PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Ivsjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Roberts
vs
Ivsjo

185 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Win Nutritional

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Ivsjo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts shoots for a takedown but Ivsjo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Roberts scores a takedown into full mount!
Ivsjo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Roberts lands a nice shot to the head.
Ivsjo working to try and regain half guard.
Ivsjo blocking the ground and pound.
Roberts lands a nice shot to the head.
Ivsjo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Roberts stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Matt Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts doesn't manage to clinch there - Ivsjo circles away.
Ivsjo swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ivsjo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ivsjo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roberts is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roberts is controlling Ivsjo's posture.
Ivsjo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ivsjo throws and elbow that misses. Roberts uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ivsjo's guard. Nice move by Roberts!
Roberts wants to pass the guard but Ivsjo is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Ivsjo keeps moving.
Ivsjo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ivsjo keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Roberts looking to sit in guard and control but Ivsjo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Roberts has control of Ivsjo's left arm, preventing Ivsjo from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivsjo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ivsjo misses with a takedown attempt - Roberts sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ivsjo looks gassed!
Ivsjo looks for a takedown but Roberts sprawls well.

Roberts scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Roberts tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Roberts 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.
Ivsjo is not content to let Roberts control the position.
Roberts is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ivsjo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivsjo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Roberts's best efforts.
Ivsjo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roberts scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ivsjo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ivsjo.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Ivsjo keeps moving.
Roberts sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roberts is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Roberts dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ivsjo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matt Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
Ivsjo fails with the takedown

and Roberts holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Roberts ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Roberts no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Roberts is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Roberts has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ivsjo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Roberts fails with the takedown.
Roberts is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ivsjo.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ivsjo counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ivsjo decides to stand back up. Ivsjo steps back and let's Roberts get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts throws a head kick but Ivsjo moves out of range.
Ivsjo tries to clinch there but Roberts circles away.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ivsjo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Roberts!
Roberts tries to improve his position but instead Ivsjo has taken his back!
Ivsjo is not going to allow Roberts to sit and survive in this position.
Ivsjo keeps control of the position easily here as Roberts tries to buck him off.
Roberts is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Roberts takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivsjo avoiding Roberts 's attempts to control his hands.
Ivsjo trying to control momentarily.
Roberts turns into Ivsjo and is now in his guard.
Roberts controlling from the top position.
Ivsjo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roberts is one step ahead there.
Ivsjo keeping full guard, as Roberts tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Roberts clinches but Ivsjo breaks the clinch

so Ivsjo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ivsjo wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.

Roberts pushes Ivsjo off and gets back to his feet.
Ivsjo swings away with a body shot that misses

so Roberts counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ivsjo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Roberts manages to get himself to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Roberts is on top in guard.
Ivsjo managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivsjo keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Roberts passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Roberts is trying to get an arm triangle but Ivsjo is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Roberts swings around for an armbar but Ivsjo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Roberts's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ivsjo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ivsjo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Roberts is trying to control but can't.
Roberts wants to get back to his feet.
Roberts tries to kick Ivsjo off in order to stand up. Ivsjo Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Ivsjo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Roberts wants to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivsjo with a poor takedown
and Roberts counters with a three punch combo that has Ivsjo backing up. Ivsjo nods at Roberts to acknowledge the strikes.
Roberts misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roberts tries to clinch

and Ivsjo counters with a takedown into side control.
Ivsjo working away.
Alexander Ivsjo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivsjo trying to control the action but Roberts is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Roberts's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Roberts gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Roberts bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Ivsjo keeps moving.
Roberts wants to get up but he can't break Ivsjo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ivsjo wants to stand but Roberts is controlling the position.
Roberts with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roberts's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ivsjo trying to control the position.
Ivsjo wants to get back to his feet but Roberts is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts cracks Ivsjo with a solid left hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ivsjo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ivsjo.
Ivsjo wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.
Roberts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roberts strikes from his own guard.
Roberts wants to stand and escape but Ivsjo is having none of it.
Roberts controls Ivsjo momentarily but Ivsjo frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberts escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ivsjo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roberts trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ivsjo wants to clinch up but Roberts keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Roberts trying to land knees to the body.
Ivsjo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roberts pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Roberts lands an elbow just above Ivsjo 's eye.
Roberts controlling the action here for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Ivsjo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ivsjo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Ivsjo!