PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabi Elias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Roll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roll has chosen Limp Bizkit - Rollin' as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Elias
vs
Roll

185 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
204 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabi Elias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Roll!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elias looks for a takedown but Roll sprawls well.
Elias tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roll shoots in and drives through. Elias sprawls well.

Roll decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Roll throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Roll stops Elias from getting back to his feet.
Elias keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Roll slows the pace down in half guard.
Roll throwing shots but Elias is blocking nicely.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Roll takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Roll is looking to take a break and control but Elias is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elias looks like he's trying to stand up.
Elias is breathing heavily.

Roll is looking for a kimura here.
Elias wants to get back to full guard.
Roll missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Roll is looking for a kimura here.
Elias controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Roll thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Elias's head.
Roll wants to control but Elias is keeping him busy.
Roll wants to pass to mount but Elias is defending the position.
Elias is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roll scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elias wants to control but Roll is keeping busy and won't allow it.
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. Roll connects with a nice short shot to Elias's temple.

Roll is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Roll is keen to just control but Elias is a slippery customer.
Roll is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Elias works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Elias utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Elias wants to get back to his feet but Roll passes into half guard.
Roll drops an elbow to the side of Elias's head.
Elias punching from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roll throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Roll throwing shots but Elias is blocking nicely.
Elias is looking for a sweep. Roll is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Roll dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Roll swats away the attempt to clinch by Elias.
Roll moves out of range of the body kick.

Roll drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Roll wants to control from the top but Elias keeps moving.
Roll with a nice head shot there.
Roll passes Elias's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Roll is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Elias is just riding it out for now. Roll eventually gives up the hold.
Elias blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roll.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roll working over Elias with some ground and pound. Elias looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Roll passes to side control.
Roll cracks Elias with a big elbow.
Roll tries to move to mount but Elias blocks the move with his legs.
Roll is working Elias over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roll looks up at the clock and then as Elias takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Roll smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Roll scoring with punches and elbows.
Roll looks up at the clock and then as Elias takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Roll smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Roll trying to control the action but Elias is working from the bottom.
Roll working the ground and pound.
Roll tries to move to mount but Elias blocks the move with his legs.
Elias is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elias sneaks back into half guard.
Roll not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Elias is trying to get back to full guard.
Elias has hold of Roll's hands but Roll slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Roll wants to free his trapped foot but Elias is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Elias avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roll.
Elias blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roll.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Roll takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Roll missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Roll throwing shots but Elias is blocking nicely.
Roll scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Elias is trying to get back to full guard.
Roll is just content to waste time from the top position. Elias takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Roll throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Roll showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Roll has a takedown stuffed.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Elias shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roll as he avoids it easily.
Roll changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elias tries to avoid it but Roll manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elias to the ground. Elias escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Roll shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Elias as he avoids it easily.
Gabi Elias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Roll.
Elias scores with a one two! Roll had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Roll shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Elias's guard.
Mike Roll has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roll looking to pass the guard.
Roll scoring with some ground and pound.

Roll is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Elias is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Elias has escaped and now he's on top!
Roll throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roll looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roll takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roll striking off his back.
Roll trying to control the position.
Elias won't allow Roll to sweep him here.
Roll is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Roll tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roll throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Elias is looking to clinch but Roll is avoiding it.
Roll gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Elias counters by moving into the clinch.

Elias breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Elias looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Elias wants to clinch up but Roll keeps it at a distance.
Roll shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Elias tries for a takedown but Roll sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Elias on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Elias gets caught flat footed, as Roll shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Roll pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elias is keeping the position for now.
Roll trying to move into half guard but instead Elias has managed to sweep!
Elias looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roll is trying to keep Elias in close.

Roll is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Roll looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Elias puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

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.
Elias seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Roll moves into full guard.

Roll had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Elias is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Roll Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Elias's back instead.

Roll working for the choke.
Roll lands a shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Roll comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roll 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Roll!