PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Padilla (ranked 5576 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Reigns (ranked 4588 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman Reigns looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Padilla
vs
Reigns

158 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 Las Vegas, Caleb Padilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roman Reigns!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Padilla throws Reigns to one side and escapes!
Reigns looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Reigns drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Padilla tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reigns wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Padilla can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Padilla is trying to buck Reigns off.
Padilla is trying to control Reigns's posture but Reigns avoids it.
Padilla tries to buck Reigns off but Reigns is having none of it.
Padilla struggling a bit here.
Padilla tries to escape but Reigns is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla tries to bench press Reigns off him but Reigns keeps the position.
Padilla wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Padilla is trying to control Reigns's posture but Reigns avoids it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Padilla regains half guard.
Padilla is doing well to control the position and prevent Reigns from advancing to side control.

Padilla has one foot on Reigns's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Padilla looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Padilla shoots in and bounces Reigns off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Padilla postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Padilla with a flurry of punches that miss.
Padilla lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Padilla seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Padilla seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Reigns for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Padilla takes the fight into the clinch.

Padilla gets control of Reigns's arms and successfully pulls guard. Padilla will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Padilla is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla wants to stand and escape but Reigns is having none of it.
Reigns preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reigns trying to control the position from guard on top but Padilla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Padilla really is a fat lump.
Padilla managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Padilla dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Padilla pushes Reigns up against the cage in a clinch.
Padilla is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Padilla fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Reigns wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Reigns has clasped his hands together around Padilla's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla is pushing Reigns's head away, looking to escape. Reigns manages to hold on to the position though.
Padilla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reigns can do to turn this around?
You can see the frustration on Padilla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Reigns is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla keeping his opponent close.
Padilla is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Padilla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Padilla is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Reigns gets caught napping as Padilla dives in and scores a takedown. Reigns manages to retain guard.
Padilla is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Padilla stopping the sweep attempt from Reigns.
Padilla working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Reigns's head.
Padilla content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Padilla's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Padilla closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Padilla lands in his opponent's guard.

Reigns kicks Padilla off and gets to his feet.

Padilla shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reigns's guard.
Padilla stays in close to Reigns's body and controls the position.
Reigns tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Padilla won't allow Reigns to sweep him here.

Reigns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Padilla doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Padilla manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Padilla keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Reigns's head.
Padilla is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Caleb Padilla will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Reigns as Padilla shoots in.

Reigns moves into the clinch.
Padilla tries to break the clinch but Reigns is controlling the position.
Padilla tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reigns just stands there and leans against the cage.
Padilla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Reigns walks away with a smile on his face. Padilla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Padilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Padilla fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Padilla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Reigns prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Reigns walks away with a smile on his face. Padilla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Reigns throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Padilla tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Reigns is in Padilla's guard.
Padilla looking for a sweep. Not yet Padilla, not yet.
Padilla knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Reigns on the ground.
Padilla looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Padilla is trying to keep Reigns in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla wants to stand and escape but Reigns is having none of it.
Reigns slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Reigns wants to stand but Padilla is controlling his posture from full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Padilla has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Reigns has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Padilla tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Padilla tries to pull guard but Reigns forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla fails to pull guard.
Padilla wants a takedown.

Reigns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Padilla darts in trying to clinch
and Reigns counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Padilla shoots in for a takedown but Reigns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Padilla sets himself, and Reigns steps forward looking for the clinch! Padilla avoids it this time.
Padilla blocks a head kick by Reigns.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Reigns.

Padilla bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reigns circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Padilla shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reigns defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Padilla.
Padilla shoots in looking for a takedown. Reigns tries to sprawl out of it but Padilla keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reigns manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Reigns let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Roman Reigns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Caleb Padilla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reigns throws a low kick but Padilla moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Reigns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Padilla has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caleb Padilla!