PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Roth (ranked 4993 p4p, 5085 weight class) and Monte Fisto (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.

Roth
vs
Fisto

181 cm
23
160
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Monte Fisto!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fisto works over Roth's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Steve Roth has been cut.
Fisto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Roth drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Fisto sneaks out the side door and pushes Roth away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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!
Roth goes for a double leg but Fisto avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fisto continues to drive forward.

Fisto tries to keep at a distance but Roth has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fisto wants to break free but Roth has control.
Nice body punch from Roth - that landed with a thud.
Roth stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fisto is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisto is trying to force a seperation but Roth has the dominant position.
Fisto is looking to take this one to the mat.
Roth prevents the takedown attempt.

Roth works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Fisto scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Roth changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fisto looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Fisto explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fisto tries to bum rush Roth with a series of wild strikes but Roth uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Roth closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Fisto's guard.

Fisto uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Fisto rushes Roth and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fisto wants to break free but Roth has control.
Fisto tries to circle away but Roth has him pinned against the cage.

Roth has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fisto uses from the top position.
Fisto is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fisto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fisto prevents Roth from getting back to his feet.
Roth has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roth keeping moving, preventing Fisto from controlling successfully.
Fisto throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fisto being controlled here momentarily.
Fisto wants to control from the top but Roth keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fisto working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fisto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roth is keeping the position for now.
Fisto would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Roth looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Roth throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Fisto tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Roth is in Fisto's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fisto looking to control.
Roth sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roth tries to stand but Fisto is controlling from the bottom.
Roth passes into half guard.

Roth decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Fisto tries to close the distance and clinch but Roth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roth doesn't manage to clinch there - Fisto circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Fisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Roth's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roth shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fisto pinned against the cage. Fisto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fisto throws out a powerful jab.

Roth clinches up with Fisto and pushes him back against the cage.
Roth trying to control the position but instead, Fisto has worked for underhooks and has pushed Roth into the cage.

Roth jumps guard and drags Fisto to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Roth might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fisto looking to sit in guard and control but Roth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fisto managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisto keeping moving, preventing Roth from controlling successfully.
Fisto being controlled here, momentarily.
Roth with a nice head shot there.
Fisto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Roth controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Roth stands up over Fisto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fisto is on top in guard.

Roth escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fisto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roth is controlling Fisto's posture.
Fisto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Fisto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Monte Fisto has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fisto postures up.

Fisto decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Roth, up you get!
Fisto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roth tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fisto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Roth is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Steve Roth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fisto lands with a hook. Roth tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Roth fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Roth backs off Fisto throws a huge counter combo but Roth manages to avoid it all.

Fisto drops Roth with a beautiful combination! Roth stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Fisto is looking for the KO!

Roth is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roth misses with a takedown

and Fisto counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fisto.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roth looking to slow down the pace here.
Fisto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fisto looking for a takedown.
Fisto is looking for a takedown.
Roth keeps control of Fisto as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fisto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fisto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roth manages to break the clinch.
Roth lands a jab to the head.
Roth shoots in but Fisto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Fisto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Roth's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Roth drives through with a takedown into guard.

Roth is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Roth trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fisto's guard.

Roth gets to his feet. Fisto looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth throws a right and a left that Fisto avoids nicely.
Fisto looks to land a combination but Roth avoids it well.
Roth is looking for a counter combo.
Fisto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fisto wants it to stay on the feet.
Fisto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisto looks to score with a jab to the body but Roth is just out of range.
Fisto fails in his attempt to clinch.

Roth instigates a clinch.
Roth is looking to take this one to the mat.
Fisto tries to circle away but Roth has him pinned against the cage.

Roth pulls guard successfully.
Fisto controls from within his opponent's guard.

Fisto stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Fisto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Roth paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fisto tries to bum rush Roth with a series of wild strikes but Roth uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Roth appears to be looking for a big counter.
Monte Fisto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fisto tests Roth's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Roth shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fisto as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fisto lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fisto.

Roth moves into the clinch successfully.
Roth unloads a knee to the mid-section.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Roth pulls Fisto into guard.
Fisto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roth is keeping the position for now.
Fisto throws a strike but Roth rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fisto trying to control the position here.
Fisto wants to sweep but no luck.
Fisto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roth works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Roth drops an elbow to the side of Fisto's head.
Roth tries to pass to full mount but Fisto defends it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Roth trying to control the action but Fisto is working from the bottom.

Fisto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fisto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fisto wants to get back to full guard.
Roth seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fisto with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Steve Roth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monte Fisto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fisto taking some punishment here, with Roth in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fisto 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight for Monte Fisto!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Monte Fisto!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Monte Fisto!

Monte Fisto wins by unanimous decision!