PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chike Rusesabagina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Roland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rusesabagina comes to the ring accompanied by Agatha by Francis Bebey . Antonio Roland has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Chike Rusesabagina's chin.

Rusesabagina
vs
Roland

209 cm
22
290 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

200 cm
24
290 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Chike Rusesabagina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Antonio Roland!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusesabagina will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Roland fails in his attempt to clinch.
Roland misses with a looping right.
Roland tries to clinch there but Rusesabagina circles away.

Roland has closed the distance and engaged Rusesabagina in a clinch.
Rusesabagina gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Roland.
Rusesabagina effectively controlling the action here.
Roland is trying to break the clinch but Rusesabagina has him pressed against the ropes.
Rusesabagina taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rusesabagina lands a body shot.
Roland is looking to break free of the clinch but Rusesabagina has double underhooks.
Rusesabagina can't get the takedown.
Rusesabagina blocking some punches.
Rusesabagina lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Roland backwards.
Rusesabagina tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roland just stands there and leans against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chike Rusesabagina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roland wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rusesabagina is trying to drag Roland to the mat but Roland just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Rusesabagina keeps control of Roland as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right from Rusesabagina on the inside.
Roland prevents the takedown attempt.

Rusesabagina has hold of one of Roland's legs. Roland is fighting the takedown attempt but Rusesabagina gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rusesabagina sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Roland's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusesabagina thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rusesabagina is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Roland looks like he's trying to stand up.
Roland landing strikes from the bottom.
Roland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rusesabagina is breathing heavily.
Rusesabagina stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rusesabagina trying to control the position from guard on top but Roland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roland wants to sweep but no luck.
Roland is striking off his back. Rusesabagina thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Roland flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Rusesabagina is looking for a kimura but Roland is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rusesabagina to get the leverage.
Rusesabagina stops Roland from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.

Rusesabagina is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Roland rushes Rusesabagina and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Roland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roland tries to close the distance and clinch but Rusesabagina swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Roland clinches up against the ropes.
Roland works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Roland trying to stall but Rusesabagina improves his position.
Roland is leaning against Rusesabagina and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Roland lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rusesabagina.
A hook to the body from Roland.
A right hook to the body lands for Roland.
Roland scores with a hook to the body.
Roland presses Rusesabagina against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Roland stops a takedown attempt from Rusesabagina.
Roland stalls.
Roland presses Rusesabagina against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusesabagina tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Roland smiles and moves away.

Roland gets a clinch.

Roland manages to break the clinch.

Roland decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Roland working over Rusesabagina with some ground and pound. Rusesabagina looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rusesabagina has hold of Roland's hands but Roland slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rusesabagina is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roland scores with a couple of nice shots.

Rusesabagina looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roland is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rusesabagina is trying to control but Roland manages to pass to mount!
Roland raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roland lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Roland has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rusesabagina's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice elbow there by Roland.
Roland connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rusesabagina is trying desperately to improve 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.
Roland scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rusesabagina is bucking up trying to escape but Roland cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Roland lands a big shot there that rocks Rusesabagina but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Roland working the ground and pound effectively.
Roland looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rusesabagina is bucking up trying to escape but Roland cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Roland dominating with strikes here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rusesabagina sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rusesabagina works his way to full guard. Good work.
Roland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rusesabagina trying to control the position.
Roland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Roland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rusesabagina's head.

Rusesabagina looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Roland scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roland working some strikes from top position.

Rusesabagina is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A left hand lands to the body for Roland.

Rusesabagina breaks the clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Roland moves into range and clinches up with Rusesabagina.
Rusesabagina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Roland lands a nice uppercut.

Roland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rusesabagina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Roland connects with a solid leg kick.
Rusesabagina swats away the attempt to clinch by Roland.
Roland cracks Rusesabagina with a right hand to the side of the head.

Roland moves into range and clinches up with Rusesabagina.
Rusesabagina digs a right hand into Roland's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Roland's gas tank.
Rusesabagina drops down looking for an ankle pick but Roland pulls his leg out and moves away.

Roland has managed to clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Roland lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rusesabagina backwards.

Roland has picked Rusesabagina up - he's going for a ride! Roland dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Roland lands with a punch from half guard.

Rusesabagina is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Roland pulls his head out easily.
Roland working the head and body with strikes.

