PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roy Roach (ranked 686 p4p, 1370 weight class) and Thorvald Espensen (ranked 96 p4p, 181 weight class). Roach comes to the cage accompanied by Jump Around, House of Pain. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Roach
vs
Espensen

183 cm
27
193
11 - 7 - 0

177 cm
27
185
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hot Spunk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Roy Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorvald Espensen!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espensen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Espensen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Espensen cracks a nice hook into Roach's ribs.
Espensen scores with a shot to the body.
Espensen stuns Roach with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Espensen misses with an uppercut
and Roach counters with a nice body shot.
Espensen misses with a wild combination.
Roach went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Espensen lands a nice looking body shot.
Roach looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Roach misses with a body shot.
Espensen lands a nice hook to Roach's body. Roach takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Espensen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Roach rather than just go for the knockout.
Espensen throws a head kick that misses.
A slow jab from Espensen misses its intended target.

Espensen closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espensen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Espensen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Roach creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Espensen's defenses.

It looks like Thorvald Espensen has been cut.
Roach misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Espensen lands with a right to the head.
Espensen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Espensen swings wildly with an uppercut but Roach uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roach tries a body shot but Espensen blocks it.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roach tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Espensen lands with a left to the head.
Espensen working aggressively here.
Espensen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Espensen struggles to land a body shot inside as Roach controls his hands.
Roach tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espensen's elbow.
Roach blocks a body shot from Espensen.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Roach lands a body punch.
Roach has a couple of punches blocked by Espensen.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Espensen as Roach tries to tie him up.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espensen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Espensen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roach's elbow.
Espensen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Espensen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Espensen tries to throw a body punch but Roach avoids it by throwing Espensen back against the cage.
Espensen lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roach lands with a light punch inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Espensen.
Nice body punch from Espensen - that landed with a thud.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Roach.
Espensen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Espensen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.
Roach has Espensen pushed against the cage.
Roach throws a punch but it's blocked by Espensen.
Roach tries to throw a body punch but Espensen avoids it by throwing Roach back against the cage.
Espensen misses with the head strike.
Espensen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Espensen fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach misses with a punch on the inside.
Espensen pushes Roach back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Roach throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Espensen gets through Roach's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Roach wants to break the clinch but can't.
Espensen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Roach lands a body shot in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Espensen.
Espensen has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Roach seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Espensen can turn it around.
With the fighters up against the cage, Roach throws an elbow but misses.
Espensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Roach.
Espensen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Espensen blocks a body shot from Roach.
Roach misses with an elbow over the top.
Espensen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Espensen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Roach misses with a body punch.
Roach blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Roach slows down the pace here.
Roach blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espensen misses with some punches.
Espensen working aggressively here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Espensen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
Roach has a couple of punches blocked by Espensen.
Roach blocks a body shot from Espensen.
With the fighters up against the cage, Roach throws an elbow but misses.
Roach tries to throw a body punch but Espensen avoids it by throwing Roach back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Espensen as the two fighters clinch.
Espensen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Espensen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Espensen misses with the head strike.
Espensen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Espensen.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Espensen.
Roach is breathing heavily.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Espensen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Espensen.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Espensen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Espensen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thorvald Espensen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roach takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Espensen connects with a body shot.
Espensen throws a series of punches but Roach avoids them all with ease.
Espensen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Espensen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Roach moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Espensen thuds a left hand into Roach's body.
Roach takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice shot lands for Espensen.
Roach takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Espensen scores with a leg kick.
Espensen feints and then cracks Roach's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Roach down.
Roach lands with a straight right. Espensen didn't see that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roach tries a low kick but Espensen avoids it.
Roach uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Espensen.
A solid leg kick lands there for Espensen.

