PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Newman (ranked 4653 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taky Roth (ranked 5313 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Newman
vs
Roth

180 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Newman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taky Roth!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Newman instigates a clinch.
Newman stops a takedown attempt from Roth.
Roth looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Roth fails to pull guard.
Roth jumps guard but Newman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
John Newman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taky Roth.

Roth has picked Newman up - he's going for a ride! Roth dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Newman wants to sweep but Roth has passed to side control!
Newman holding on.
Newman gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newman is looking to control Roth's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Newman avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman is trying to stand back up but Roth is controlling him

Newman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roth pulls his head out easily.
Newman is staying active underneath Roth, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Newman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roth throwing strikes but missing.
Newman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roth is one step ahead there.
Roth must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Newman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Roth controls the pace.

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.
Newman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Newman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newman has his hands on Roth's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Roth shoots in for a double leg but Newman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Newman tries to counter by clinching up but Roth breaks away and moves out of range.

Roth shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Newman kicks Roth off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Roth. No joy for Newman on that attempt.

Roth drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Newman is trying to get back to half guard.
Roth trying to control the action but Newman is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Roth's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Roth decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Newman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Newman wants it to stay on the feet.
Roth blocks a head kick by Newman.
Newman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Roth or perhaps it was just good defense by Newman, which made it look bad.
Newman leaves Roth with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Newman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Newman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roth sprawls well. Roth wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Newman gets slowly back to his feet.
Roth fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roth.
Roth takes a swing at Newman's ribcage but misses.
Newman keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Roth stalling in the clinch but Newman improves position.
Roth is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Newman wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Newman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Roth uses from the top position.
Roth throws a strike but Newman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Newman gets to his feet - Roth follows without any prompting.
Newman scores with a body shot.
Roth defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Newman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Roth circles away.
Roth takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Roth gets tackled into the cage by Newman. Newman maintains the clinch.
Roth prevents Newman from breaking the clinch.
Newman is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth is looking to control Newman's arms but Newman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Roth has his back to the cage.
Newman tries to pull guard but Roth holds him up against the cage and eventually Newman drops back down to his feet.
Newman tries to break the clinch but Roth is controlling the position.
Roth fails to pull guard.

Roth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Newman fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Roth has Newman up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Newman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Roth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Roth wants a takedown.
Newman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roth avoids it.

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

Roth closes the distance and pushes Newman back into the cage.
Newman is trying to pull guard but Roth turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roth gets underhooks to prevent Newman's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman stops a takedown attempt from Roth.
Roth is trying to pull guard but Newman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roth tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Newman smiles and moves away.

Newman forces Roth back against the cage and clinches.
Roth tries for a takedown. No joy.
Roth is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Newman to keep the fight standing.
Newman pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Newman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Newman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Roth from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Newman dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Newman dives in for a single leg takedown but Roth sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Roth is looking to clinch but Newman is avoiding it.
Newman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Roth manages to circle out of the way.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roth.
Newman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roth's waist but Roth gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Newman off to one side.
Roth throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Newman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newman shoots in for a takedown but Roth shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roth tries to counter with a clinch but Newman shakes him off and moves away.
An inside leg kick lands from Roth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Newman as he jumps to the side.

Newman moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newman jumps into guard, dragging Roth to the mat.
Newman pulls Roth in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Newman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roth.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Roth from controlling successfully.
Roth looking to pass the guard.
Roth stands up over Newman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
John Newman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Roth looking to sit in guard and control but Newman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Roth wants to improve his position but instead Newman has moved into half guard.
Roth controlling the position for now.
Newman prevents Roth from improving his position.
Newman is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman thows a huge punch but Roth dodges it nicely.
Roth wants to improve his position but Newman is controlling well.
Roth is controlling Newman's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Roth is trying to maintain the position but Newman is very close to passing his half guard.

Newman decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

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.
Newman stuffs the takedown attempt from Roth. Roth gets slowly back to his feet.
Newman misses with a takedown attempt
and Roth counters with a good low kick that Newman was not able to check.
Newman fails to land the takedown.
Roth bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Newman's head backwards.
Roth has his takedown stuffed
and Newman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newman has his takedown stuffed
and Roth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Newman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Newman, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Newman!