PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Tokarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tokarev comes to the cage accompanied by Real Villains - Celph Titled. Roberts has chosen Hell Yeah as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mike Roberts will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tokarev
vs
Roberts

187 cm
24
210 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikhail Tokarev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts shoots for a double leg takedown but Tokarev sprawls well. He's pushed Roberts's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Roberts shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tokarev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Roberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tokarev keeps working.

Roberts is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tokarev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tokarev is trying to improve his position.

Roberts is trying to get an arm triangle but Tokarev is defending well.
Tokarev struggling a bit here.
Tokarev gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tokarev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roberts looking to sit in guard and control but Tokarev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tokarev drops back looking for a leg! Roberts is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roberts manages to kick Tokarev off! Tokarev jumps back into Roberts's guard.

Tokarev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Tokarev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Roberts looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Roberts looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Roberts!
Roberts wants to control but Tokarev is keeping him busy.

Roberts looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Roberts wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tokarev, who protects the arm well.
Tokarev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roberts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Roberts is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tokarev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Roberts tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Roberts tries to score with some ground and pound. Tokarev controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts tries for a kimura but Tokarev is defending well.
Tokarev tries to bench press Roberts off him but Roberts keeps the position.

Roberts working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Roberts looks gassed!
Tokarev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tokarev is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Roberts's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Roberts is looking for a kimura here.
Tokarev is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Tokarev regains full guard. Nicely done.

Roberts is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tokarev is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tokarev has escaped and now he's on top!
Tokarev postures up in Roberts's guard and throws a big left but Roberts blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tokarev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tokarev has gone for a leg lock! Roberts slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tokarev's guard.
Roberts postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Roberts dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Roberts misses with a takedown attempt - Tokarev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Roberts does no damage.
Roberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tokarev is fending him off so far but Roberts persists. Nope, Tokarev circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tokarev swivels and escapes.
Mikhail Tokarev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Roberts.
Roberts shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Tokarev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt - Tokarev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Roberts shoots for a takedown but Tokarev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tokarev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Roberts.
Roberts is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tokarev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tokarev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Roberts's half guard.
Tokarev is trying to control the action in half guard but Roberts is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts wants to control but Tokarev is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tokarev wants to work for an arm triangle but Roberts is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tokarev trying to mount his opponent but Roberts defends it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tokarev is trying to work for a kimura but Roberts is defending well.
Tokarev prevents Roberts from improving his position.
Roberts has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tokarev is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tokarev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Roberts counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tokarev is trying to stand.
Roberts slips a nice elbow through Tokarev's hands, connecting with Tokarev's forehead.
Tokarev wants to improve his position but Roberts is controlling well.

Roberts is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Roberts is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roberts is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Roberts will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Tokarev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Roberts changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roberts gets caught flat footed, as Tokarev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokarev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roberts is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Roberts has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tokarev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Roberts is pulling down on Tokarev's head. It's preventing any offense from Tokarev, at least for the moment.

Roberts is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tokarev looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Tokarev drops back looking for a leg! Roberts is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roberts manages to kick Tokarev off! Tokarev jumps back into Roberts's guard.

Roberts looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tokarev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tokarev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Roberts is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tokarev is aware though and is defending well.
Tokarev wants to pass the guard but Roberts is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Roberts is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Tokarev looks calm but he's in trouble here. Roberts gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Tokarev is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Roberts lets go of the hold and Tokarev can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Roberts!