PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Rotoras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Les Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rotoras comes to the cage accompanied by Remember the Name!. Ricardo Rotoras has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rotoras
vs
Paul

172 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Alpha-Omega

Hell's Balls Nutrition
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Rotoras!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Les Paul!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rotoras gets a clinch.
Rotoras is trying to break free.
Rotoras looking for a takedown.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but Rotoras uses good head movement to avoid it.

Paul breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rotoras gets the takedown into side control.
Paul tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rotoras wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rotoras is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Paul knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Paul gets back to half guard.

Rotoras is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Paul makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paul.
Paul is trying to keep Rotoras in close.
Rotoras throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Paul passes to full mount!

Paul is working for a guillotine from mount but Rotoras frees his head quite easily.
Rotoras is working to get back to half guard.

Paul is going olschool here, as he tries to force Rotoras to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rotoras shrugs it off.
Rotoras is desperately trying to improve his position but Paul has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rotoras is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Paul is landing with some decent strikes but Rotoras is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Paul trying to control but Rotoras is having none of it.
Rotoras sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rotoras looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rotoras looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rotoras is breathing heavily.

Rotoras actively working from the bottom here.
Rotoras tries to get to full guard but Paul has control of the leg.
Paul throwing shots but Rotoras is blocking nicely.

Paul is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rotoras defends it well.

Paul is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rotoras is just riding it out for now. Paul eventually gives up the hold.
Rotoras gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.

Paul gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Paul drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rotoras tries to buck Paul off but Paul is having none of it.
Rotoras sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Rotoras is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Paul pulls his head out easily.

Rotoras is defending against the submission attempts here by Paul.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rotoras is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Paul pulls his head out easily.
Rotoras is trying to get back to full guard.
Paul is pressing down on Rotoras's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rotoras is holding on for now.
Paul wants to take a breather but Rotoras is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Paul closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paul lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paul advances position into side control!
Rotoras regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Paul dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rotoras fails with the takedown

so Paul counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Rotoras is looking for a triangle but Paul pushes his legs off easily.

Paul thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rotoras has his foot on Paul's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paul works his way back into a safe position though.
Paul stands and throws Rotoras's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Paul trying to control the action but Rotoras is working from the bottom.
Rotoras is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Paul wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rotoras, who protects the arm well.
Paul tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotoras is trying to improve his position.
Rotoras prevents Paul from improving position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rotoras tries for a takedown but Paul circles away easily

and Paul counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rotoras had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Paul is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rotoras Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Paul's back instead.
Paul tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Rotoras jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Paul is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Paul and Rotoras has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Rotoras wants to work for an arm triangle but Paul is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Paul wants to control but Rotoras is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Paul slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Paul trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Rotoras is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Paul is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Paul has escaped and now he's on top!

Rotoras escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Paul gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Paul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Paul wants to pass the guard but Rotoras is keeping the position.

Rotoras has his foot on Paul's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paul works his way back into a safe position though.
Paul pushing down on Rotoras's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Paul wants to work for an arm triangle but Rotoras is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Paul is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rotoras keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rotoras is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.

Rotoras looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rotoras is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Paul passes the guard and advances to mount!
Paul looking to control but Rotoras is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Paul prevents Rotoras from getting the reversal.
Paul takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rotoras is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Paul 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!

Paul shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rotoras tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paul fails to take his opponent's back.
Rotoras is looking to get to half guard.
Paul looking to finish with strikes here!
Rotoras keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rotoras tries to improve his position but instead Paul has taken his back!

Rotoras preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Paul.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paul lands a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paul is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rotoras is defending well though. Paul let's go of the attempt for now.
Rotoras tries to roll but Paul sticks to his back.
Will Paul go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

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.
Rotoras tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Paul prevents Rotoras from getting the reversal.
Rotoras sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rotoras is refusing to be controlled, as Paul sits in half guard.

Paul wants to work for an arm triangle but Rotoras is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rotoras is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Paul pulls his head out easily.
Paul stalling.

Rotoras is defending against the submission attempts here by Paul.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rotoras looking for submissions off his back.
Paul is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rotoras is looking to improve his position but Paul isn't that keen on the idea.
Rotoras is squirming around, avoiding Paul's attempts to control the action.
Rotoras working to try and regain half guard.
Paul sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rotoras is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Paul controlling the pace for now.
Rotoras is looking to improve his position but Paul isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Paul looking for a guillotine from mount but Rotoras is having none of it.
Ricardo Rotoras has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Les Paul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rotoras is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Les Paul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Paul 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Les Paul!