PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Ricard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aron Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricard comes into the arena with Frank The Tank blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ricard
vs
Rogers

191 cm
26
267 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

192 cm
26
285 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Ricard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aron Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricard tries to clinch up.
Ricard shoots in looking for a takedown. Rogers tries to sprawl out of it but Ricard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rogers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ricard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ricard avoids the head kick by Rogers.
Ricard tries to clinch there but Rogers circles away.
No joy there for Ricard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rogers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ricard.
Ricard swings for the body but Rogers moves out of range.
Ricard misses with a two punch combination.
Ricard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogers cracks the inside of Ricard's front leg.
Ricard scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Frank Ricard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ricard misses with the combination.
Ricard is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard is looking to clinch but Rogers is avoiding it.
A jab from Rogers does it's job there.

Ricard gets caught flat footed, as Rogers shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rogers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ricard is keeping the position for now.
Ricard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rogers is controlling him.
Rogers wants to stand but Ricard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ricard keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.

Ricard manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ricard throws a one two combo.

It looks like Aron Rogers has been cut.
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!
Rogers keeps the fight on the outside.
Rogers throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ricard.
Ricard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rogers moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ricard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rogers counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Ricard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ricard is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricard has his takedown stuffed
and Rogers counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ricard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ricard checks a leg kick.
Ricard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ricard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rogers uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ricard has time to react.
Rogers lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Ricard gets tackled into the cage by Rogers. Rogers maintains the clinch.
Rogers blocking some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rogers throws an elbow but misses.
Ricard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rogers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ricard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rogers just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ricard's brow.
Ricard has had enough of the clinch but Rogers keeps him there for the moment.
Rogers misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ricard.
Rogers stops a takedown attempt from Ricard.
Rogers creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rogers is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard dodges an elbow strike from Rogers.
Rogers controlling the action here for a moment.
Ricard working aggressively here.
Rogers tries to stall but Ricard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ricard avoiding damage as Rogers throws knees to the body.
Ricard dodges an elbow strike from Rogers.
Rogers with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rogers throws an elbow but it misses.
Rogers misses with an elbow strike.
Rogers missing with knees to the body.
Ricard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ricard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ricard lands a jab to Rogers's midsection.
Ricard lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

A jab-cross combination lands for Ricard and sends Rogers crashing to the mat! Ricard follows him down to the mat - Rogers regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Ricard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Ricard escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ricard fails to land with a series of punches.
Ricard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rogers counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ricard won't be happy with that.
Ricard is trying to get back to half guard.

Rogers stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some wild striking there from Ricard.
Rogers throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ricard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Ricard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aron Rogers's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ricard misses with a takedown attempt

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Rogers counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rogers.
Ricard dodges an elbow strike from Rogers.
Ricard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rogers pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Ricard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rogers has Ricard pressed against the cage, preventing Ricard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ricard avoids a wild elbow strike from Rogers.
Ricard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rogers pushes off an throws an elbow but Ricard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ricard avoiding damage as Rogers throws knees to the body.
Ricard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ricard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rogers using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ricard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Ricard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ricard looks to land a left hand but Rogers moved out of range nicely.
Ricard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rogers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Ricard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rogers tries to land knees in the clinch but Ricard avoids the damage to the body.
Rogers is breathing heavily.

Ricard tightens his grip and picks Rogers up, before dumping him to the ground. Rogers manages to land in guard.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ricard trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ricard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rogers, up you get!
Ricard misses with a two punch combination.
Ricard tries to clinch up but Rogers circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Ricard does no damage.
Ricard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Ricard. Those never looked like landing.
Rogers throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ricard.
Ricard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rogers sprawls well. Rogers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ricard gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ricard keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ricard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rogers circles away quickly and effectively.
Ricard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rogers counters by moving into the clinch.
Rogers stalling in the clinch but Ricard improves position.
Rogers effectively controlling the action here.
Ricard blocks an elbow strike.
Rogers prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ricard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ricard tries to circle away but Rogers has him pinned against the cage.
Ricard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ricard is looking to break free of the clinch but Rogers has double underhooks.
Ricard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rogers lands an elbow just above Ricard 's eye.
Rogers looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Ricard breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Good work by Rogers as he checks the leg kick.
Ricard misses with a few strikes there.
Ricard darts in trying to clinch
and Rogers counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Ricard gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rogers to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ricard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rogers throwing strikes from guard but Ricard blocks nicely.

Rogers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rogers stands up from Ricard's guard - Rogers perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ricard.

Rogers clinches up with Ricard and pushes him back against the cage.
Rogers is trying to stall.

Ricard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ricard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ricard falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Rogers counter with a right hand.
Frank Ricard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ricard throws a series of punches but Rogers avoids them all with ease.
Ricard tries to clinch but Rogers moves away
and Rogers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ricard with a poor takedown
and Rogers counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aron Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aron Rogers's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ricard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rogers circles away quickly and effectively.

Rogers pushes Ricard up against the cage in a clinch.
Rogers pushes off an throws an elbow but Ricard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ricard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ricard blocks the elbow strike.
Rogers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ricard's defenses.

It looks like Frank Ricard has been cut.

Ricard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ricard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rogers counters by clinching up.
Ricard blocks the elbow strike.
Ricard avoids the elbow strike from Rogers, against the cage.
Ricard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Ricard has clasped his hands together around Rogers's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ground and pound from Ricard seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ricard throwing strikes but Rogers manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ricard on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ricard is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rogers working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rogers stands up.
Danga de danga de dang - Ricard scores with a four punch combination!
Ricard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ricard looks to land a left hand but Rogers moved out of range nicely.
Rogers slips a straight right by Ricard.
Ricard misses with a few strikes there.
Ricard connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ricard misses with a two punch combination.
Ricard misses with a double jab

and Rogers counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ricard won't be happy with that.
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!
Rogers working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rogers has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ricard misses with an uppercut. Rogers saw that one coming.

Rogers moves into the clinch.
Rogers throws an elbow that misses.
Ricard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ricard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rogers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ricard is trying to break the clinch but Rogers has him pressed against the cage.
Rogers lands with a right to the head.

Ricard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ricard misses with a double jab

and Rogers counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rogers lands a nice short elbow.
Rogers lands with a punch from half guard.
Rogers blocks the strikes from Ricard.
Rogers is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rogers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard is looking to escape.

Rogers stands up out of the half guard.
Ricard tries to bum rush Rogers with a series of wild strikes but Rogers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rogers lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ricard falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rogers counters with a nice body shot.
Rogers is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rogers tries a head kick but it misses.
Ricard lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ricard.
Ricard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rogers counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ricard's knee momentarily.
Ricard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rogers counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rogers moves into the clinch.

Ricard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ricard shoots and misses

and Rogers moves into the clinch.
Ricard blocks an elbow strike.
Rogers working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ricard blocks an elbow strike.
Rogers looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rogers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ricard avoids it.
Ricard tries to break free but Rogers pushes him back against the cage.
Rogers content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ricard dodges an elbow strike from Rogers.
Ricard wants to get back to striking at distance but Rogers won't allow it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ricard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rogers misses with the head strike.

Ricard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ricard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rogers.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Rogers.
Rogers on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ricard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aron Rogers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rogers 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aron Rogers!