PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kendrik Down (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Down might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Let's Go. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Down
vs
Rogers

183 cm
27
172 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

183 cm
33
177 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

MMA Hype Apparel
Sun-Tzu

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kendrik Down!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Down sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rogers fails with a takedown attempt.
Rogers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Down's waist but Down gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rogers off to one side.
Kendrik Down has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rogers.
Rogers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Down tries to avoid it but Rogers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Down to the ground. Down escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Down was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Down looks to score with a jab to the body but Rogers is just out of range.
Rogers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Down tries to avoid it but Rogers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Down to the ground. Down escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rogers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rogers walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kendrik Down seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rogers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Down looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Down is looking for a sweep.
Down is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Iron Works $800 Elite Coaches, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Rogers wants to take a breather but Down manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rogers.
My spies in LOD: Contenders inform me that Rogers has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Down keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers postures up and lands a big shot to Down's brow.
Down seems keen to control Rogers's posture.
Rogers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Down 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.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rogers trying to control but Down is working from the bottom.
Rogers throws a big right hand that misses.
Down looking for a sweep. Not yet Down, not yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rogers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Down is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Down throws a jab but it's blocked by Rogers.
Rogers fails with the takedown
and Down counters with a stiff right hand.
Rogers swings for the body but Down moves out of range.
Down pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Down throws a series of punches but Rogers moves out of range.
Rogers feints the counter takedown.

Rogers gets tackled into the ropes by Down. Down maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Down after a bit of a struggle.
Rogers wants a takedown but no success here.
Down can't get the takedown.
Down looking for a takedown.
Rogers gets underhooks to prevent Down's takedown attempt.
Down tries to throw a body punch but Rogers avoids it by throwing Down back against the ropes.
Rogers wants a takedown but no success here.
Stalling in the clinch from Down.
Down fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Down lands an uppercut.

Down escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Down closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rogers circles away.
Rogers with the counter takedown but Down avoids it easily.
Down swings widly with a right hand

so Rogers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rogers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throwing strikes but missing.
Rogers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rogers connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rogers trying to control the position from guard on top but Down is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rogers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rogers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Down works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rogers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from Down.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogers throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rogers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rogers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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 Kendrik Down will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Down throws a jab when Rogers was well out of range.
Rogers defending well as Down loads up on a big left hand.
Rogers is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Down is looking to clinch but Rogers is avoiding it.
Down is looking to clinch.
A jab from Down misses.
Down throws a hook but Rogers avoids it easily.
Rogers closes the distance and clinches up with Down, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes Down against the ropes but Down circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rogers shoots in looking for a takedown. Down tries to sprawl out of it but Rogers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Down manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Down tries to counter with a takedown but Rogers is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Down avoids the body shot from Rogers.
Down seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Down darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rogers gets cracked there but stands up to it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rogers.
Kendrik Down has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rogers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Down throws out a loose jab but Rogers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rogers moves out of range of the strikes.
Rogers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Down defends it nicely.
Down swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Down sprawls well. Down wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rogers gets slowly back to his feet.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Down as he jumps to the side.
Rogers moves forwards but Down connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rogers takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Down looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rogers is fending him off so far but Down persists. Nope, Rogers circles away and we're back to standing.
Rogers ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Down throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Down shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rogers sprawls well. Rogers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Down gets slowly back to his feet.
Rogers with the counter takedown but Down avoids it easily.
Down keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Down with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rogers to score with a decent uppercut.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Down as he jumps to the side.
Rogers has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Down sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Down throws a big shot that misses.
Down lands a jab.
Down misses with a straight right.

Rogers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rogers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Down defending well though.
Down blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rogers.
Down is trying to control but can't.

