PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roc Le Phat (ranked 2238 p4p, 1954 weight class) and Valentin Saric (ranked 305 p4p, 273 weight class). Le Phat's entrance music is Bonita Applebum. A fine choice. Valentin Saric will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Le Phat
vs
Saric

189 cm
26
192
11 - 8 - 0

200 cm
27
195
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roc Le Phat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valentin Saric!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saric lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Le Phat misses the shot to the body.
Saric throws a lazy right hand but Le Phat sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Le Phat jabs at Saric's body.
Saric throws a body punch but Le Phat moves out of range.

Le Phat closes the distance and clinches.
Le Phat struggles to land a body shot inside as Saric controls his hands.
Le Phat doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Le Phat working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Le Phat fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saric is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Le Phat pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Le Phat swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Saric.
Saric misses with the head strike.
Le Phat gets through Saric's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

It looks like Valentin Saric has been cut.
Le Phat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saric is defending well for now.
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!
Saric is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Le Phat goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saric fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Le Phat has a couple of punches blocked by Saric.
Saric is looking to break free of the clinch but Le Phat has double underhooks.
Le Phat misses with an elbow strike.
Saric misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saric pulls guard.
Saric wants to sweep but no luck.
Saric managing to control the position.
Saric looking to control.
Le Phat throws a big right hand that misses.
Le Phat throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saric works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Le Phat throwing strikes from guard but Saric blocks nicely.
Le Phat postures up.
Saric wants to control the position but Le Phat says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Saric is looking to improve his position.
Le Phat not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric gets back to full guard.
Saric is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Le Phat trying to control but Saric is working from the bottom.
Le Phat works over Saric with some ground and pound from guard.
Le Phat tries to free his leg and advance position but Saric is retaining full guard.

Le Phat drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Saric manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Le Phat has Saric in his guard.

Le Phat trying to keep a closed guard but Saric is proving a slippery customer.
Le Phat might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saric stands and throws Le Phat's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Le Phat is not content to let Saric control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Phat is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Le Phat is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Kung Pao , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Saric is looking to take a break and control but Le Phat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Saric tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saric has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Le Phat prevents Saric from moving into mount.
Saric controlling the position from side mount.
Saric advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Le Phat is squirming around, avoiding Saric's attempts to control the action.
Le Phat is working to get back to half guard.
Saric wants to take Le Phat's back here but Le Phat is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Le Phat is looking to get to half guard.
Le Phat is working hard here to advance position.
Saric looking to control and managing it successfully.
Saric looking to control but Le Phat is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Le Phat is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saric controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Saric will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Valentin Saric's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Le Phat's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saric connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Le Phat scrambles back to his feet.
Le Phat moves away from the strike by Saric.
Le Phat changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Le Phat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Saric swats away the attempt to clinch by Le Phat.
Saric throws a hook to the side of Le Phat's head but Le Phat sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Le Phat tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saric manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valentin Saric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Le Phat ducks under a wild hook from Saric.

Le Phat clinches up with Saric and pushes him back against the cage.
Saric swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Le Phat scores with a shoulder strike.
Saric has a couple of punches blocked by Le Phat.
Saric looking for a takedown.
Le Phat blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saric lands a right hand that snaps the head of Le Phat backwards.
Saric jumps guard but Le Phat turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Le Phat can't find room to land a body shot as Saric controls the action.
Le Phat prevents a body shot from Saric.
Saric has Le Phat pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Le Phat manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Roc Le Phat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valentin Saric.
A nice left hand lands by Le Phat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Le Phat pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Le Phat backwards.
Saric misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Le Phat.
Le Phat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Le Phat gets underhooks to prevent Saric's takedown attempt.
Le Phat misses with a punch to the body.
Saric lands with a light punch inside.
Le Phat is working Saric over against the cage.
Saric is breathing heavily.
Le Phat's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Roc Le Phat has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Le Phat.
Le Phat pushes off an throws an elbow but Saric leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Le Phat.
Le Phat tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saric's elbow.

Saric has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Le Phat is trying to keep an underhook but Saric manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Le Phat is staying active underneath Saric, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Le Phat is looking for a sweep. Saric is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Le Phat holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
My spies in Fairtex MMA inform me that Saric has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Le Phat gets full guard.
Saric preventing the sweep.
Le Phat trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saric sitting in guard here, content to control.

Saric content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Le Phat has locked up a guillotine! Le Phat's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Saric is holding on here and Le Phat must be using up a lot of energy. Saric has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Le Phat gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Roc Le Phat!
Roc Le Phat was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.