Rusesabagina looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rusesabagina looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roland takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nice strikes from Roland there.
Rusesabagina tries to get to full guard but Roland has control of the leg.
Roland seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Roland working Rusesabagina over with strikes.
Roland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rusesabagina with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rusesabagina taking some punishment here, with Roland in his half guard.
Roland wants to free his trapped foot but Rusesabagina is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Roland sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rusesabagina defending well though.
Rusesabagina avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roland.
Roland tries to stand and escape but Rusesabagina is controlling the position.
Rusesabagina wants to improve his position but Roland is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Roland misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rusesabagina misses with a takedown
and Roland counters with a one-two to the body.

Roland bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Roland working the head and body with strikes.
Roland lands a decent elbow from side control.
Roland lands some shots froms side control.
Rusesabagina is working to avoid the ground and pound but Roland connects with a decent elbow.
Rusesabagina gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Roland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Roland lands strikes from half guard.

Rusesabagina looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rusesabagina is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roland is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant 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. Roland connects with a nice short shot to Rusesabagina's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Roland 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. This is the final round!

Rusesabagina shoots and misses

and Roland counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rusesabagina!
Roland is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rusesabagina can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Roland landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Roland cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Roland landing punches.
BOOM! Roland connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roland lands with some strikes.
Roland unloading with bombs!
Rusesabagina regains half guard.
Roland 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.
Roland prevents Rusesabagina from improving his position.
Roland working over Rusesabagina with some ground and pound. Rusesabagina looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rusesabagina manages to get to full guard.
Roland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roland lands a couple of elbows.

Rusesabagina looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Roland is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Rusesabagina working for a triangle but Roland defends it easily.
Roland is pushing down on Rusesabagina's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rusesabagina is fighting to maintain full guard but Roland has managed to sneak the leg through.
Roland lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Roland seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roland not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Roland not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Roland is looking to advance position but Rusesabagina won't allow it.
Rusesabagina moves into full guard.
Roland scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rusesabagina preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Rusesabagina escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roland postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Rusesabagina looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Roland passes into side control.
Roland working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusesabagina gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Rusesabagina actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roland lands a nice short elbow.
Roland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Roland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Roland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rusesabagina manages to get to full guard.
Rusesabagina striking off his back but it's not causing Roland any problems.
Roland chips away with some ground and pound.
Roland forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusesabagina is looking to escape.
Roland is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Roland lands a couple of decent looking shots.

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

Rusesabagina looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Roland is controlling Rusesabagina 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Roland sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rusesabagina's guard.
Rusesabagina is trying to maintain the position but Roland is very close to passing his half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rusesabagina on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Rusesabagina is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Roland pulls his head out easily.
Roland lands with a punch from half guard.

Rusesabagina looking for submissions off his back.
Roland is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Roland is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Antonio Roland has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roland drops an elbow to the side of Rusesabagina's head.
Roland lands with a punch from half guard.

Rusesabagina actively working from the bottom here.
Roland is nestled in close to Rusesabagina, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rusesabagina trying to control from the bottom.

Rusesabagina looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Roland.
Roland wants to pass the guard but Rusesabagina is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rusesabagina misses with a takedown

and Roland counters by clinching up.
Roland is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Roland prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chike Rusesabagina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roland lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rusesabagina can't get the takedown.
Roland lands an uppercut.
Roland gets underhooks to prevent Rusesabagina's takedown attempt.
Roland lands a nice shot to the body.
Rusesabagina pushes off an throws an elbow but Roland leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Roland lands a nice shot to the body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Roland lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Roland lands an uppercut.
Roland lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rusesabagina backwards.

Roland breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Roland misses.
Rusesabagina tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Roland moves into the clinch.
Roland makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rusesabagina fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Roland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rusesabagina lets loose with a powerful body kick. Roland will feel that in the morning.
Roland throws a front kick that sends Rusesabagina stumbling back into the ropes.
Roland will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Roland shoots in for a double leg but Rusesabagina sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rusesabagina fails to land the takedown.
Antonio Roland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Roland scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rusesabagina tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roland just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Rusesabagina misses with an elbow strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Roland.
Roland will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rusesabagina up against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Roland.

Roland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roland pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Roland tries to clinch but Rusesabagina moves out of range.
Rusesabagina fails to land the takedown.

Roland has Rusesabagina up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Roland gets underhooks to prevent Rusesabagina's takedown attempt.
Roland lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Roland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Roland closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Roland lands a nice forearm strike.
Rusesabagina gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rusesabagina keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Roland stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rusesabagina to get to his feet.
Roland wants to clinch up but Rusesabagina keeps it at a distance.
Rusesabagina circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rusesabagina counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Roland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Roland has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Antonio Roland!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Antonio Roland!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Antonio Roland!

Antonio Roland wins by unanimous decision!