PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Jericho (ranked 2443 p4p, 230 weight class) and Jeff Roberts (ranked 6583 p4p, 418 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jericho
vs
Roberts

170 cm
27
147 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

182 cm
34
154 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

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 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maxim Jericho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeff Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jericho drives through and clinches with Roberts against the cage.
Roberts tries for a takedown. No joy.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Jericho manages to get underhooks.
Jericho has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jericho.
Jericho stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Jericho lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Roberts backwards.
Roberts takes a shot to the head.
Jericho slowing the pace effectively.
Jericho controlling the action here for a moment.
A short uppercut from Jericho.
Jericho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Roberts backwards.
Jericho lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Jericho pushes Roberts back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Jericho avoiding damage.
Roberts drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jericho gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Maxim Jericho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Roberts.
Jericho pushes Roberts back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Roberts is trying to pull guard but Jericho turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Jericho forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jericho taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short left from Jericho.

Roberts manages to pull guard.
Jericho loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roberts is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jericho is controlling him.
Roberts preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roberts working a defensive guard but Jericho manages to pass into side control anyway.
The strikes coming from Jericho are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jericho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.
Roberts is pushing Jericho's head away, looking to escape. Jericho manages to hold on to the position though.
Jericho has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Jericho lands a big elbow.
Roberts is squirming around, avoiding Jericho's attempts to control the action.
Roberts is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jericho has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Roberts's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jericho landing punches.

Jericho swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Roberts is now in Jericho's guard. A big mistake from Jericho there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jericho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jericho looking for a sweep. Not yet Jericho, not yet.
Jericho is trying to keep Roberts in close.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Jericho keeps moving.

Jericho throws his legs up looking for a submission but Roberts uses it to pass to side control.
Roberts tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Jericho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Roberts's best efforts.
Jericho wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy.
Roberts thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jericho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jericho 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.
Roberts lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jericho manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roberts looking to sit in guard and control but Jericho gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jericho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jericho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jericho is fighting to break Roberts's control of his arms but Roberts is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jericho looking to sit in guard and control but Roberts gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Jericho dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roberts takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Jericho scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Roberts doesn't seem bothered though.
Jericho tests Roberts's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Jericho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roberts tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jericho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roberts somewhat.
Jericho punishes Roberts's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts darts in looking for a takedown but Jericho gets double underhooks and turns Roberts into the cage.
Maxim Jericho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Roberts.
Jericho takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Roberts has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Jericho.
Jericho lands a front kick.
Jericho scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roberts moves away.
Roberts walks into a jab.
Roberts on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maxim Jericho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown attempt by Roberts or perhaps it was just good defense by Jericho, which made it look bad.
Roberts takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roberts.
Jericho connects with a looping right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Jericho as he connects with a hook.
Jericho thows a left - swing and a miss!

Roberts closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jericho quickly recovers to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jericho wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jericho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jericho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roberts pulls his head out easily.

Roberts wants to work for an arm triangle but Jericho is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jericho manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jericho trying to control the position.
Roberts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jericho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Roberts manages to get himself to full guard.

Jericho chips away with some ground and pound.
Jericho throws a big elbow that misses.
Jericho throwing strikes but missing.
Jericho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Roberts has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Jericho has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Come on Jericho - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Jericho lands with a right to the head.
Jericho lands a nice uppercut.
Jericho leaning his opponent against the cage.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Jericho won't allow it.

Jericho's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jericho pushes Roberts away with a front kick.
Jericho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roberts manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jericho misses with a hook. Roberts ducked under it nicely.
Jericho thuds his right hand into Roberts's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jericho lands a really nice looking cross but Roberts seems unphased.
Jericho throws a head kick but Roberts moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good shot there by Jericho.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jericho counters with a good low kick that Roberts was not able to check.
Jericho connects with a body shot that sends Roberts's belly button to the back.
A combination from Jericho does no damage.

Jericho has closed the distance and engaged Roberts in a clinch.
Come on Jericho - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Jericho is leaning against Roberts and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Jericho dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Jericho scores with a hook to the body. Roberts takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jericho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roberts moves away.
Roberts tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Jericho throws a half hearted mid kick.
And Roberts tries to counter it with a takedown but Jericho pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jericho ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jericho scores with a nice body kick.

Jericho has closed the distance and engaged Roberts in a clinch.

Roberts ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Roberts no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Jericho is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Jericho from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jericho forces his way into half guard.
Jericho seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Roberts does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho trying to pass the guard but Roberts defending well.
Roberts blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jericho.
Roberts has hold of Jericho's hands but Jericho slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jericho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roberts can do to turn this around?
Jericho wants to take a breather but Roberts is having none of it.
Maxim Jericho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jericho lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jericho not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jericho performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two 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.
Jericho thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jericho throwing shots but Roberts is blocking nicely.
Jericho takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Roberts blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jericho.
Jericho throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jericho thows a huge punch but Roberts dodges it nicely.
Jericho trying to mount his opponent but Roberts defends it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jericho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jericho has closed the distance and engaged Roberts in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jericho takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A nice left hand lands by Jericho.
Jericho is stalling here.
Roberts tries to score a body lock takedown but Jericho shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Roberts being controlled against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jericho.
Jericho lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Roberts backwards.
Jericho working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jericho slows down the pace here.
Jericho stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jericho leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Maxim Jericho.
Roberts steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Jericho. That one must have hurt.
Jericho misses with the combination.
Maxim Jericho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jericho throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Roberts tries to move into range but Jericho moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Jeff Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jericho smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jericho connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Roberts momentarily.
Jericho lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jericho stuns Roberts with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jericho's corner calls for a 1-2. Jericho obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jericho throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jeff Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maxim Jericho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roberts tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jericho defends well and Roberts ends up having to push Jericho into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxim Jericho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jericho has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxim Jericho!
Maxim Jericho seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.