PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dai Vernon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roth comes to the cage accompanied by Shawn Michaels - Sexy Boy. The crowd seem to be enjoying Vernon's choice of entrance music: Ari Gold - Let's Hug It Out, BITCH. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Roth
vs
Vernon

181 cm
31
183 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

184 cm
31
184 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Daniel Roth!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dai Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vernon leaves Roth with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roth misses with a hook. Vernon ducked under it nicely.
Daniel Roth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roth looks to land a combination. Vernon sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Vernon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roth.
A big right from Roth misses.
Roth misses with a two punch combination.

Vernon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roth, pushing him back against the cage.
Vernon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vernon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Roth is trying to maintain a safe position but Vernon gets an underhook and turns Roth into the cage.
Roth looking for a takedown.
Vernon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vernon lands with a short shot to the head.
Vernon tries to work over Roth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Roth lands a knee to the head.
Vernon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roth has Vernon pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vernon manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vernon takes a knee right on the jaw!
Still in the clinch, Vernon scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth is looking to control Vernon's arms but Vernon gets an underhook and turns him. Now Roth has his back to the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vernon.
Vernon tries to throw a body punch but Roth avoids it by throwing Vernon back against the cage.
Vernon struggles to land a body shot inside as Roth controls his hands.
Vernon working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Roth tries to throw a body punch but Vernon avoids it by throwing Roth back against the cage.
Vernon working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vernon tries to throw a body punch but Roth avoids it by throwing Vernon back against the cage.
Roth looking to stall.
Roth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vernon misses with a body punch.
Vernon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vernon is trying to maintain a safe position but Roth gets an underhook and turns Vernon into the cage.
A body shot lands from Vernon.
Vernon is struggling to control the position.
Vernon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roth's elbow.
Roth prevents a body shot from Vernon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon working aggressively here.
Vernon presses Roth against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roth tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vernon smiles and moves away.

Vernon has closed the distance and engaged Roth in a clinch.
Vernon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Roth is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Roth lands a body shot.
Roth goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vernon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vernon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vernon is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Roth presses Vernon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Roth has picked Vernon up - he's going for a ride! Roth dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Roth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vernon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roth 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.
Vernon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Roth with a nice head shot there.
Roth wants to control from the top but Vernon keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vernon wants to sweep here but Roth controlling him for the moment.
Vernon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Roth wants to control from the top but Vernon keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roth sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vernon's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
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!
Roth throws a strike but Vernon avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Daniel Roth will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roth shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vernon defends it nicely.
Vernon misses with a head kick.
A jab from Vernon misses.
Vernon tries to land a leg kick but Roth saw it coming and moves away.

Vernon pushes Roth up against the cage in a clinch.
Roth blocking some punches.
Roth is leaning against Vernon and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Roth throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vernon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vernon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vernon tries to throw a body punch but Roth avoids it by throwing Vernon back against the cage.
Vernon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Roth landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Roth lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roth lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dai Vernon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Roth pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth trying to control the position but instead, Vernon has worked for underhooks and has pushed Roth into the cage.
Vernon digs a right hand into Roth's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Roth's gas tank.
Vernon misses with a punch on the inside.
Vernon throws a punch but it's blocked by Roth.
Roth misses with a punch on the inside.
Vernon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vernon lands a shoulder strike.
Vernon trying to stall but Roth improves his position.
Roth is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vernon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vernon misses with some punches.
Vernon scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon lands with a short shot to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Vernon fails to land.
Roth throws a knee to the head but misses.
Roth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vernon is leaning against Roth and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Roth lands a nice knee to the body.
Vernon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Roth leaning against his opponent.

Roth jumps guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vernon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vernon is looking to work some ground and pound but Roth has wrist control.
Vernon distracts Roth with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roth doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Roth is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vernon defends well.

Roth is looking for a triangle but Vernon pushes his legs off easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vernon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Roth looking for a guillotine here but Vernon defends easily.
Vernon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Daniel Roth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vernon's guard.
Vernon 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.
Roth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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!
Vernon keeping moving, preventing Roth from controlling successfully.
Roth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Roth postures up in Vernon's guard and throws a big left but Vernon blocks it.

