PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Saadulaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Rolla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saadulaev
vs
Rolla

167 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
31
144 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivan Saadulaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Rolla!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saadulaev misses with a wild body shot.
Rolla moves forwards but Saadulaev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Saadulaev connects with the punch.

Rolla shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Saadulaev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rolla being controlled here momentarily.
Saadulaev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Saadulaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Saadulaev wants to take a breather but Rolla is having none of it.
Rolla is trying to maintain the position but Saadulaev is very close to passing his half guard.
Rolla is looking for a sweep. Saadulaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolla is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Saadulaev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rolla on the ground.
Saadulaev is looking to stall here but Rolla recovers full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rolla is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rolla wants to stand up but Saadulaev is controlling him.
Saadulaev working some strikes from top position.
Saadulaev throws a big elbow that misses.
Rolla keeping moving, preventing Saadulaev from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev postures up in Rolla's guard and throws a big left but Rolla blocks it.
Saadulaev is in close to Rolla's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saadulaev throws a big right hand that misses.
Rolla avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saadulaev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rolla has momentary wrist control but Saadulaev slips an elbow through the middle.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rolla looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rolla avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rolla looking for a sweep. Not yet Rolla, not yet.
Saadulaev throws a big right hand that misses.
Rolla working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saadulaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev wants to pass the guard but Rolla is keeping the position.
Saadulaev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Rolla pushes Saadulaev off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rolla keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Saadulaev scores with a takedown into Rolla's guard.
Rolla throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Saadulaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rolla keeping moving, preventing Saadulaev from controlling successfully.
Saadulaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saadulaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Rolla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saadulaev is really struggling to control Rolla but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev postures up in Rolla's guard and throws a big left but Rolla blocks it.
Saadulaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rolla's head.

Rolla working for a triangle but Saadulaev defends it easily.
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!
Saadulaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rolla's head.
Rolla not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saadulaev lands a couple of elbows.
Saadulaev throws a strike but Rolla rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Saadulaev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Saadulaev dominated that round.
That's time! Saadulaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saadulaev misses with the combination.
Saadulaev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Saadulaev lands with an overhand left.
Rolla shoots in for a takedown but Saadulaev shows good takedown defense.
Rolla tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rolla shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saadulaev pinned against the cage. Saadulaev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mike Rolla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Saadulaev. No joy for Rolla on that attempt.
Ivan Saadulaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Rolla.
Saadulaev cracks Rolla with a good jab.
Saadulaev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saadulaev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Saadulaev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolla shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saadulaev sprawls well. Saadulaev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rolla gets slowly back to his feet.
Rolla keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saadulaev.
Saadulaev lands a nice looking body shot.
Saadulaev lands a body shot.
Rolla on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Saadulaev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Saadulaev lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rolla backs up against the cage.
Saadulaev throws a right and a left that Rolla avoids nicely.
Saadulaev lands with a right hand.
Saadulaev lands a nice hook to Rolla's body. Rolla takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rolla fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rolla is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rolla.
Rolla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saadulaev.
Rolla fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rolla shoots in for a double leg but Saadulaev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saadulaev throws a looping overhand right but Rolla ducks down to avoid it.
Saadulaev connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saadulaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rolla.
Rolla tries for a takedown but Saadulaev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Saadulaev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rolla's guard.

Rolla is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saadulaev is aware though and is defending well.

Rolla is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Saadulaev has his hands clasped together but Rolla extends an breaks Saadulaev's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Rolla.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Rolla!