PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Rocksteady (ranked 1933 p4p, 2538 weight class) and Buster White (ranked 248 p4p, 319 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rocksteady might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Red Right Hand. White has chosen Whiskey Myers - Stone as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rocksteady
vs
White

170 cm
23
205
8 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
210
5 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Rocksteady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buster White!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rocksteady attempts a counter takedown but White avoids it well and moves away.
Rocksteady ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rocksteady avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rocksteady takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rocksteady moves out of range as White strikes.
Rocksteady feinted with a counter takedown.
A head kick misses from White.
White has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
White moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
White tries to clinch up but Rocksteady circles away and keeps his distance.
White is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Rocksteady counters with a single leg into guard. White didn't expect that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rocksteady wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.

White manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rocksteady moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
White swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rocksteady counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for White!
White bucks up and tries to throw Rocksteady off but instead Rocksteady has got his back!
White can't escape the position.
White is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rocksteady throwing wild punches that miss their target.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rocksteady working for the choke.

Rocksteady has his opponent's back but White is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Rocksteady.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White misses with a low kick.
Rocksteady blocks a low kick nicely.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
White connects with a single shot there.
A swing and a miss from White.
Buster White seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
White lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by White.

White lands a left and a right that send Rocksteady crashing to the mat, dazed. White thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Rocksteady is rocked!
White looks to throw a body kick

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

White pushes Rocksteady off and gets back to his feet.

Rocksteady closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. White did well to prevent Rocksteady getting side control.
White blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rocksteady.
White is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but White does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rocksteady lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
White is looking for a sweep. Rocksteady is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
White is staying active underneath Rocksteady, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rocksteady stops White from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocksteady seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but White does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
White misses with a low kick.
White tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
White slaps away a takedown attempt from Rocksteady, before circling back to the center of the mat.
White paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rocksteady catches White with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rocksteady swats away the attempt to clinch by White.
White throws a lazy head kick

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
White has momentary wrist control but Rocksteady slips an elbow through the middle.
Rocksteady postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buster White dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A low kick from White misses

and Rocksteady decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in White's guard.
Rocksteady trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
White wants to stand but Rocksteady is controlling the position.
White working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rocksteady.
Rocksteady won't allow White to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White has control of Rocksteady's left arm, preventing Rocksteady from doing any damage.
Rocksteady pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. White is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A low kick from White is predictable there

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into guard.
White is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rocksteady is controlling him.
Rocksteady has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rocksteady engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A low kick from White is predictable there

and Rocksteady counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

White manages to escape and 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!
White throws a lazy body kick

and Rocksteady counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
White wants to get back to his feet.
White is trying to get back to full guard.
James Rocksteady overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
White is trying to stand back up but Rocksteady is controlling him

Rocksteady seems to be working for a kimura but White defends the submission attempt.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rocksteady tries to pass to full mount but White defends it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch combination from White misses.
White is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
White misses with a right hand

and Rocksteady counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White pushes Rocksteady off looking to stand but Rocksteady dives back in and keeps control.
Rocksteady wants to control but White is keeping him busy.
Rocksteady thows a huge punch but White dodges it nicely.
Rocksteady trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.

White has one foot on Rocksteady's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
White misses with a double jab

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rocksteady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Rocksteady dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

White throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
White avoids the body shot from Rocksteady.
White avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
White throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rocksteady half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Rocksteady 's head but he takes it in his stride.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rocksteady slips under a jab from White.
White looks to clinch

so Rocksteady counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
White is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rocksteady dives into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

You can see the frustration on White's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rocksteady goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, White has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rocksteady but great work by White.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White working away.
Rocksteady is looking for a sweep.

White decides to stand back up. White steps back and let's Rocksteady get back to his feet.
White connects with a right hand. Rocksteady shakes it off.
White throws out a loose jab but Rocksteady uses good head movement to avoid it.
White misses with a hook

and Rocksteady decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in White's guard.
Rocksteady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rocksteady connects with a couple of short punches.
White is looking to stand back up but Rocksteady counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by White.
Rocksteady not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is staying active underneath Rocksteady, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rocksteady passes to side control.
White seems a little lost for a moment, as Rocksteady dominates the positioning.
White is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rocksteady has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rocksteady wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
Rocksteady lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady trying to control the position but White is working away.
White manages to get back to half guard.
Rocksteady controlling the pace.
Rocksteady thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed White's head.

White is defending against the submission attempts here by Rocksteady.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rocksteady is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocksteady goes for an armbar but he's not got it… White turns into him and now he's in Rocksteady's guard.
Rocksteady might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
White wants to get up but he can't break Rocksteady's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

White avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rocksteady is working an open guard so White takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Rocksteady.
I think Rocksteady has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

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