PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Serg Rogov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Creed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rogov's entrance music is Deftones - Hexagram. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rogov
vs
Creed

183 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Serg Rogov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Apollo Creed!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogov misses with a few strikes there.
Nice body kick there by Rogov.
Rogov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Creed avoids it really well and circles away.
Creed shoots in but no luck this time.
Creed shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rogov as he avoids it easily.

Creed rushes Rogov and presses him up against the cage.

Creed is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rogov can't fight it off and eventually Creed manages to take the fight to the floor. Rogov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Creed won't allow Rogov to sweep him here.
Rogov pulls Creed in close to prevent any damage.
Creed wanted to stand there but Rogov had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Serg Rogov just wasn't active enough.
Rogov throws a front kick that sends Creed stumbling back into the cage.
Rogov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rogov fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Creed moves in looking to clinch but Rogov pushes him off.
Creed is looking to clinch.
Rogov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Creed looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Serg Rogov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Creed.
Rogov misses with a series of wild punches.
Creed misses with a leg kick.
Creed stuffs the takedown.
Rogov throws a sloppy head kick and Creed moves out of range easily.
Rogov shoots in but Creed avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Creed tries to clinch there but Rogov circles away.
Creed displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rogov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed tries to clinch there but Rogov circles away.
Rogov dives in and grabs Creed's left leg, looking for a takedown. Creed pushes down on Rogov's head and hops out.
Rogov doesn't manage to clinch there - Creed circles away.
Rogov is breathing heavily.
Creed closes the distance but Rogov moves to the side
and Rogov counters with a solid body kick.
Creed shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rogov sprawls well. Rogov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Creed gets slowly back to his feet.
Rogov circles away from the clinch attempt.

Creed drives through and clinches with Rogov against the cage.
Creed tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rogov smiles and moves away.
Serg Rogov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rogov throws the kick towards the body but Creed avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rogov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rogov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rogov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rogov shoots for a takedown but Creed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Creed shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rogov defends it nicely.
Creed fails with a takedown attempt.
Rogov scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogov slaps away a takedown attempt from Creed, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Apollo Creed 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.

Creed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rogov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rogov shoots in for a double leg but Creed sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rogov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Creed sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Serg Rogov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Creed fails to land the takedown.
Serg Rogov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Creed tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice body kick from Rogov.
Creed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rogov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rogov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rogov wants it to stay on the feet.
Creed keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Creed!
Creed is breathing heavily.
Rogov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rogov fails with the takedown.
Rogov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rogov throws a head kick that misses
and Creed cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Creed fails with an attempt to clinch.
Creed just misses with a punch to the body.
Rogov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Creed manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rogov shoots in for a double leg but Creed sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Creed throws a half hearted mid kick.
Creed shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rogov sprawls well. Rogov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Creed gets slowly back to his feet.
Creed shoots in and drives through. Rogov sprawls well.
Rogov slaps away a takedown attempt from Creed, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rogov clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rogov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rogov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Creed swivels and escapes.
Rogov has a takedown stuffed.

Creed bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed working away.

Creed stands up.
Creed is looking to clinch but Rogov is avoiding it.

Creed clinches up with Rogov and pushes him back against the cage.
Creed lands a good knee to the midsection. Rogov won't want to take too many of those.

Creed manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Creed is trying to control the position but Rogov postures up.
Rogov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Creed swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed wants to control but Rogov passes easily into half guard.
Creed trying to control here.

Rogov gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rogov gets tackled into the cage by Creed. Creed maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Creed showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Creed stuffs the takedown attempt from Rogov. Rogov gets slowly back to his feet.

Rogov clinches with his opponent.
Rogov has Creed pressed against the cage, preventing Creed from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Rogov breaks from the clinch.
Creed shoots for a takedown but Rogov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rogov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Creed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rogov somewhat.
Creed tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rogov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Creed somewhat.
Rogov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Creed circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Serg Rogov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Creed as Rogov shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rogov as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rogov avoids the head kick by Creed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rogov.
Rogov avoids the head kick by Creed.
Rogov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Creed's waist but Creed gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rogov off to one side.
Creed has a takedown stuffed.
Apollo Creed seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Creed tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rogov swivels and escapes.
Creed getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Creed shoots for a takedown but Rogov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rogov closes the distance and clinches up with Creed, looking for a takedown. Rogov pushes Creed against the cage but Creed circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Creed. No joy for Rogov on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Creed.
Rogov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rogov slips a straight right by Creed.
A combination from Rogov does no damage.
Rogov stuffs the takedown.
Rogov shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown by Creed or perhaps it was just good defense by Rogov which made him look bad.
Nice sprawl there from Rogov as Creed shoots in.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogov shoots in looking for a takedown. Creed tries to sprawl out of it but Rogov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Creed manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Creed throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Creed looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rogov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Creed's calf.
Rogov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Creed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rogov somewhat.

Creed looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rogov is looking for a sweep. Creed is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed wants to stand up but Rogov is controlling the position.
Creed keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rogov wants to get back to full guard but Creed has passed into side control.
Rogov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Creed has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Creed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogov keeps working.
Serg Rogov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Apollo Creed is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Creed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Creed has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Creed!