PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Acoba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rogers
vs
Acoba

190 cm
24
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Granite 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 London, Blake Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Acoba!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Acoba shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rogers's guard.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Acoba from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acoba looking to sit in guard and control but Rogers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rogers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rogers stays in close to Acoba's body and controls the position.

Acoba is looking for a triangle but Rogers pushes his legs off easily.
Rogers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rogers engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acoba has a closed guard, preventing Rogers from standing up.
Acoba trying to keep a closed guard but Rogers is proving a slippery customer.
Acoba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rogers!
Rogers is trying desperately to improve position.
Rogers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Acoba on the ground.
Rogers wants to control but Acoba is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acoba controlling the pace for now.
Rogers regains half guard.
Rogers wants to get back to full guard but Acoba has passed into side control.
Rogers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Acoba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogers keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Acoba's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Acoba wants to stand but Rogers is controlling his arm.
Acoba trying to control the action but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Rogers is looking to reverse the position.
Acoba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogers keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to control Acoba's posture but Acoba avoids it.
Rogers is trying to improve his position.
Acoba working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rogers darts in looking for a takedown but Acoba gets double underhooks and turns Rogers into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Acoba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rogers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Acoba doesn't manage to clinch there - Rogers circles away.
Acoba looks for a takedown but Rogers sprawls well.

Acoba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rogers!
Rogers tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Acoba easily slips into full mount!
Rogers is looking to get to half guard.
Acoba wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Rogers bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Acoba wants to stand up but Rogers is controlling him.

Acoba is looking for a triangle here but Rogers uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rogers advances to mount.
Acoba holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rogers tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rogers thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rogers goes for an armbar but Acoba turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Acoba.
John Acoba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Acoba from controlling successfully.
Acoba is pushing down on Rogers's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rogers is fighting to maintain full guard but Acoba has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rogers tries to kick Acoba off but Acoba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rogers trying to control but Acoba postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acoba tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rogers controls his leg.

Rogers is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Acoba pulls his head out easily.
Acoba trying to control from half guard but Rogers is working away.
Acoba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rogers is refusing to be controlled, as Acoba sits in half guard.
Acoba tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is refusing to be controlled, as Acoba sits in half guard.
Acoba might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rogers haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Acoba.
Rogers shoots in looking for a takedown but Acoba manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rogers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rogers.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Acoba darts in looking for a takedown but Rogers gets double underhooks and turns Acoba into the cage.
Acoba wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Acoba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rogers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rogers throws a series of punches but Acoba moves out of range.
Rogers moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Acoba clinches up against the cage.

Rogers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rogers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rogers fails with a takedown attempt.
Acoba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Acoba wants it to stay on the feet.
Acoba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Acoba fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rogers gets tackled into the cage by Acoba. Acoba maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acoba tries to break the clinch but Rogers is controlling the position.
Acoba is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rogers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Acoba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rogers jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Acoba walks away with a smile on his face. Rogers gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Acoba leaves Rogers with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rogers fails to land the takedown.
Blake Rogers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Acoba dives in and scores a takedown into Rogers's guard.
Acoba is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rogers is looking for a triangle here but Acoba uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Acoba trying to control the position but Rogers is working away.
Rogers can't do much from the bottom here.
Acoba is looking to take a break and control but Rogers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Acoba scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers wants to get back to his feet.
Rogers tries to bench press Acoba off him but Acoba keeps the position.
Rogers is not content to let Acoba control the position.

Acoba thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Acoba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rogers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Acoba has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rogers wants to clinch.
Rogers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rogers moves into the clinch.
Blake Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Acoba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Acoba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rogers gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Acoba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Acoba 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Acoba!