PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Peters (ranked 4285 p4p, 4185 weight class) and Theron Roark (ranked 0 p4p, 503 weight class). Theron Roark will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Peters
vs
Roark

190 cm
25
185
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
207
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dave Peters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Theron Roark!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roark misses with a body kick.
Roark lands a lovely overhand right.

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

Peters tries for a kimura but Roark is defending well.
Peters is chipping away with strikes.
Roark is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roark is not content to let Peters control the position.
Peters working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peters throws an elbow but Roark slips to the side and avoids it well.
Peters is trying to ground and pound but Roark uses the momentary lack of control by Peters to regain half guard.
Peters not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Peters thows a huge punch but Roark dodges it nicely.
Peters thows a huge punch but Roark dodges it nicely.
Peters wants to free his trapped foot but Roark is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Roark manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peters trying to control but Roark is working from the bottom.
Peters is in close to Roark's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Peters trying to control the position from guard on top but Roark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Peters stops Roark from standing up.
Peters with a flurry of punches that miss.
Peters pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roark is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peters working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Roark tries to bum rush Peters with a series of wild strikes but Peters uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Roark looks for the body kick but Peters saw that one coming.
Roark connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Roark misses with a few strikes there.
Roark misses with a jab, cross combination.

Peters scores with a takedown into Roark's guard.

Roark has his feet on Peters's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Peters fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roark misses with a double jab

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Peters counters with a shoot takedown. Roark fights it but they end up in guard.
Roark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Peters.
Peters makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Peters throwing strikes from guard but Roark blocks nicely.
Peters is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Theron Roark will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roark fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Peters shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Roark defends it nicely.
Roark fails to land the takedown.
Peters feinted with a counter takedown.
Roark stuffs the takedown attempt from Peters. Peters gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peters pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Peters dives in and scores a takedown into Roark's guard.
Peters stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roark wants to stand but Peters is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roark keeping moving, preventing Peters from controlling successfully.
Peters throws a big right hand that misses.

Roark has his foot on Peters's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Peters works his way back into a safe position though.

Roark is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Roark is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Peters to keep the fight standing.

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

Peters tightening his grip on Roark, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roark is having to fend off submission attempts from Peters, who is looking to sink in the choke. Peters doesn't have the hooks in though and Roark manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Peters has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roark can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roark trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Peters manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peters postures up.
Peters is looking to stand up but Roark won't let him.
Peters loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dave Peters overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roark being controlled here, momentarily.
Roark is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Peters throws an elbow that misses. Roark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Peters's guard. Nice move by Roark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Peters is looking for a triangle here but Roark uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Roark tries for a kimura but Peters is defending well.
Peters is not content to let Roark control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peters is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Roark's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Theron Roark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Peters crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Roark - the referee stops the clock and Peters gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Roark. Peters manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Peters shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Roark defends it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Roark's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Roark fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Roark moves in looking to clinch but Peters pushes him off.
Peters drops down looking for a counter takedown but Roark sprawls and moves away.

Peters closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Roark did well to prevent Peters getting side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peters with the ground and pound but Roark uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Peters controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Peters accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peters throws a big elbow that misses.
Peters forces his way into half guard.
Roark wants to control but Peters is keeping busy.
Peters is controlling the pace.
Roark is looking to escape.

That's two 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.

Peters is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Roark is not content to let Peters control the position.
Peters is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Peters throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Roark tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Peters is in Roark's guard.
Peters trying to control but Roark is working from the bottom.
Peters looking to sit in guard and control but Roark gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roark trying to control but Peters is working from the bottom.

Peters looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Roark has picked Peters up and slammed him! Peters can't keep hold of the triangle and Roark manages to pass to side control!
Roark throws a strike aimed at the side of Peters's head but Peters avoids it well.
Roark grinds an elbow into Peters's temple.
Peters is trying to control Roark's posture but Roark avoids it.
Roark is looking to take a break and control but Peters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roark might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Peters haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roark stands up and beckons Peters to his feet.
Roark shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dave Peters is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roark throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Peters moves into range and clinches up with Roark.

Peters is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Roark can't fight it off and eventually Peters manages to take the fight to the floor. Roark looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Peters wants to control from the top but Roark keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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 Dave Peters.
I think Roark 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Theron Roark!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Theron Roark!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Theron Roark!

Theron Roark wins by unanimous decision!