PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sam Slapper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Rod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Slapper
vs
Rod

175 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Slapper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rob Rod!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rod slips under a jab.
Slapper tries to close the distance and clinch but Rod swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Slapper misses the jab.
Rod defending well as Slapper loads up on a big left hand.
Slapper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Slapper misses with a hook. Rod ducked under it nicely.
Rod moves out of range as Slapper strikes.
Rod ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Slapper.
Slapper missing with a left hand there. Rod was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Slapper moves in looking to clinch but Rod pushes him off.
Rod slips a jab from Slapper.

Slapper clinches.
Slapper misses with a hook to the ribs.
Slapper misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rod is working for takedown but Slapper is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rod is trying to drag Slapper to the mat but Slapper just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rod is trying to trip Slapper. He has hold of a leg but Slapper is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rod persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Slapper's head.
Slapper working a defensive guard here.
Rod is working Slapper over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rod scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rod throws a big right hand that misses.
Slapper trying to keep a closed guard but Rod is proving a slippery customer.
Rod with a nice head shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rod missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rod scoring with some ground and pound.
Slapper controls Rod momentarily but Rod frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rod loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rod is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rod postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Slapper working a defensive guard here.
Slapper keeping full guard, as Rod tries to pass.
Slapper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rod postures up in Slapper's guard and throws a big left but Slapper blocks it.
Slapper working a defensive guard here.
Rod postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Slapper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rod is working Slapper over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rod scoring with some ground and pound.
Slapper has momentary wrist control but Rod slips an elbow through the middle.
Rod with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rod looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rod lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rod throwing strikes but missing.
Rod is looking to work some ground and pound but Slapper has wrist control.
Slapper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rod on the ground.
Rod landing some decent shots from guard.
Rod throwing strikes from guard but Slapper blocks nicely.
Rod has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Slapper trying to keep a closed guard but Rod is proving a slippery customer.
Rod is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rod won't allow Slapper to sweep him here.
Rod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Slapper's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rod postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rod lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rod with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rod advances position into side control!
Slapper takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rod cracks Slapper with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slapper wants to control but Rod postures up.
Rod lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Slapper down.

Slapper is rocked!
Slapper takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Oh Slapper is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Slapper on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Slapper tries to get out of the position.
Rod is working Slapper over with some ground and pound from side control.
Slapper tries to bench press Rod off him but Rod keeps the position.
Slapper on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Slapper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Slapper's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Slapper tries to buck Rod off but Rod is having none of it.
Slapper seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rod in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Rod lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Rod dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rod avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rod on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Slapper throws a hook but Rod blocks it.
Slapper tries to clinch but Rod is having none of it.
Rod slips a straight right by Slapper.
Good exchange - Slapper coming out on top.
Slapper doesn't manage to clinch there - Rod circles away.
Slapper throws a leg kick but Rod moved away.
Rod keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Slapper.
Slapper scores with the left hand. Rod knows he should have avoided that one.
Slapper looks to land a right hand but Rod moved out of range.
Slapper misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rod displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Slapper throws out the jab.
Rod takes one to the chin there.
Slapper connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Slapper has Rod up against the cage in a clinch.
Rod tries to score a body lock takedown but Slapper shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Slapper stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rod tries to score a body lock takedown but Slapper shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Slapper dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rod wants a takedown but no success here.
Sam Slapper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Rod.
Slapper working aggressively here.
Slapper lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Slapper on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rod as Slapper tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slapper misses with a body punch.
Slapper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Slapper.
Slapper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rod's elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rod gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rod landing with the ground and pound.
Rod content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rob Rod has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rod keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Slapper's head.
Rod is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Slapper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rod working some strikes from top position.
Rod scoring with some ground and pound.
Rod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Slapper's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rod accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Slapper working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rod keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Slapper's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rod's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rod is working Slapper over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rod throwing strikes from guard but Slapper blocks nicely.
Rod working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rod's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Slapper looking to control.
Rod wants to pass the guard but Slapper is keeping the position.
Slapper working a defensive guard here.
Slapper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Slapper is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Sam Slapper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rod slips under a jab from Slapper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slapper throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Rod counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rod.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slapper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rod is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Slapper controls Rod momentarily but Rod frees himself.
Rod scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rod stopping the sweep attempt from Slapper.
Rod scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rod content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rod lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rod connects with a couple of short punches.
Rod keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Slapper's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rod's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Rod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Slapper misses with a body shot.
Slapper throws an off balance right hand
and Rod counters with a left to the body.
Slapper loads up on a big right hand but Rod slips the punch.
Rod slips a jab from Slapper.

Slapper closes the distance and clinches.
Rod goes for a takedown in the clinch but Slapper prevents it.
Rod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rod wants a takedown.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Slapper throws a head punch that misses.
Slapper is struggling to control the position.
Slapper tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slapper throws a punch but it's blocked by Rod.
Rod tries for a takedown but Slapper manages to get underhooks.
Sam Slapper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Rod.
Slapper is looking to control Rod's arms but Rod gets an underhook and turns him. Now Slapper has his back to the cage.
Rod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Slapper misses with a punch on the inside.
Slapper looking to stall.
Rod tries for a takedown. No joy.
Slapper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rod's elbow.
Slapper prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rod is working for takedown but Slapper is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rod blocking some punches.
Slapper unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rod lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rod takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice right hand lands inside from Slapper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slapper tries to stall but Rod uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Slapper tries a body shot but Rod blocks it.
Slapper misses with a body punch.
Slapper slows down the pace here.
Rod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Slapper misses with some punches.
Slapper is pressed up against the cage. Rod has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Slapper down to the mat. Slapper avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Slapper is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rod.
Slapper loads up on a big right hand but Rod slips the punch.
Rod ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sam Slapper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Slapper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Slapper looks to clinch

and Rod moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slapper lands a left hand.
Rod blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rod goes for a takedown attempt but Slapper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Slapper missing with a left hand there. Rod was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Slapper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Slapper lands with a straight right. Rod didn't see that one coming.
Slapper lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Slapper throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Rod counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Good body shot from Slapper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slapper misses with a punch to the body.
Slapper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rod's elbow.
Slapper prevents the takedown attempt.
Slapper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rod tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rod wants a takedown.
Rod has Slapper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Slapper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A nice left hand lands by Slapper.
Rod can't get the takedown.
Slapper misses with a shot to the kidneys.
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!
Slapper stops a takedown attempt from Rod.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slapper is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rod is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Slapper fails to land.
Sam Slapper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob Rod is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slapper misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Slapper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rod has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Rod!
A very excited looking Rob Rod rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.