PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bastian Rolfes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Rejo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rejo's choice of entrance music: Ragin Fit. Jake Rejo told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rolfes
vs
Rejo

186 cm
23
217 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

179 cm
24
204 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bastian Rolfes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Rejo!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rolfes dives in and scores a takedown into Rejo's guard.
Rolfes wants to pass the guard but Rejo is keeping the position.
Rolfes won't allow Rejo to sweep him here.
Rolfes advances position into side control!
Rejo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rejo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rejo sneaks back into half guard.
Rejo is trying to get back to full guard.
Rejo won't allow Rolfes to pass to mount.
Rolfes is working hard here to advance position.

Rolfes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rejo defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rejo is trying to maintain the position but Rolfes is very close to passing his half guard.
Rejo won't allow Rolfes to pass to mount.
Rolfes works his way into side control.

Rolfes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rejo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rejo tries to bench press Rolfes off him but Rolfes keeps the position.
Rejo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rejo struggling a bit here.
Rejo tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rolfes gets to mount! Rejo was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rolfes avoids the attempt from Rejo to control.
Rolfes lands a big shot there that rocks Rejo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rolfes controlling from the full mount.
Rejo looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rejo trying to control but not successfully.
Rolfes slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Rolfes has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Rolfes keeps control of the position as Rejo tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rolfes working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Rolfes is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Rejo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rejo is desperately trying to improve his position but Rolfes has a good base and remains in mount.
Rolfes avoids the attempt from Rejo to control.

Rolfes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rejo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rolfes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rejo tries to lock up and control but Rolfes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Rolfes looking for a guillotine from mount but Rejo is having none of it.
Rolfes moves to the back.

Rolfes working for the choke.
Rejo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rolfes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rejo defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bastian Rolfes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rejo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rolfes.

Rejo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rolfes was covering up waiting for the punch and Rejo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rolfes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rolfes keeping moving, preventing Rejo from controlling successfully.
Rolfes pulls Rejo in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rolfes keeping moving, preventing Rejo from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jake Rejo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rolfes shoots in but no luck this time.
Rejo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rolfes.
Rolfes shoots in but Rejo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bastian Rolfes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rolfes tries for a takedown but Rejo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rejo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rolfes quickly recovers to half guard.
Rolfes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rejo is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rejo is looking to stall here but Rolfes recovers full guard.
Rolfes has a closed guard, preventing Rejo from standing up.
Rejo trying to control but Rolfes is working from the bottom.
Bastian Rolfes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rolfes pulls Rejo in close to prevent any damage.
Rejo wants to pass the guard but Rolfes is keeping the position.
Rejo wants to control from the top but Rolfes keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jake Rejo was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rolfes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rejo was covering up waiting for the punch and Rolfes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rejo is trying to keep Rolfes in close.
Rejo wants to sweep here but Rolfes controlling him for the moment.
Rolfes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rolfes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rejo for as long as he can get away with.
Rejo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rolfes shoots in and bounces Rejo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rolfes trying to control but Rejo is working from the bottom.
Rolfes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rolfes trying to pass the guard but Rejo defending well.
Rejo tries to get to full guard but Rolfes has control of the leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rolfes trying to mount his opponent but Rejo defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rejo is trying to get back to full guard.
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 Bastian Rolfes will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Rejo as Rolfes shoots in.

Rolfes drives through with a takedown into Rejo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rejo looking to control.
Rolfes sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rolfes fails with the takedown.
Rolfes looks for a takedown but Rejo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bastian Rolfes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rolfes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rejo sprawls well initially but Rolfes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rolfes prevents Rejo from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rejo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rejo.
Rejo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rejo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rolfes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rejo trying to keep a closed guard but Rolfes is proving a slippery customer.
Rejo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rejo wants to control the position but Rolfes says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rolfes content to control rather than advance.
Rolfes is looking to advance position but Rejo won't allow it.
Rejo trying to control from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rejo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jake Rejo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Rolfes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rejo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jake Rejo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolfes is trying is best to control the position here.
Rejo wants to take a breather but Rolfes is having none of it.
Rolfes controlling the position for now.

Rejo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rolfes tries to get to full guard but Rejo has control of the leg.
Rolfes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rejo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rejo's back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Rejo tries to roll but Rolfes sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rolfes is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rejo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rejo for a finish.
Rejo is trying to break free.

Rejo fending off the submission attempt from Rolfes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rolfes sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Rejo taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Bastian Rolfes!