PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Rossi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peterson comes to the cage accompanied by Diamond. Al Rossi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Peterson
vs
Rossi

175 cm
29
140 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

172 cm
24
142 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Peterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Al Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi connects with an inside leg kick.
Rossi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Peterson throws out a loose jab but Rossi uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Peterson misses.
Rossi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Peterson throws out a loose jab but Rossi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Peterson throws a head kick but Rossi moves out of range.
Peterson tries to bum rush Rossi with a series of wild strikes but Rossi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rossi scores with a jab to the head.
An inside leg kick from Rossi misses.
Rossi missing with a left hand there. Peterson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Peterson throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson throws a shot to the body.
Peterson throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi throws a nice outside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Peterson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rossi misses the jab.
Rossi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rossi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Peterson's head.
Rossi cracks Peterson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Peterson throws a head kick that misses.

Peterson moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rossi.
Rossi connects with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Peterson tries to break the clinch but Rossi is controlling the position.
Peterson has had enough of the clinch but Rossi keeps him there for the moment.
Peterson tries to break the clinch but Rossi is controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Peterson is trying to drag Rossi to the mat but Rossi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Peterson tries to score a body lock takedown but Rossi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rossi gets through Peterson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rossi is pressed up against the cage. Peterson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rossi down to the mat. Rossi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Peterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rossi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Peterson.
Peterson staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rossi misses with a low kick.
Rossi lands a front kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Peterson is defended easily by Rossi.
Rossi is looking to land body kicks.
Rossi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Peterson.
Rossi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Peterson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with an uppercut. Peterson saw that one coming.
Rossi is looking to score with low kicks.
Rossi connects with an inside leg kick.
Peterson throws an overhand right that lands on Rossi's shoulder, as Rossi tries to avoid the shot.
Rossi lands a glancing blow to the side of Peterson's head.
Rossi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rossi blocks a head kick by Peterson.
Rossi throws out a loose jab but Peterson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi tries to clinch up but Peterson circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rossi throws a chopping leg kick but Peterson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Peterson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rossi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Peterson throws a poor cross that misses
and Rossi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Peterson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rossi.
Nice defenses there by Rossi.
Rossi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Peterson. That did some damage!
Rossi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Peterson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Peterson tries to close the distance and clinch but Rossi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Peterson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rossi throws an off balance right hand
and Peterson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a big shot that misses.
Rossi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Peterson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rossi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Peterson blocks a head kick by Rossi.
Rossi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Peterson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rossi moves away.
Rossi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rossi throws a sloppy body shot
and Peterson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Al Rossi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws out a loose jab but Peterson uses good head movement to avoid it.

Rossi gets caught flat footed, as Peterson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Peterson wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.
Peterson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rossi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Peterson pushes down on Rossi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Peterson is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rossi reverses the position - he's now on top in Peterson's guard.
Peterson managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Victor Peterson just wasn't active enough.
A shot to the liver by Rossi. Beautiful body shot.
Peterson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rossi is fending him off so far but Peterson persists. Nope, Rossi circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peterson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rossi thumps Peterson with a low kick.
Rossi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Peterson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rossi as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Peterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rossi scores with a nice right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rossi. Peterson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rossi throws a jab but it's blocked by Peterson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Al Rossi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Peterson looks for a takedown but Rossi sprawls well.
Peterson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rossi.
Peterson slips a jab and a cross from Rossi.
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rossi tries to work over Peterson's front leg with a kick but Peterson checks it.
A clash of legs there as Peterson blocks the low kick.
Rossi motions for Peterson to come forward. Rossi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Peterson moves forwards but Rossi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Peterson moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi missing with a left hand there. Peterson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Peterson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rossi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Peterson.
Good work by Peterson as he checks the leg kick.
Rossi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Peterson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rossi leaves Peterson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rossi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Peterson takes a swing at Rossi's ribcage but misses.
Al Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rossi misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Peterson.
Rossi thows a body shot but no joy.
Peterson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rossi finds it's way round the side to connect with Peterson's head.
Peterson looks to throw the jab but Rossi is out of range.
Rossi wants to slow Peterson down by chopping away at his legs.
Peterson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rossi. Rossi obviously looking to wear him down.
Rossi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rossi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rossi swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Peterson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Peterson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Peterson catches Rossi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rossi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Peterson. That did some damage!
Rossi misses with a wild body shot.
Rossi lands an overhand right.
Rossi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Peterson with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Peterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rossi.
No joy there for Peterson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Al Rossi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rossi connects with a looping right hand.
Peterson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rossi fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Peterson tries for a takedown but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Victor Peterson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Peterson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Rossi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rossi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Rossi!