PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Red Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lachsford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Red Rogers looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Rogers
vs
Lachsford

182 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Red Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Lachsford!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lachsford fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rogers sprawls well initially but Lachsford persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lachsford missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lachsford is trying to control. Rogers wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lachsford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rogers is trying is best to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Lachsford was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rogers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rogers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rogers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lachsford defending well though.
Rogers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lachsford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lachsford manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lachsford preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lachsford throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Rogers throwing strikes from guard but Lachsford blocks nicely.
Lachsford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lachsford has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lachsford utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from Lachsford.
Lachsford controls Rogers momentarily but Rogers frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Lachsford wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rogers shoots in and bounces Lachsford off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is in close to Lachsford's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lachsford has momentary wrist control but Rogers slips an elbow through the middle.
Lachsford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rogers manages to get himself to full guard.
Lachsford looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lachsford being controlled here momentarily.
Rogers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rogers tries to get out of the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Lachsford wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lachsford fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rogers fails with the takedown.

Lachsford tries to sprawl but Rogers drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rogers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rogers throwing shots but Lachsford is blocking nicely.
Lachsford wants to get back to his feet.
Lachsford looks gassed!
Lachsford keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rogers seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lachsford is pressing down on Rogers's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lachsford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rogers is one step ahead there.
Rogers postures up in Lachsford's guard and throws a big left but Lachsford blocks it.
Rogers throwing strikes but missing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers is in close to Lachsford's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rogers distracts Lachsford with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rogers lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rogers shoots in for a double leg but Lachsford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rogers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lachsford.
Lachsford misses with the combination.
No luck for Rogers with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Red Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rogers has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lachsford.
Lachsford fails with a takedown attempt.
Lachsford misses with a takedown attempt - Rogers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rogers looks for a takedown but Lachsford sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers fails with a takedown attempt.
Lachsford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rogers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rogers shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lachsford napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rogers lands a nice forearm strike.
Rogers connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lachsford some visible discomfort.
Rogers grinds an elbow into Lachsford's temple.
Rogers scores with punches from side control.
Lachsford is trying to get back to half guard.
Rogers scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lachsford to see if he's OK.
Rogers is working Lachsford over with some ground and pound from side control.
Lachsford takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rogers lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lachsford down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lachsford is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rogers connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rogers cracks Lachsford with a big elbow.
Lachsford wants to control but Rogers postures up.
Lachsford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rogers lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Lachsford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers looks up at the clock and then as Lachsford takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rogers smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rogers lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Rogers scoring with punches from side control.
Lachsford is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lachsford on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lachsford is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Rogers.
Red Rogers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rogers prevents Lachsford from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers working over Lachsford with some ground and pound. Lachsford looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rogers throwing shots but Lachsford is blocking nicely.
Lachsford gets full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rogers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rogers landing some decent shots from guard.
Rogers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Lachsford looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers postures up and lands a big shot to Lachsford's brow.
Lachsford is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rogers wants to improve his position but Lachsford is controlling well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lachsford is keen to just control but Rogers is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lachsford.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Red Rogers dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rogers shoots for a takedown but Lachsford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lachsford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lachsford wants it to stay on the feet.
Lachsford is looking to clinch but Rogers is avoiding it.
Rogers shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Red Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rogers closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lachsford circles away.
Lachsford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lachsford has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rogers is pressed up against the cage. Lachsford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rogers down to the mat. Rogers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lachsford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rogers circles away.

Lachsford gets caught napping as Rogers dives in and scores a takedown. Lachsford manages to retain guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lachsford is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lachsford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lachsford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lachsford tries to free his leg and advance position but Rogers is retaining full guard.
Rogers is looking to sweep but instead, Lachsford has passed into half guard.

Lachsford is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lachsford throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rogers is staying active underneath Lachsford, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rogers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lachsford's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lachsford's back!
Rogers lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Rogers lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
The referee is taking a good look at Lachsford as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Rogers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lachsford trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Lachsford takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Lachsford grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Rogers lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Lachsford is trapped and Rogers is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Rogers has Lachsford flattened out and is raining down punches.
The referee is taking a good look at Lachsford as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Rogers!
Lachsford trying to control the hands but Rogers breaks the grip.
Rogers has Lachsford flattened out and is raining down punches.
Lachsford trying to control the hands but Rogers won't let him.
Lachsford is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Rogers is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Rogers lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers punches Lachsford on the ear.
Rogers is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Lachsford. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Lachsford trying to control the hands but Rogers breaks the grip.
Lachsford tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rogers putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rogers breaks from Lachsford's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rogers lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rogers is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers cracks Lachsford with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rogers with shots to the head and body - Lachsford looks very uncomfortable down there.
John Lachsford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Red Rogers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lachsford is squirming around, avoiding Rogers's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Red Rogers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rogers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Red Rogers!
After winning the bout, Red Rogers thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.