PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chad Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksey Rykov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rykov has chosen Насик as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Chad Roth has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Chad Roth seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Roth
vs
Rykov

154 cm
21
151 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

176 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chad Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksey Rykov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rykov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Roth could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Roth gets back to half guard.

Rykov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Roth has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rykov controlling the pace.
Rykov trying to control from half guard but Roth is working away.
Roth might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nice strikes from Rykov there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth has his hands clasped together around Rykov's back. He's all about the action.
Rykov stops Roth from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rykov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roth keeps working.
Roth is trying to stand up here but Rykov is controlling him well.
Rykov wants to stand but Roth has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rykov trying to control the pace.
Roth slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Roth is looking to stand up but Rykov isn't so interested in that idea.

Rykov stands and steps away. Roth gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rykov moves into the clinch.

Roth gets control of Rykov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Roth will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rykov won't allow Roth to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rykov trying to control the position from guard on top but Roth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roth seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Roth manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Roth working aggressively here.
Roth is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rykov is defending well.

Roth jumps into guard, dragging Rykov to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roth keeping moving, preventing Rykov from controlling successfully.
Roth pulls Rykov in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rykov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Roth's guard.
Rykov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rykov wants to control from the top but Roth keeps moving.

Rykov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Roth dives on top into guard.

Roth postures up.
Roth lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Rykov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roth doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Roth manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rykov looks winded!
Roth content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rykov is trying to control the position but Roth postures up.
Rykov has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
Roth connects with a couple of short punches.
Roth distracts Rykov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roth works over Rykov with some ground and pound from guard.
Roth postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rykov wants to stand up but Roth is controlling him.
Roth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Roth dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Roth gets caught napping as Rykov dives in and scores a takedown. Roth manages to retain guard.
Rykov throwing strikes but missing.
Roth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roth is adopting a defensive guard.
Rykov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roth is proving hard to escape from.

Roth has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rykov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth has Rykov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rykov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Roth drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roth gets caught napping as Rykov dives in and scores a takedown. Roth manages to retain guard.
Rykov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rykov wants to pass the guard but Roth is keeping the position.
Roth can't keep his opponent in guard - Rykov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rykov is breathing heavily.
Rykov wants to stand up but Roth is controlling the position.
Roth is controlling Rykov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Roth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rykov can do to turn this around?
Rykov prevents Roth from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Roth slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Roth seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Roth is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Roth 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.
Roth is looking to stand up but Rykov isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rykov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Roth clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Rykov looking for the RNC.

Rykov looking to break Roth's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Roth remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rykov will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Despite being in a bad position, Roth is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.
Rykov struggling to keep hold of the position.
Roth wants to get back to his feet.
Roth has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rykov missing with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth turns into Rykov and is now in his guard.
Roth keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rykov's head.

Rykov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roth is aware though and is defending well.
Roth with a nice head shot there.
Roth keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rykov's head.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roth lands a couple of digs.
Rykov working a defensive guard but Roth passes into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rykov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Roth jumps into side control!
Roth working away.
Roth looks up at the clock and then as Rykov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Roth smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Roth dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Roth has taken the fight to the clinch.
Roth is trying to pull guard but Rykov has him pressed against the cage.
Rykov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roth's elbow.

Rykov jumps guard and drags Roth to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Roth stopping the sweep attempt from Rykov.
Roth landing some decent shots from guard.
Rykov trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth connects with a couple of short punches.
Roth working some strikes from top position.
Rykov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roth landing with the ground and pound.
Roth working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth is in close to Rykov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Roth keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rykov's head.
Roth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roth connects with a couple of short punches.
Roth stands up over Rykov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Roth stands up over Rykov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Roth postures up and lands a big shot to Rykov's brow.
Roth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roth lands a couple of digs.

Rykov is rocked!
Roth distracts Rykov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rykov is still in real trouble! Can Roth finish him?
Roth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Roth chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rykov has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roth lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rykov has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
Roth cracks Rykov with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roth is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Roth chips away with some ground and pound.
Rykov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Roth lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Roth chips away with some ground and pound.

Rykov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth works over Rykov with some ground and pound from guard.
Roth lands a couple of elbows.
Roth cracks Rykov with a solid left hand.
Roth stands up over Rykov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rykov 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.
Roth with a nice head shot there.
Roth works over Rykov with some ground and pound from guard.
Roth cracks Rykov with a solid left hand.

Rykov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roth gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Roth working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rykov's head.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rykov has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
Roth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Chad Roth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roth connects with a couple of short punches.
Roth postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roth scoring with some ground and pound.
Aleksey Rykov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chad Roth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roth landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roth, 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Roth!
In defeat, Aleksey Rykov stepped up to the mic, saying 'Go on dick Bitch!!!'.