PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Austin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Root (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bobby Root has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Austin
vs
Root

200 cm
18
285 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
23
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steve Austin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bobby Root !
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Austin throws a right hand that Root ducks under and follows up with a left that Root also avoids with ease.
Root shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Austin as he avoids it easily.
Austin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Austin backs off Root throws a huge counter combo but Austin manages to avoid it all.
Austin swings for the body but Root moves out of range.
Root shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Austin as he avoids it easily.
Austin blocks a head kick by Root .

Austin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Austin showed some decent athleticism there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Root can do anything to dispel that myth.
Root wants to control but Austin is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Root is looking for a sweep. Austin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Austin postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Root to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Root .

Root moves into the clinch successfully.

Austin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Root tries to keep at a distance but Austin has taken the fight into the clinch.

Root pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Austin tries to clinch there but Root circles away.

Root closes the distance and clinches.
Root wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Austin has him pressed against the cage.

Austin has clasped his hands together around Root 's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Austin has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Root 's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Root duly obliges.

It looks like Steve Austin has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Austin has closed the distance and engaged Root in a clinch.
Root stalls.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Root is fighting off a takedown attempt but Austin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Root to the mat. Root regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Root is wriggling around but Austin manages to pass to half guard.

Austin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Austin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Root avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Austin.
Austin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Root wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Austin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Root is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Austin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Austin stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Austin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Austin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Austin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Austin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Root to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Austin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Austin wriggles free and stands up.
Austin tries to close the distance and clinch but Root swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Austin is defended easily by Root .
Root doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Austin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Root is looking for a sweep. Austin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Austin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Root tries to get to full guard but Austin has control of the leg.
Austin not doing much here.

That's two 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.
Austin wants to free his trapped foot but Root is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Root dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Root looking to score a takedown here. Austin is defending well but Root drives through and ends up in Austin's guard.
Austin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Austin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Root doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Root manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Root trying to control but Austin is working from the bottom.
Austin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Root manages to get himself to full guard.

Root looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Austin cracks Root with a solid left hand.
Austin controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Austin is standing up over Root . Root looks to escape but Austin dives into side control.
Root is looking for a sweep.
Root is breathing heavily.

Austin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Austin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Austin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Austin's cut.
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!

Austin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick by Austin misses

and Root counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Austin trying to land knees to the body.

Austin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Root uses from the top position.
Root wants to control from the top but Austin keeps moving.
Austin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Root puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Austin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Root can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Root scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Austin trying to control from the bottom.
Austin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin wants to get back to his feet.
Root really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Austin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Root trying to control the action but Austin is working from the bottom.
Root tries to pass the half guard into mount. Austin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Root trying to control from Austin's half guard. Austin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Austin is looking for a triangle but Root pushes his legs off easily.

Austin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Root can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Austin looking for a sweep. Not yet Austin, not yet.
Root with a flurry of punches that miss.
Root must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Austin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Root looking to pass the guard.
Austin keeping moving, preventing Root from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Austin has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Root off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Root tries to clinch but Austin is having none of it.
Austin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Root .

Austin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Root , pushing him back against the cage.

Austin decides to pull guard.
Austin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Root manages to get himself to full guard.

Root is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Austin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Root is trying to control the position but Austin postures up.

Austin stands and steps away. Root gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Austin shoots for a takedown but Root saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Austin dives in for a single leg takedown but Root sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Austin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
That kick from Root tenderised Austin's leg. Austin is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bobby Root has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Austin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Root .

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Austin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Austin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Austin!