PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Blaze (ranked 3040 p4p, 248 weight class) and Connor Rollins (ranked 24804 p4p, 403 weight class). Blaze comes to the cage accompanied by Shoot to thrill, AC/DC. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blaze
vs
Rollins

182 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Hot Spunk

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nathan Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Connor Rollins!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaze tries a head kick but it misses.
Rollins looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Blaze fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rollins has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rollins lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Blaze tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rollins counters with a shoot takedown. Blaze fights it but they end up in guard.

Blaze manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Rollins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blaze.
Rollins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Blaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rollins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rollins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Blaze trying to control but Rollins postures up.
Rollins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Blaze is trying to get back to full guard.
Rollins content to control rather than advance.
Rollins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Blaze does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rollins prevents Blaze from improving his position.
Rollins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blaze. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blaze wants to get back to full guard but Rollins has mounted him!
Blaze is wriggling around trying to escape.
Blaze tries to hold on but Rollins pushes him away.
Blaze is desperately trying to improve his position but Rollins has a good base and remains in mount.
Rollins tries to control but Blaze wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blaze manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rollins wants to stand but Blaze is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blaze is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rollins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.
Blaze throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rollins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Blaze explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Blaze is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blaze looks to land a combination but Rollins avoids it well.
Blaze tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rollins swivels and escapes.
Blaze tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rollins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
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 Nathan Blaze will probably get the nod.
That's time! Blaze's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Blaze is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blaze shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rollins as he jumps to the side.
Blaze checks a leg kick.
Rollins defending well as Blaze loads up on a big left hand.
Blaze fails with a takedown attempt.

Rollins closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Blaze quickly recovers to half guard.

Blaze manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze throws a series of punches but Rollins moves out of range.
Blaze shoots in looking for a takedown. Rollins tries to sprawl out of it but Blaze keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rollins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Blaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rollins slips a jab and a cross from Blaze.
Blaze fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blaze misses with a double jab

and Rollins counters by moving into the clinch.
Blaze is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rollins is keeping busy.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze tries to clinch there but Rollins circles away.
Blaze throws a head kick but Rollins moves out of range.
Rollins lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Connor Rollins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rollins instigates a clinch.
Rollins landing knees to the head.
Rollins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Blaze is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rollins pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rollins throws an elbow that misses.
Rollins is pressed up against the cage. Blaze has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rollins down to the mat. Rollins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rollins misses with a head kick.
Blaze misses with a takedown attempt - Rollins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rollins doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Blaze takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Blaze lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rollins at a distance.
Nathan Blaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blaze throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Blaze swings for the body but Rollins moves out of range.
Blaze tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rollins rushes Blaze and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Blaze throws an elbow but misses.
Blaze jumps guard but Rollins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rollins lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rollins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blaze goes for a double leg but Rollins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rollins continues to drive forward.
Rollins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Blaze in his tracks.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Blaze.

Rollins feints and as Blaze raises his hands in defense, Rollins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Blaze has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rollins has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rollins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blaze's efforts to push away.
Rollins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Rollins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rollins takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Rollins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blaze is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rollins to keep the fight standing.
Blaze really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rollins has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Blaze is trying to keep an underhook but Rollins manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Blaze manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rollins keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Blaze is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rollins to keep the fight standing.
Rollins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Blaze tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Blaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rollins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blaze looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blaze is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Blaze tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rollins smiles and moves away.
Rollins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rollins throws a head kick but Blaze moves out of range.
Blaze misses with a wild body shot.
Blaze tries to clinch there but Rollins circles away.
Despite the aggression on Rollins's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Blaze shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rollins as he avoids it easily.
Rollins raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Rollins has managed to clinch.
Blaze tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rollins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Blaze jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rollins walks away with a smile on his face. Blaze gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rollins throws a body shot but no joy.
Blaze is looking to counter with head kicks.
Blaze throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Blaze fails to land with a series of punches.
Blaze gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rollins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Blaze manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rollins shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Blaze manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Blaze is working an open guard so Rollins takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Blaze tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rollins swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rollins gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze is trying to pull guard but Rollins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Blaze jumps guard but Rollins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Blaze is trying to pull guard but Rollins has him pressed against the cage.

Rollins breaks from the clinch.
Rollins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blaze.
Rollins slaps away a takedown attempt from Blaze, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rollins lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze wants to clinch
and Rollins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rollins keeps the fight on the outside.
Blaze shoots for a double leg takedown but Rollins sprawls well. He's pushed Blaze's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rollins gets the takedown into side control.

Blaze throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rollins defending well as Blaze loads up on a big left hand.
Rollins lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Rollins closes the distance and clinches.

Rollins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rollins shoots in and bounces Blaze off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nathan Blaze overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rollins looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Connor Rollins.
I think Rollins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Rollins!
Connor Rollins decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.