PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh McRoberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ross
vs
McRoberts

200 cm
25
285 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

190 cm
24
265 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricky Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh McRoberts!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross throws a lazy uppercut
and McRoberts counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

McRoberts drives through with a takedown into guard.
McRoberts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McRoberts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McRoberts pushing down on Ross's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ross moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Ross kicks McRoberts off and gets to his feet.
McRoberts rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ross moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ross looks to land a right hand but McRoberts moved out of range.
Ross tries a head kick but it misses.
Ricky Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ross connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Josh McRoberts 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!
McRoberts throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McRoberts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

McRoberts feints and as Ross raises his hands in defense, McRoberts changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ross trying to keep a closed guard but McRoberts is proving a slippery customer.
McRoberts stopping the sweep attempt from Ross.
Ross throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McRoberts distracts Ross with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ross wants to get back to his feet but McRoberts is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McRoberts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ross is keeping the position for now.

McRoberts drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McRoberts jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ross has McRoberts pulled in close to control his posture.
Ross manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McRoberts manages to get himself to full guard.
Ross is working McRoberts over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ross postures up and lands a big shot to McRoberts's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McRoberts had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ross defends it easily.
McRoberts avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

McRoberts escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ross gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

McRoberts throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McRoberts looks gassed!
Ross is in close to McRoberts's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ross landing with the ground and pound.

Ross decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ross misses with a lunging right hand

and McRoberts counters with a single leg into guard. Ross didn't expect that.
Ross manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McRoberts manages to get himself to full guard.
McRoberts has momentary wrist control but Ross slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ross throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McRoberts has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ross can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ross postures up and lands a big shot to McRoberts's brow.

McRoberts is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ross defends well.
McRoberts working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.
Ross thows a big elbow that misses.
Ross pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McRoberts is keeping the position for now.

McRoberts is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ross is aware though and is defending well.

McRoberts is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McRoberts has momentary wrist control but Ross slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ross lands a couple of elbows.
Ross with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ross throws a big right hand that misses.
Ross landing some decent shots from guard.
Ross 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

McRoberts looking for a guillotine here but Ross defends easily.
McRoberts working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.

McRoberts working for a triangle but Ross defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ross scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ross dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josh McRoberts's cut.
That's time! Ross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ross throws an ugly left hook that misses

and McRoberts counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ross looking for a sweep. Not yet Ross, not yet.

McRoberts drops back looking for a leg! Ross is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ross manages to kick McRoberts off! McRoberts jumps back into Ross's guard.
McRoberts is fighting to break Ross's control of his arms but Ross is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
McRoberts won't allow Ross to sweep him here.
Ross is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ross working a defensive guard here.
McRoberts stopping the sweep attempt from Ross.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricky Ross wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ross throws a left and a right that both miss
and McRoberts counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McRoberts takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ricky Ross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross misses with a looping left.
Ross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ross swings widly with a right hand
and McRoberts counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ross throws the left hand but McRoberts avoids the punch easily.

McRoberts shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ross's guard.
Ross is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ross keeping full guard, as McRoberts tries to pass.
Ross lands an upkick as McRoberts stands over him.
Ross manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McRoberts manages to get himself to full guard.
Ross thows a big elbow that misses.

McRoberts scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A kick lands to the mid section there for McRoberts.
Ross is looking to clinch but McRoberts is avoiding it.
McRoberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ross is fending him off so far but McRoberts persists. Nope, Ross circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ross throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McRoberts counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ross throws a nice looking combination but McRoberts bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ross avoids the head kick by McRoberts.
McRoberts blocks a jab.

McRoberts closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

McRoberts looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McRoberts working away.
Ross sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McRoberts is working away from the top position though.
McRoberts is keen to just control but Ross is a slippery customer.

McRoberts looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ross keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross gets back to full guard.
Ross wants to stand and escape but McRoberts is having none of it.
McRoberts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ross manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ross landing strikes from the mount and McRoberts is in trouble!
Ross landing strikes from the mount.
McRoberts is in a horrible position here. Ross smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McRoberts is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross landing punches.
Ross lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ross dominating with strikes here.
Ross landing strikes from the mount.
Ross lands a big shot there that rocks McRoberts but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ross lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ross landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ross lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Ross lands a nice shot to the head.
McRoberts takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ross lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ross dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Josh McRoberts'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. This is the final round!

Ross throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ross wants to clinch up but McRoberts keeps it at a distance.
McRoberts throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ross throws a hook to the side of McRoberts's head but McRoberts sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ross misses with a left hand

and McRoberts counters with a shoot takedown. Ross fights it but they end up in guard.
Ross bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McRoberts's guard.
McRoberts working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.
McRoberts is trying to control the position from the bottom.

McRoberts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ross doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ross manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ricky Ross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

McRoberts is looking for a triangle but Ross pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ross connects with a couple of short punches.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ross scoring with some ground and pound.
McRoberts is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross stands up over McRoberts, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McRoberts utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

McRoberts is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ross gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McRoberts moves away from the strike by Ross.
No joy there for Ross, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ross throws a poor cross that misses

and McRoberts counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ross!
Ross is squirming around, avoiding McRoberts's attempts to control the action.
Ross is desperately trying to improve his position but McRoberts has a good base and remains in mount.
Ross is in a horrible position here. McRoberts smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ross is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRoberts wants to control the pace but Ross is squirming around nicely.
Ross is working to get back to half guard.
McRoberts wants to control the pace but Ross is squirming around nicely.
Ross is in all sorts of trouble here.
McRoberts landing shots from mount.
McRoberts landing strikes from the mount and Ross is in trouble!

McRoberts with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ross wants to hold on but McRoberts pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross is working to get back to half guard.
McRoberts sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ross gets back to half guard.

McRoberts is working for a kimura but Ross is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ross manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ross is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ross is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McRoberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Ross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McRoberts tries to free his leg and advance position but Ross is retaining full guard.
McRoberts sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ross's guard.
Ross is staying active underneath McRoberts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

McRoberts is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Josh McRoberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ross is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McRoberts's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McRoberts's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is taking a good look at McRoberts as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Ross!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Ross. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh McRoberts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ross has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Ross!