PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger David (ranked 2786 p4p, 3782 weight class) and Joe Black (ranked 400 p4p, 538 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

David
vs
Black

190 cm
25
192
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
187
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger David!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Black!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

It looks like Roger David has been cut.
Black shoots in and drives through. David sprawls well.

David manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Black on his heels. He'll look to pass Black's guard now, I'm sure.
We've been hearing good reports from David's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
David is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Black wants to sweep here but David controlling him for the moment.
David is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
David pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Black might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control David haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
Black is pulling down on David's head. It's preventing any offense from David, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Black closes this distance looking for a takedown but David circles away.

David changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Black looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Black can't do much from the bottom here.
David slows the pace down.
Black is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked David off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David is trying to break free.
Black trying to control.
My spies in GinÃ¡sio Guerreiro inform me that Black has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Black connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for David to escape the position.
Black controlling well, preventing David from escaping the position.

David is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Black biding his time, controlling David.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black avoiding David 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Black struggling to land strikes to the head as David covers up.
Black is trying to stick to David's back but David is turning into Black. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Black's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by David.
Black looking to control.
David scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Black really doesn't want to stay on the ground with David. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
David trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Black working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
David throws a big elbow that misses.
David looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
David chips away with some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roger David will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roger David's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Horrible takedown attempt by Black or perhaps it was just good defense by David, which made it look bad.

Black scores with a takedown into David's guard.
Black trying to control but David is working from the bottom.
Black won't allow David to sweep him here.
David is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
David manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Black manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

David gets to his feet - Black follows without any prompting.

Black instigates a clinch.
Black slows down the pace here.
A body shot lands from Black.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
David can't get the takedown.
David is trying to pull guard but Black has him pressed against the cage.
David working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables David to keep the fight standing.
David tries to land knees in the clinch but Black avoids the damage to the body.

David manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Black preventing the sweep.
David working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.
Black slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
David controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.
Black looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black looking to pass the guard.
David is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
David keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Black closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Black jumps guard but David turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Roger David has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Black.
Black is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Black wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but David has him pressed against the cage.

Black has dropped down and is working for a takedown. David is trying to keep an underhook but Black manages to get the takedown into half guard.
David is looking to control Black's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can David avoid being mounted?
Well, if Black 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.
Roger David overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
David is trying to control but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roger David's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

David rushes Black and presses him up against the cage.
David jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Black walks away with a smile on his face. David gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Black.
Black closes the distance and clinches up with David, looking for a takedown. Black pushes David against the cage but David circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Black shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. David is trying to defend but Black finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

David looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
David trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David is trying is best to control the position here.
David regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Black.
Black must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Black is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
David throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
David lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

David tries to free his leg and advance position but Black is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. David defends it easily.
David stands up over Black, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

David gets to his feet - Black follows without any prompting.
David shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Black pinned against the cage. Black gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from David.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger David. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Black closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Black's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

David moves into the clinch.
David is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Black leaning his opponent against the cage.

Black is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. David can't fight it off and eventually Black manages to take the fight to the floor. David looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
David trying to keep a closed guard but Black is proving a slippery customer.

David looking for a triangle here. Black is fighting it but it looks tight! David pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Black is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Roger David!