PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Veljko Bakocevic (ranked 1991 p4p, 2125 weight class) and Mason Rogers (ranked 214 p4p, 226 weight class). Veljko Bakocevic could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mason Rogers's chin.

Bakocevic
vs
Rogers

177 cm
24
154
4 - 7 - 0

168 cm
28
152
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Veljko Bakocevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mason Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakocevic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rogers.
Rogers throws a wild body kick that Bakocevic sees coming a mile off.
Bakocevic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Rogers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rogers is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bakocevic keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic trying to control the position.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Bakocevic keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakocevic wants to sweep here but Rogers controlling him for the moment.
Bakocevic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogers.
Rogers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bakocevic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rogers to score with a decent uppercut.

Bakocevic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Bakocevic uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Bakocevic.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bakocevic is defended easily by Rogers.
Bakocevic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veljko Bakocevic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bakocevic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Rogers uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bakocevic shoots in looking for a takedown but Rogers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bakocevic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rogers.
Rogers lands a jab to Bakocevic's midsection.
Bakocevic takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers lands the left hand.
Rogers throws a head kick that Bakocevic semi-blocks.
Bakocevic shoots in and drives through. Rogers sprawls well.
Bakocevic misses with a takedown attempt
and Rogers counters with a low kick, right behind Bakocevic 's knee.

Rogers gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rogers manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rogers looking to control.

Rogers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rogers holds on and takes a little breather.
Rogers trying to control the position.
Bakocevic stopping the sweep attempt from Rogers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic pushes down on Rogers's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rogers is refusing to be controlled, as Bakocevic sits in half guard.
Rogers is looking to improve his position.
Rogers wants to control but Bakocevic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rogers is trying to get back to full guard.
Rogers desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rogers wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bakocevic closes the distance and clinches up with Rogers, looking for a takedown. Bakocevic pushes Rogers against the cage but Rogers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bakocevic takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rogers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bakocevic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rogers defends it nicely.
Rogers throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bakocevic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veljko Bakocevic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogers misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rogers tests Bakocevic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice takedown defense from Rogers. No joy for Bakocevic on that attempt.
Rogers closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers throws a leg kick which misses Bakocevic's front leg but catches the back leg as Bakocevic tries to avoid it.
Bakocevic dives in and grabs Rogers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes down on Bakocevic's head and hops out.
Bakocevic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bakocevic is defended easily by Rogers.
Rogers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rogers throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rogers has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rogers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bakocevic was well out of range. Poor timing from Rogers.
Bakocevic takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Veljko Bakocevic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rogers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bakocevic manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic misses with a takedown

and Rogers counters with a 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!
Rogers controlling the position.
Bakocevic is looking for a sweep.
Rogers is looking to take a break and control but Bakocevic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bakocevic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers trying to control the action but Bakocevic is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Bakocevic!
Bakocevic wants to hold on but Rogers pushes him away.
Rogers sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakocevic takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bakocevic gets back to half guard.
Bakocevic looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers wants to take a breather but Bakocevic is having none of it.
Bakocevic holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers lands with a punch from half guard.
Rogers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bakocevic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rogers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rogers wants to free his trapped foot but Bakocevic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rogers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bakocevic defending well though.
Rogers throws a strike but Bakocevic avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rogers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bakocevic working for submissions but it's allowed Rogers to get to half guard.
Rogers is taking a breather. Bakocevic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Rogers. No joy for Bakocevic on that attempt.
Rogers misses with a series of wild punches.
A good leg kick by Rogers.
Rogers lands a body shot.
Bakocevic moves out of range as Rogers throws a body kick.
Bakocevic shoots for a double leg takedown but Rogers sprawls well. He's pushed Bakocevic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rogers shoots in and gets a takedown into Bakocevic's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogers throws a big elbow that misses.
Rogers is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bakocevic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Bakocevic is retaining full guard.

Bakocevic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rogers trying to control but Bakocevic is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rogers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bakocevic's head.
Bakocevic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rogers's guard.

Rogers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bakocevic won't allow Rogers to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Rogers seems to be working for a kimura but Bakocevic defends the submission attempt.
Bakocevic wants to get back to full guard.
Rogers takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Rogers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bakocevic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rogers.
Rogers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bakocevic keeps working.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rogers working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers drops an elbow to the side of Bakocevic's head.

Rogers is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bakocevic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rogers prevents Bakocevic from improving his position.
Rogers wants to take a breather but Bakocevic is having none of it.

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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rogers connects with a nice short shot to Bakocevic's temple.

Rogers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bakocevic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rogers.
Well, if Rogers is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rogers prevents Bakocevic from improving his position.
Veljko Bakocevic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mason Rogers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakocevic is staying active underneath Rogers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Rogers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rogers 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Rogers!
Mason Rogers decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.