathing heavily.
Solih takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Solih is rocked!

It looks like Tigyu Solih has been cut.
Rotoure shoots and misses

and Solih holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Solih is still on wobbly legs! Can Rotoure finish him?
Rotoure tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Solih tries a body shot but Rotoure blocks it.
Solih drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Solih seems to have recovered his senses.
Solih is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rotoure gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Solih.

Solih successfully pulls guard.
Solih is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rotoure is looking to improve his position.
Solih wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rotoure keeps working.
Solih passes the guard and advances to mount!
Solih lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solih tries to control but Rotoure wriggling away.
Solih working the ground and pound effectively.
Solih avoids the attempt from Rotoure to control.
Rotoure is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Solih cracks Rotoure with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rotoure is wriggling around trying to escape.
Solih in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Rotoure is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Solih lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Oh Rotoure is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Solih looking to finish Rotoure with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rotoure!
BOOM! Solih connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rotoure working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solih is landing with some decent strikes but Rotoure is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Solih with shots to the head and body - Rotoure looks very uncomfortable down there.
Solih with a couple of short strikes.
Solih lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rotoure is in all sorts of trouble here.
Solih landing strikes from the mount and Rotoure is in trouble!
Rotoure is trying to escape the mount.
Solih trying to control but Rotoure is having none of it.
Solih landing strikes from the mount.
Solih cracks Rotoure with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rotoure is looking to improve his position but Solih isn't that keen on the idea.
Rotoure seems to have got his legs back now.
Solih tries to control but Rotoure wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solih lands a nice shot to the head.
Rotoure tries to hold on but Solih postures up.
Rotoure is trying to escape the mount.
Rotoure bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rotoure works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rotoure not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Solih is in trouble now - Rotoure has advanced to mount!
Rotoure with shots to the head and body - Solih looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rotoure wants to control the pace but Solih is squirming around nicely.

Rotoure looking for a guillotine from mount but Solih is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tigyu Solih showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tigyu Solih's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Solih looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Solih avoids the head kick by Rotoure.
Sandy Rotoure is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rotoure takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice sprawl there from Solih as Rotoure shoots in.
Rotoure swinging wilding here.
Solih misses with a hook. Rotoure ducked under it nicely.

Solih closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Solih looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rotoure with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rotoure is staying active underneath Solih, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Solih connects with a nice short shot to Rotoure's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rotoure has hold of Solih's hands but Solih slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Solih wants to stand up but Rotoure is controlling the position.
Solih is keen to just control but Rotoure is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Solih is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rotoure doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Solih.
Solih is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Solih scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rotoure is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Solih stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rotoure misses with a body kick.

Solih closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rotoure to the mat! Rotoure manages to get full guard.
Rotoure utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rotoure not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rotoure thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Tigyu Solih has got the better of the ground game so far.
Solih throwing strikes but missing.

Rotoure has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Solih can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rotoure has his foot on Solih's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Solih works his way back into a safe position though.
Rotoure working a defensive guard here.
Solih slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Solih stands up over Rotoure, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rotoure is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Solih advances position into side control!
Rotoure manages to get back to half guard.
Solih throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solih not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Solih is thwarting Rotoure's attempts to control the position.
Rotoure moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rotoure is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Solih won't allow Rotoure to sweep him here.
Solih must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Solih postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Solih trying to control the position from guard on top but Rotoure is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rotoure stalks Solih and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Solih's face. Solih staggers backwards, shaken.

Solih closes the distance and clinches.

Solih has Rotoure pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Solih pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rotoure tumbling to the mat - Solih dives into Rotoure's guard.
Rotoure looking for a sweep. Not yet Rotoure, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solih is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Solih decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Solih darts in and clinches Rotoure up against the cage.
Rotoure looking to stall.

Solih breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sandy Rotoure has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Solih gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Solih - that landed with a thud.
Solih lands a body punch.
Solih landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Good body shot from Solih.

Solih turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rotoure is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Solih off and has taken his back!

Rotoure looking to break Solih's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Solih remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rotoure will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rotoure is landing with strikes from the back.
Rotoure thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Rotoure cracks Solih with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Solih from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tigyu Solih comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Solih winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tigyu Solih!