Espensen takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Espensen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Espensen.
Roach blocking some punches.
Espensen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Roach blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Espensen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Espensen misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Espensen.
Thorvald Espensen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Roach struggles to land a body shot inside as Espensen controls his hands.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Roach.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Espensen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Roach softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Espensen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Espensen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roachs head.
Espensen scores with a shot to the side of Roach's head.
Roach lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Espensen fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach can't find room to land a body shot as Espensen controls the action.
Espensen tries to work over Roach's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Espensen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Espensen swings wildly with an uppercut but Roach uses good head movement to avoid it.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roach blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Roach tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espensen's elbow.
Roach tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espensen's elbow.
Espensen has a couple of punches blocked by Roach.
A short uppercut from Roach.
Espensen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Roach connects with a knee to the head.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Espensen managing to block the knees to the body from Roach.
Roach lands an elbow that stopped Espensen in his tracks for a moment.
Espensen misses with some punches.
Espensen swings wildly with an uppercut but Roach uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roach lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espensen misses with the head strike.
Espensen blocks a body shot from Roach.
Espensen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roach's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Espensen.
Espensen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Roach.
Roach tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espensen's elbow.
Espensen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Roach takes a shot to the head.
Espensen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Espensen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Espensen working aggressively here.
Espensen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Espensen lands with a short shot to the head.
Roach struggles to land a body shot inside as Espensen controls his hands.
Espensen working aggressively here.
Espensen tries to work over Roach's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Espensen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Roach misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Espensen.
Espensen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Espensen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Roach misses with a punch to the body.
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.
Espensen lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Espensen tries to throw a body punch but Roach avoids it by throwing Espensen back against the cage.
Espensen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Roach struggles to land a body shot inside as Espensen controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Roach fails to land.
Espensen lands with a left to the head.
Espensen tries to throw a body punch but Roach avoids it by throwing Espensen back against the cage.
Espensen blocks an uppercut.
Espensen has a couple of punches blocked by Roach.
Roach gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Espensen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Roach looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Espensen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Espensen dodges an elbow strike from Roach.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Espensen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thorvald Espensen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Espensen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roach half committed to a counter leg kick.
Espensen misses with a few strikes there.
Espensen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A solid leg kick lands there for Espensen.
Roach tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roach wants to clinch.
Roach takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Espensen takes the fight into the clinch.
Roach blocking some punches.
Espensen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Espensen.
A short right from Espensen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Roach.
Roach lands a right hand that snaps the head of Espensen backwards.
Roach lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Espensen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Roach.
Espensen lands with a short shot to the head.
Roach lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Espensen misses with some punches.
Espensen lands a left hand.
Espensen scores with a shoulder strike.
Roach blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Roach goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Roach misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Espensen.
Roach trying to stall but Espensen improves his position.
Espensen has a couple of punches blocked by Roach.
Espensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Roach.
Espensen misses with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Espensen digs a right hand into Roach's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Roach's gas tank.
Espensen pushes Roach back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Roy Roach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Espensen.
Espensen misses with a body punch.
Espensen lands a right hand.
Espensen swings wildly with an uppercut but Roach uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roach misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Roach misses with a punch to the body.
Espensen misses with a body punch.
Roach misses with the head strike.
Roach doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Roach pushes Espensen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Roach pressing his opponent against the cage.
Espensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Roach.
Espensen prevents a body shot from Roach.
Espensen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Espensen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espensen lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Roach fails to land.
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.
Roach can't find room to land a body shot as Espensen controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Espensen as Roach tries to tie him up.
A shot in the inside from Espensen.
A left hand lands to the body for Espensen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roach tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espensen's elbow.
Roach lands an uppercut.
Espensen lands with a short shot to the head.
Espensen can't find room to land a body shot as Roach controls the action.
Espensen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Espensen fails to land.
Espensen lands a nice shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Espensen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Espensen.
Roach tries a body shot but Espensen blocks it.
Espensen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Roach backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roach's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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!
Roach takes a shot to the head.
Espensen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Espensen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Espensen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Espensen scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Espensen.
Espensen scores with a shot to the side of Roach's head.
Espensen cracks Roach with a nice body shot.
Espensen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
Nice body punch from Espensen.
Espensen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Espensen avoids the elbow strike from Roach, against the cage.
Roach tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espensen's elbow.
Espensen lands with a light punch inside.
Roach misses with a punch on the inside.
Roach misses with an elbow strike.
Espensen lands a hook that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Espensen.
Espensen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thorvald Espensen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Espensen 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorvald Espensen!
A very excited looking Thorvald Espensen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.