PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between The Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abraham Issai roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Rock
vs
Issai roman

183 cm
18
218 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
24
260 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Intelligent

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, The Rock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abraham Issai roman!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

roman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rock avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rock has his feet on roman's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
roman is looking to clinch.
Rock looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rock feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
roman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rock is controlling him.
Rock could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rock working some strikes from top position.
Rock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of roman's head.
roman lands a decent punch to the body there.
Rock connects with a couple of short punches.
Rock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of roman's head.
Rock chips away with some ground and pound.
roman trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
roman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rock stopping the sweep attempt from roman.
Rock landing some decent shots from guard.
Rock lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of roman's head.
Rock landing with the ground and pound.
Rock postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
roman tries to strike from the bottom.
roman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
roman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

roman kicks Rock off and gets to his feet.
roman looks gassed!
roman is looking to clinch.
roman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rock sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
roman tries to clinch but Rock is having none of it.
roman tries to bum rush Rock with a series of wild strikes but Rock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rock scores with a takedown into roman's guard.
Rock passes roman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rock winds up and cracks roman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rock is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rock unloading with bombs!
A nice elbow there by Rock.
Rock blocks roman's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rock is in the full mount, landing strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if roman can do anything to dispel that myth.
roman throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rock. What's that going to do exactly?
Rock lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rock blocks roman's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
roman takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
roman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rock. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
roman is looking to get to half guard.
roman regains half guard.
roman has hold of Rock's hands but Rock slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rock connects with a nice short shot to roman's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock blocks the strikes from roman.
roman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rock missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
roman is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

roman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
roman is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rock shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has roman pinned against the cage. roman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
roman scores with a three punch combo!
roman is looking to clinch but Rock is avoiding it.
Rock fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Rock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch lands to the side of Rock 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice uppercut lands for roman. That snapped Rock's head back.
roman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rock.
roman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
roman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rock drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rock with a nice head shot there.
Rock trying to control but roman is working from the bottom.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Rock with a nice head shot there.
roman lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Rock keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of roman's head.
roman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rock bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
roman is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
roman is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rock connects with a decent elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock working the ground and pound.
Rock wants to lay and pray for a moment but roman keeps working.
roman tries to bench press Rock off him but Rock keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Rock dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rock looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rock takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rock landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rock is looking to take a break and control but roman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
roman tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rock stops roman from getting back to his feet.
Rock looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks roman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
roman is trying to get back to full guard.
Rock working the head and body with strikes.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
roman tries to clinch up.
roman moves in looking to clinch but Rock pushes him off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rock is trying hard to land a takedown here. roman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rock is defended easily by roman.
roman lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
roman tries to clinch up but Rock circles away and keeps his distance.
roman wants to clinch.
Rock tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but roman swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Rock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
roman shoots in and drives through. Rock sprawls well.
roman comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rock shoots in but no luck this time.
roman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rock avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from roman. No joy for Rock on that attempt.
roman thumps Rock with a low kick.
roman wants to clinch up but Rock keeps it at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The fight stays on the outside here - roman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? roman is fending him off so far but Rock persists. Nope, roman circles away and we're back to standing.
roman doesn't manage to clinch there - Rock circles away.

Rock closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
roman is trying to stand up here but Rock is controlling him well.
roman misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
roman throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nice strikes from Rock there.

roman actively working from the bottom here.
Rock lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rock landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
roman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

roman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rock is trying to defend but roman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rock wants to get back to his feet.
roman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Rock has one foot on roman's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
roman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
roman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
roman misses with the combination.

Rock closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
roman is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rock is controlling him well.
roman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rock cracks roman with a big elbow.
roman regains half guard.
Rock 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.
Rock working over roman with some ground and pound. roman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rock working the head and body with strikes.
roman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rock scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rock scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rock stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rock wants it to stay on the feet.
Abraham Issai roman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
roman throws a right hand that Rock ducks under and follows up with a left that Rock also avoids with ease.

Rock shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rock lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock wants to lay and pray for a moment but roman keeps working.
Rock throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
roman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rock.
Rock thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
roman tries to get to full guard but Rock has control of the leg.
roman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
roman wants to improve his position but Rock is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rock closes this distance looking for a takedown but roman circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts roman, as that shot connected.
Rock closes this distance looking for a takedown but roman circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
roman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rock takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rock on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
roman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rock pinned against the cage. Rock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Rock scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that The Rock will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

roman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rock is out of range.

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

Rock has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes roman off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
roman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
roman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rock defends it nicely.

roman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rock to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rock working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rock throwing strikes from guard but roman blocks nicely.
roman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rock is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

roman pushes Rock off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rock gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Rock shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches roman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rock landing a few strikes.
Rock landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
roman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rock's best efforts.
roman taking some punishment here, with Rock in his half guard.
roman scores with a few weak punches.
Rock lands strikes from half guard.
The Rock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rock lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
roman pushes Rock off looking to stand but Rock dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
roman scores with a one two! Rock had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Rock shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in roman's guard.
Rock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock chips away with some ground and pound.
roman throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
roman punching from the bottom.
Rock connects with a couple of short punches.
roman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
roman tries to strike from the bottom.
Rock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
roman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rock backs up against the cage.

Rock gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rock is nestled in close to roman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rock working over roman with some ground and pound. roman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
roman tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rock lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are battling for position here. roman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock trying to control the position from guard on top but roman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rock accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
roman is looking to clinch but Rock is avoiding it.
roman wants to clinch up but Rock keeps it at a distance.
roman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rock drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
roman keeping moving, preventing Rock from controlling successfully.
Rock stands up over roman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rock chips away with some ground and pound.
roman wants to sweep here but Rock controlling him for the moment.
Rock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
roman wants to stand and escape but Rock is having none of it.
Rock is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
roman striking from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
roman shoots in looking for a takedown. Rock tries to sprawl out of it but roman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The Rock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abraham Issai roman.
roman tries for a takedown but Rock sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rock shoots for a takedown but roman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

roman shoots in and bounces Rock off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Rock uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Abraham Issai roman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rock shoots in but no luck this time.
roman throws a chopping leg kick but Rock manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock shoots in for a takedown but roman shows good takedown defense.
roman tried to score with a low kick but Rock checks it.
roman throws a big shot that misses.
Rock tries for a takedown but roman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
roman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Rock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rock, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Rock!