PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Philip Roth (ranked 5667 p4p, 2295 weight class) and Mark Kerr (ranked 208 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Roth
vs
Kerr

198 cm
19
270
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
47
262
42 - 29 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Fantasy Threads

Hakaka La'au Performance

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Philip Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Kerr!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roth fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Roth feints and as Kerr raises his hands in defense, Roth changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Roth passes Kerr's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kerr has a hand on Roth's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Roth takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Roth tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kerr bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Roth is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kerr defends well.
Roth keeping moving, preventing Kerr from controlling successfully.
Roth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Roth working for a triangle but Kerr defends it easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roth looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kerr is in close to Roth's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Roth looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kerr is one step ahead there.

Roth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kerr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Roth keeping moving, preventing Kerr from controlling successfully.
Kerr content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Roth looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Roth had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kerr defends it easily.
Kerr scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kerr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerr lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Roth looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kerr's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Roth looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kerr passes Roth's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kerr passes to side control.
Roth tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Roth can't do much from the bottom here.
Roth tries to improve position but can't.
Kerr trying to control the position but Roth is working away.
Kerr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kerr is working Roth over with some ground and pound from side control.
Roth takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerr scores with a couple of short elbows.
Roth tries to bench press Kerr off him but Kerr keeps the position.
Kerr working away.
Kerr connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Roth some visible discomfort.
Roth is trying to get back to half guard.
Roth takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kerr working the body and head with strikes.
Roth is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Roth is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerr is looking to take a break and control but Roth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roth is trying to get back to half guard.
Roth prevents Kerr from moving into mount.
Roth is trying to get back to half guard.
Roth wants to control but Kerr postures up.
Kerr is working Roth over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kerr cracks Roth with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kerr controlling from side mount.
Roth tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kerr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kerr dominated that round.
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.

Roth getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Roth dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Kerr closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Roth quickly recovers to half guard.
Kerr prevents Roth from improving his position.
Roth is working hard here to advance position.
Kerr working over Roth with some ground and pound. Roth looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Roth actively working from the bottom here.
Roth moves into full guard.

Roth escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kerr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roth throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kerr with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roth is keeping the position for now.

Roth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kerr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kerr postures up.
Roth keeping full guard, as Kerr tries to pass.

Roth looking for a guillotine here but Kerr defends easily.

Roth looking for subs off his back but Kerr has passed one foot through into half guard.
Roth tries to get to full guard but Kerr has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Roth actively working from the bottom here.
Roth is trying to get back to full guard.
Kerr stalling.
Roth is looking for a sweep. Kerr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kerr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kerr wants to take a breather but Roth is having none of it.
Kerr looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Roth makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Roth.
Kerr working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Roth is looking for a triangle but Kerr pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerr trying to control but Roth is working from the bottom.
Kerr postures up and lands a big shot to Roth's brow.

Roth looking for a guillotine here but Kerr defends easily.
Kerr lands a couple of digs.
Kerr is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kerr trying to control the position from guard on top but Roth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerr working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Roth's head.

Roth is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kerr distracts Roth with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerr passes Roth's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Roth tries to roll over but Kerr keeps him under control.
Kerr takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Kerr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roth doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kerr.
Roth wants to improve his position but Kerr is controlling well.
Kerr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kerr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Roth does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kerr tries to pass to full mount but Roth defends it.
Kerr is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kerr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Roth just misses with a punch to the body.
Roth throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kerr on the side of the head.

Roth gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kerr to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kerr sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Roth's guard.
Kerr seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Roth looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kerr winds up and cracks Roth with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerr wants to pass to mount but Roth is defending the position.
Kerr uses his free foot to push down on Roth's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roth.
Roth taking shots to the head.

Roth is rocked!
Roth tries to hold on but Kerr pushes him away.
Oh Roth is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerr postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Roth looks a forlorn figure.
Kerr softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Roth is out cold! Kerr jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Kerr!
A less than humble Mark Kerr misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.