Roth postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vernon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Roth, into his guard.
Vernon passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dai Vernon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Roth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

That kick from Vernon tenderised Roth's leg. Roth is trying to keep his angry face on.
Vernon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Roth fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Roth misses with a kick to the body.
Vernon avoids a punch combination nicely.

Vernon darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vernon uses his free foot to push down on Roth's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roth.
Roth slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Vernon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth is looking for a sweep. Vernon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vernon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Vernon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roth sees it coming and defends easily.
Roth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Roth wants to get back to full guard but Vernon has mounted him!
Roth manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Roth works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vernon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Roth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vernon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vernon stands and throws Roth's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Roth tries to buck Vernon off but Vernon is having none of it.
Vernon working the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roth manages to work his way to half guard, despite Vernon's best efforts.
Vernon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are battling for position here. Roth manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vernon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vernon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vernon preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vernon trying to control the position from guard on top but Roth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vernon being controlled here momentarily.
Roth looking to control.
Vernon wants to control from the top but Roth keeps moving.

Roth has his foot on Vernon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vernon works his way back into a safe position though.
Vernon is in close to Roth's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vernon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roth throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vernon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Roth working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vernon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vernon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Roth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vernon trying to control but Roth is working from the bottom.
Vernon cracks Roth with a solid left hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vernon.
Roth looking for a sweep. Not yet Roth, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dai Vernon really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Roth fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vernon to the ground. Roth is now in Vernon's guard.
Vernon wants to control but Roth passes easily into half guard.
Roth missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roth thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Roth trying to mount his opponent but Vernon defends it.
Roth lands strikes from half guard.
Vernon makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vernon.
Vernon 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth wants to control from the top but Vernon keeps moving.
Roth 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.
Vernon trying to control the position.
Roth in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth forces his way into half guard.
Roth not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Roth scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Roth trying to mount his opponent but Vernon defends it.
Roth thows a huge punch but Vernon dodges it nicely.

Vernon actively working from the bottom here.
Roth winds up and cracks Vernon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth prevents Vernon from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
Vernon is staying active underneath Roth, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Roth is looking to advance position but Vernon won't allow it.
Vernon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vernon is trying to maintain the position but Roth is very close to passing his half guard.
Roth thows a huge punch but Vernon dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Roth's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Roth's back!
Roth staying busy and making it hard for Vernon to control.

Vernon has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Roth has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Vernon doesn't have the hooks in and Roth manages to turn into his guard.
Roth throws a big elbow that misses.
Vernon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roth trying to control the position from guard on top but Vernon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vernon is looking for a triangle but Roth pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Roth had his way with Dai Vernon in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Vernon throws the left hand but Roth avoids the punch easily.
Vernon tries to work over Roth's front leg with a kick but Roth checks it.
Roth on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Vernon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Roth shoots in for a takedown but Vernon shows good takedown defense.
Vernon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Roth is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vernon.
Nice uppercut lands for Vernon. That snapped Roth's head back.
Roth shoots in for a takedown but Vernon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Roth misses.
Vernon misses with an uppercut.
Vernon bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Roth's head.
Jab by Vernon.

Vernon changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Roth looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth prevents Vernon from moving into mount.
Roth is looking to regain half guard here but Vernon keeps moving and retains side control.
Roth manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vernon wants to get back to full guard.
Vernon manages to get to full guard.
Vernon is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Roth lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon looking for a sweep. Not yet Vernon, not yet.
Roth content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Roth lands a couple of elbows.
Roth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roth makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Roth slips nicely into half guard.
Vernon is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth lands with a punch from half guard.
Vernon avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roth.
Vernon is looking for a sweep. Roth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vernon is in trouble now - Roth has advanced to mount!
Roth is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vernon can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Roth raining down hammerfists from mount.

Vernon is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roth unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Vernon wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Roth celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Daniel Roth!
Daniel Roth retains his welterweight title!
Daniel Roth was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.