PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juan Rosillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rosillo comes to the cage accompanied by Skillet - Hero. Maxwell is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2pac-When We Ride On Our Enemies remix. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rosillo
vs
Maxwell

180 cm
23
166 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
167 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Rosillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zak Maxwell!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maxwell misses with a takedown attempt

and Rosillo moves into the clinch.
Rosillo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maxwell's defenses.

Maxwell lands a takedown into guard.
Rosillo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maxwell is controlling him.
Rosillo seems keen to control Maxwell's posture.
Maxwell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maxwell wants to stand but Rosillo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Maxwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosillo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Zak Maxwell wasn't active enough on the ground.
Maxwell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rosillo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maxwell shoots and misses

and Rosillo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maxwell!
Juan Rosillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zak Maxwell.
Rosillo controlling from the full mount.
Rosillo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Maxwell is squirming around, avoiding Rosillo's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosillo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maxwell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rosillo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maxwell is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Juan Rosillo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Maxwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Rosillo.
Maxwell misses with a hook

and Rosillo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maxwell won't be happy with that.
Maxwell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maxwell is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell trying to hold on to Rosillo's head to control him but Rosillo postures up.

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

Rosillo clinches up with Maxwell and pushes him back against the cage.
Maxwell wants a takedown.
Maxwell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Maxwell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rosillo prevents it.
Maxwell looks gassed!
Rosillo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maxwell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Maxwell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rosillo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Maxwell misses with a takedown attempt

and Rosillo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maxwell's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rosillo wanted to stand there but Maxwell had control of the position.
Maxwell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rosillo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Maxwell tries to keep at a distance but Rosillo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rosillo lands a nice elbow.
Rosillo throws a head punch that misses.
Rosillo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rosillo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rosillo trying to control the position but instead, Maxwell has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rosillo into the cage.
Rosillo pushes off an throws an elbow but Maxwell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rosillo prevents the takedown attempt.
Rosillo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rosillo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maxwell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rosillo misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maxwell takes a knee to the side of the body.
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!
Rosillo pushes off an throws an elbow but Maxwell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rosillo working aggressively here.

Maxwell has picked Rosillo up - he's going for a ride! Maxwell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Maxwell is looking to pass Rosillo's guard but actually Rosillo recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Rosillo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rosillo tries to close the distance and clinch but Maxwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maxwell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rosillo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maxwell's guard now.
Rosillo wants to get up but he can't break Maxwell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Maxwell wants to improve his position but instead Rosillo has moved into half guard.
Rosillo wants to get back to his feet.
Juan Rosillo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maxwell gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rosillo preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell working a defensive guard here.
Maxwell working a defensive guard but Rosillo passes into half guard.
Maxwell manages to get to full guard.
Rosillo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maxwell is keeping the position for now.

Maxwell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maxwell wants to sweep but no luck.
Rosillo wanted to stand there but Maxwell had control of the position.

Rosillo stands up and waves to Maxwell to follow him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rosillo enables Maxwell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rosillo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rosillo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rosillo, not yet.
Maxwell looking to pass the guard.
Rosillo wants to stand up but Maxwell is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maxwell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rosillo wants to stand and escape but Maxwell is having none of it.
Maxwell looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Maxwell is pushing down on Rosillo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rosillo is fighting to maintain full guard but Maxwell has managed to sneak the leg through.
Maxwell is pressing down on Rosillo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rosillo is holding on for now.
Maxwell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Maxwell wants to free his trapped foot but Rosillo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Juan Rosillo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rosillo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maxwell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rosillo wants to clinch but Maxwell slips to the side

so Maxwell counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Maxwell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maxwell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rosillo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maxwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maxwell thows a big elbow that misses.
Rosillo keeping full guard, as Maxwell tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell throws a big right hand that misses.
Maxwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosillo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rosillo keeping full guard, as Maxwell tries to pass.
Rosillo keeping moving, preventing Maxwell from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rosillo closes the distance but Maxwell moves to the side
and Maxwell counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maxwell with a poor takedown

and Rosillo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maxwell won't be happy with that.
Maxwell tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rosillo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rosillo stands up and beckons Maxwell to his feet.

Rosillo clinches up with Maxwell and pushes him back against the cage.
Rosillo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maxwell misses with the head strike.
Rosillo avoiding damage.
Maxwell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rosillo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rosillo has Maxwell up against the cage in a clinch.
Maxwell avoiding damage as Rosillo throws knees to the body.

Maxwell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Maxwell manages to end up in side control.
Maxwell throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Rosillo works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Maxwell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maxwell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rosillo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Maxwell is keen to just control but Rosillo is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maxwell tries to pass to full mount but Rosillo defends it.
Maxwell is trying to control. Rosillo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Juan Rosillo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maxwell drops an elbow to the side of Rosillo's head.
Maxwell slips a nice elbow through Rosillo's hands, connecting with Rosillo's forehead.
Maxwell thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rosillo to regain full guard.
Maxwell stands and throws Rosillo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rosillo is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Maxwell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rosillo 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juan Rosillo!