PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shah Rokhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cole Sugar (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.

Rokhan
vs
Sugar

185 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Shah Rokhan!
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, Cole Sugar!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sugar stuffs the takedown attempt from Rokhan. Rokhan gets slowly back to his feet.
Rokhan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sugar but Sugar pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rokhan gets a clinch.
Sugar throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rokhan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sugar just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Rokhan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rokhan tries to land knees in the clinch but Sugar avoids the damage to the body.
Sugar tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rokhan managing to block the knees to the body from Sugar.
Sugar missing with knees to the body.
Sugar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rokhan avoiding damage as Sugar throws knees to the body.
Rokhan wants a takedown.
Sugar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rokhan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rokhan avoiding damage as Sugar throws knees to the body.
Rokhan is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sugar tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Rokhan has hold of one of Sugar's legs. Sugar is fighting the takedown attempt but Rokhan gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rokhan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokhan tries to free his leg and advance position but Sugar is retaining full guard.
Sugar wants to sweep but no luck.
Rokhan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shah Rokhan.
Sugar wants to clinch but Rokhan slips to the side

and Rokhan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rokhan takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sugar prevents a body shot from Rokhan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sugar lands with a left to the head.

Rokhan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sugar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sugar tries to clinch but Rokhan moves away

and Rokhan counters with a single leg into guard. Sugar didn't expect that.
Sugar wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rokhan is now in half guard.
Rokhan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rokhan is breathing heavily.
Sugar wants to control but Rokhan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rokhan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Rokhan is working for a kimura but Sugar is defending it quite comfortably.
Sugar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rokhan is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan stops Sugar from getting back to his feet.
Rokhan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rokhan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shah Rokhan.
Rokhan tries for a takedown but Sugar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sugar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Rokhan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sugar is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rokhan has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rokhan taking a breather here.
Sugar is looking for a sweep.

Rokhan stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Rokhan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sugar looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sugar pushes Rokhan away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rokhan gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rokhan moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sugar regains half guard, as Rokhan was trying to land strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shah Rokhan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sugar darts in trying to clinch

and Rokhan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sugar!
Rokhan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sugar is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sugar has given up his back. Will we see Rokhan going for some submissions?
Rokhan is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Rokhan punishes Sugar with strikes from the back mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Rokhan is persistently looking for the submission but Sugar is defending it well.
Good control from Rokhan.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shah Rokhan.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rokhan.

Rokhan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sugar sneaks out the side door and pushes Rokhan away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Sugar closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Shah Rokhan has been cut.

Rokhan takes the fight into the clinch.
Rokhan managing to block the knees to the body from Sugar.

Rokhan jumps into guard, dragging Sugar to the mat.
Shah Rokhan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sugar being controlled here momentarily.
Rokhan keeping full guard, as Sugar tries to pass.
Rokhan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rokhan is looking to sweep but instead, Sugar has passed into half guard.
Sugar tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan is controlling Sugar's trapped leg to prevent Sugar from advancing to side control.
Rokhan is trying to get back to full guard.
Rokhan controlling the position for now.

Sugar postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rokhan to stand up.

Rokhan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rokhan showed some decent athleticism there.
Sugar wants to control but Rokhan is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sugar wants to get back to his feet.
Sugar tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Rokhan manages to move to mount!
Rokhan content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shah Rokhan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shah Rokhan's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sugar shoots in but no luck this time.
Rokhan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sugar counters with a nice body kick.
Sugar tries to clinch there but Rokhan circles away.
Sugar wants to clinch up but Rokhan keeps it at a distance.
Rokhan has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sugar.
Rokhan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sugar finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Rokhan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rokhan wants to control but Sugar is keeping him busy.
Sugar is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rokhan asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Rokhan decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sugar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sugar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rokhan closes the distance and clinches.
Rokhan looking for a takedown.
Rokhan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sugar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Rokhan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rokhan manages to break the clinch.
Sugar tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rokhan counters with a single leg into guard. Sugar didn't expect that.
Rokhan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sugar wants to sweep here but Rokhan controlling him for the moment.
Rokhan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shah Rokhan.
Rokhan moves in looking to clinch but Sugar pushes him off.
Rokhan circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rokhan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rokhan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sugar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rokhan gets to his feet. Sugar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cole Sugar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sugar closes the distance but Rokhan moves to the side

and Rokhan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sugar's guard now.
Rokhan passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rokhan decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sugar wants to clinch

and Rokhan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sugar's guard.
Rokhan prevents Sugar from getting back to his feet.
Sugar throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Sugar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
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!
Rokhan won't allow Sugar to get back to his feet.
Sugar keeping moving, preventing Rokhan from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sugar working for a triangle but Rokhan defends it easily.
Rokhan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rokhan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shah Rokhan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rokhan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shah Rokhan!