Rogers looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Down blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rogers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Down defending well though.
Down tries to roll over but Rogers keeps him under control.
Rogers wants to take a breather but Down is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Down with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rogers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrik Down dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Down tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rogers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rogers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Down counters with a stiff right hand.
Down is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rogers can do to turn this around?
Rogers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Down closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rogers to the mat! Rogers manages to get full guard.
Down controls from within his opponent's guard.
Down trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Down prevents Rogers from getting back to his feet.
Down wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.
Down is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Down trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Down prevents Rogers from getting back to his feet.
Down trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rogers shoots for a takedown but Down saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kendrik Down has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rogers.
Down fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rogers closes the distance and clinches up with Down, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes Down against the ropes but Down circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jab by Down.
Down fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rogers avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Down but Down pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rogers takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Rogers looking to score a takedown here. Down is defending well but Rogers drives through and ends up in Down's guard.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Down keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from Down.
Rogers trying to control but Down is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rogers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rogers throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Down cracks Rogers with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Down is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Down loads up on a big right hand but Rogers slips the punch.

Rogers shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rogers trying to control the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Down is defending against the submission attempts here by Rogers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrik Down clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Down misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rogers.
Rogers drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Down defends it well.
Down stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Down wants it to stay on the feet.
Down throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Down slaps away a takedown attempt from Rogers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Down throws out a loose jab but Rogers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rogers changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Down slaps away a takedown attempt from Rogers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kendrik Down has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rogers.
Rogers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Down throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rogers ducks under a wild hook from Down.
Down has a takedown stuffed.
Rogers swings for the body but Down moves out of range.
Down is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers staying out of range there.
Down fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kendrik Down is winning the standup battle so far.
Rogers looks for a takedown but Down sprawls well.
Down was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rogers takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rogers shoots in for a double leg but Down sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rogers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Down.
Rogers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Down is fending him off so far but Rogers persists. Nope, Down circles away and we're back to standing.
Down misses with an uppercut. Rogers saw that one coming.
Rogers tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rogers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Down dives in and grabs Rogers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes down on Down's head and hops out.
Down throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rogers is defended easily by Down.
Decent striking displayed by Down there.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A counter left hand to the body from Down misses its target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rogers is defended easily by Down.
Down throwing a counter right hand but Rogers manages to avoid it.
Down scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Down gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Down looking for a sweep. Not yet Down, not yet.
Down trying to strike off his back.
Rogers lands a couple of digs.

Rogers drops back looking for a leg! Down is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Down manages to kick Rogers off! Rogers jumps back into Down's guard.
Rogers throwing strikes from guard but Down blocks nicely.
Sam Rogers has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Down 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.
Down keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.
Rogers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rogers misses the shot to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rogers dives in and grabs Down's left leg, looking for a takedown. Down pushes down on Rogers's head and hops out.
Rogers shoots in looking for a takedown. Down tries to sprawl out of it but Rogers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Down manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrik Down had his way with Sam Rogers in that 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!

Down takes a swing at Rogers's ribcage but misses.

Rogers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Down looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Down's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rogers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Down has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rogers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Down can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers in side control lands a decent elbow.

Rogers looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rogers goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Down rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rogers's guard! Nice work there by Down!
Down throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Down working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rogers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Down prevents Rogers from getting back to his feet.
Down looking to sit in guard and control but Rogers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Down looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rogers is one step ahead there.
Rogers postures up and lands a big shot to Down's brow.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Down keeps moving.
Rogers is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Down haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rogers connects with a couple of short punches.
Rogers controlling from the top position.
Down keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kendrik Down is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rogers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rogers walks into a stiff left hand from Down.
Down fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Down. That snapped Rogers's head back.
Rogers shoots in but Down avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rogers has his takedown stuffed
and Down counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kendrik Down has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rogers.

Rogers tries to sprawl but Down drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Down wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogers keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rogers kicks off Down and gets to his feet.
Sam Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers throws a lazy right hand but Down sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam Rogers.
I think Down has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendrik Down!
Kendrik Down is the new welterweight champion!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Kendrik Down waved his t-shirt featuring Sun-Tzu's logo in front of the cameras.
The defeated Sam Rogers had this to say: 'Thanks a lot for the support everyone ! I will be back ... !'.