PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shadow Deathgrip (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnold Rothstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shadow Deathgrip has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Deathgrip
vs
Rothstein

195 cm
34
127 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

170 cm
25
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shadow Deathgrip!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arnold Rothstein!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothstein misses with a low kick as Deathgrip jumps back.
Rothstein thows a leg kick but Deathgrip checks it
and Deathgrip counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Deathgrip avoids the body shot from Rothstein.
Rothstein lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Deathgrip fails with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rothstein. Deathgrip does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rothstein feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Deathgrips jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rothstein will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Deathgrip uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rothstein.
Deathgrip staying out of range there.
Rothstein throws a low kick but it's checked well by Deathgrip.
Deathgrip doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rothstein counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Deathgrip is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Deathgrip really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rothstein looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Deathgrip shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rothstein defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shadow Deathgrip. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothstein connects with an inside leg kick.
Deathgrip shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rothstein sprawls well. Rothstein wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Deathgrip gets slowly back to his feet.
Rothstein tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rothstein misses with a shot to the body
and Deathgrip counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rothstein fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Deathgrip gets a double leg takedown into Rothstein's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rothstein 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.
Deathgrip content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rothstein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Deathgrip pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rothstein is keeping the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rothstein is pulling down on Deathgrip's head. It's preventing any offense from Deathgrip, at least for the moment.
Deathgrip throws an elbow that misses. Rothstein uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Deathgrip's guard. Nice move by Rothstein!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein looking to pass the guard.
Rothstein has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at GTi Boot Camp. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Rothstein controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rothstein landing some decent shots from guard.
Rothstein keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Deathgrip's head.
Rothstein passes Deathgrip's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Deathgrip is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deathgrip avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rothstein.
Deathgrip is trying to get back to full guard.
Rothstein not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Deathgrip moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rothstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Deathgrip is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rothstein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rothstein distracts Deathgrip with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Deathgrip keeping moving, preventing Rothstein from controlling successfully.
Rothstein lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deathgrip tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein 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.

Rothstein is looking to slow Deathgrip down with leg kicks.
Rothstein wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Deathgrip takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rothstein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Deathgrip looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rothstein misses with a body shot.
Rothstein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Deathgrip.
Deathgrip ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab, jab by Rothstein - just one landing.
Rothstein is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Deathgrip rather than just go for the knockout.
Deathgrip connects with a body shot.
Rothstein shoots for a takedown but Deathgrip saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Deathgrip fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rothstein avoids it really well and circles away.
Rothstein cracks a nice hook into Deathgrip's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein lands a nice hook to Deathgrip's body. Deathgrip takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Deathgrip takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Deathgrip throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rothstein's waist but Rothstein gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Deathgrip off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shadow Deathgrip. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothstein misses the shot to the body.
Rothstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Deathgrip is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rothstein. Deathgrip does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rothstein lets loose with a powerful body kick. Deathgrip will feel that in the morning.
Sloppy strikes from Rothstein. Those never looked like landing.
Deathgrip checks a leg kick nicely.
Deathgrip tries for a takedown but Rothstein circles away easily
and Rothstein counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Deathgrip thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deathgrip moves out of range of the strikes.
Rothstein stuns Deathgrip with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rothstein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rothstein misses with a body shot
and Rothstein takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rothstein throws a right hand that Deathgrip ducks under and follows up with a left that Deathgrip also avoids with ease.
Rothstein looks to land a combination but Deathgrip avoids it well.
Deathgrip uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rothstein.
Rothstein with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Deathgrip drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rothstein can't do much from the bottom here.
Sloppy strikes there by Deathgrip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein is trying to control Deathgrip's posture but Deathgrip avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Deathgrip.
Rothstein gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rothstein trying to control but Deathgrip postures up.
Rothstein is looking to improve his position.
Deathgrip missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Deathgrip will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein wants to improve his position but Deathgrip is controlling well.
Deathgrip not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rothstein wants to improve his position but Deathgrip is controlling well.
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.
Deathgrip controlling the pace.
Deathgrip thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothstein has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Deathgrip is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Deathgrip is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rothstein.
Deathgrip defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rothstein.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Deathgrip, as that shot connected.
Rothstein fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Deathgrip looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rothstein is looking to land body kicks.
Rothstein misses with a wild body shot.
Rothstein slaps away a takedown attempt from Deathgrip, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A left and a right from Rothstein both land. Nice combination.

Deathgrip closes the distance and pushes Rothstein back into the ropes.
Rothstein is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deathgrip has Rothstein pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Rothstein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Deathgrip tries to pull guard but Rothstein forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shadow Deathgrip. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Deathgrip as Rothstein tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Arnold Rothstein.
Deathgrip showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rothstein.
Rothstein misses with a wild body shot.
Deathgrip shoots in but Rothstein avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rothstein lands with a good body shot.
Arnold Rothstein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein throws a series of punches but Deathgrip avoids them all with ease.
Rothstein lands a nice shot to the body.
A shot to the body from Rothstein misses

and Deathgrip counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Deathgrip.

Rothstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Deathgrip closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rothstein circles away.
Rothstein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Deathgrip shoots for a double leg takedown but Rothstein sprawls well. He's pushed Deathgrip's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Arnold Rothstein seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rothstein misses with a body shot.
Rothstein cracks the inside of Deathgrip's front leg.
Rothstein displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Deathgrip.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Deathgrip takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein misses with the combination.
Good leg kick by Rothstein there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Deathgrip moves out of range as Rothstein throws a body kick.
Deathgrip throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Deathgrip uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rothstein.
Rothstein lands a nice looking body shot.

Deathgrip shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rothstein napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Deathgrip working the head and body with strikes.
Rothstein wants to control but Deathgrip postures up.
Deathgrip throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Rothstein works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Deathgrip content to control rather than advance.
Shadow Deathgrip has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein is looking to improve his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Deathgrip is thwarting Rothstein's attempts to control the position.
Rothstein pushes Deathgrip off looking to stand but Deathgrip dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnold Rothstein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rothstein 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

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