PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bertrand Escher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Truman Roosevelt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roosevelt has chosen Gravel Pit by Wu Tang Clan as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Escher
vs
Roosevelt

168 cm
28
150 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

174 cm
28
155 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bertrand Escher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Truman Roosevelt!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roosevelt throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Roosevelt lunges at Escher with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Escher's hand.
Escher fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roosevelt manages to avoid it.
Escher moves out of range of the body kick from Roosevelt.
Roosevelt misses with a body kick.
Roosevelt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Escher moves out of range of the body kick from Roosevelt.

Roosevelt gets a takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Escher is refusing to be controlled, as Roosevelt sits in half guard.
Escher tries to get to full guard but Roosevelt has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roosevelt wants to pass to mount but Escher is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roosevelt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roosevelt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Escher keeps working.
Escher wants to control but Roosevelt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Escher is doing well to control the position and prevent Roosevelt from advancing to side control.
Escher moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Escher keeping moving, preventing Roosevelt from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roosevelt postures up.
Roosevelt is looking to work some ground and pound but Escher has wrist control.
Roosevelt trying to control but Escher is working from the bottom.
Roosevelt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Roosevelt postures up.
Roosevelt is pushing down on Escher's leg trying to pass to half guard. Escher is fighting to maintain full guard but Roosevelt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Roosevelt throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Escher to regain full guard.
Escher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roosevelt is one step ahead there.
Roosevelt wants to control from the top but Escher keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escher being controlled here, momentarily.
Roosevelt tries to free his leg and advance position but Escher is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roosevelt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Roosevelt with a flurry of punches that miss.

Escher looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Escher throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escher 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.

Roosevelt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escher has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roosevelt has managed to get both his arms back between Escher's legs - danger averted.

Escher had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roosevelt defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escher keeping moving, preventing Roosevelt from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roosevelt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A good leg kick by Roosevelt.
Truman Roosevelt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Escher moves out of range of the body kick.
Roosevelt throws a body kick that misses.
Roosevelt throws a head kick but Escher moves out of range.
Roosevelt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Roosevelt throws a leg kick but Escher checks it.
Roosevelt swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escher works the jab nicely.
Escher avoids a punch combination nicely.
Roosevelt throws a head kick but Escher moves out of range.
Escher throws out a loose jab but Roosevelt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roosevelt wants to land a leg kick but Escher is out of range.
Roosevelt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escher avoids the head kick by Roosevelt.
Roosevelt moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roosevelt looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Escher tries to keep at a distance but Roosevelt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Roosevelt misses with an elbow over the top.
Escher tries to break free but Roosevelt pushes him back against the cage.
Roosevelt misses with an elbow over the top.
Roosevelt looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Roosevelt utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Roosevelt.
Escher tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roosevelt just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escher wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roosevelt misses with an elbow strike.
Roosevelt tries to land knees in the clinch but Escher avoids the damage to the body.
Roosevelt is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Escher is defending well for now.

Roosevelt tightens his grip and picks Escher up, before dumping him to the ground. Escher manages to land in guard.
Roosevelt wants to control from the top but Escher keeps moving.
Roosevelt is looking to advance position but Escher has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Escher looking to ground and pound but Roosevelt is blocking nicely.
Escher lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Escher lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escher sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Escher misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escher throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Escher can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Roosevelt is looking to escape.
Roosevelt in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Roosevelt is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Escher throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roosevelt tries to hold on but Escher postures up.

Escher is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Roosevelt is surviving well by controlling Escher's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Truman Roosevelt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Roosevelt thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Escher if he has to take too many more of those.
Roosevelt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Escher sprawls well. Escher wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roosevelt gets slowly back to his feet.
Escher fails with a takedown attempt.
Roosevelt throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Roosevelt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Escher but Escher pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Roosevelt lands but Escher takes it in his stride.
Roosevelt tries to land a front kick but Escher steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Roosevelt misses with a straight left.
Escher misses the shot to the body.
Roosevelt throws a nice inside leg kick.
Roosevelt looks to land a body kick but Escher moved away.
Roosevelt avoids a kick to the body.
Roosevelt misses with a body kick.
Escher has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Roosevelt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escher moves out of range of the body kick from Roosevelt.
Roosevelt is looking to land body kicks.
Truman Roosevelt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roosevelt fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bertrand Escher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Truman Roosevelt.
Escher takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Roosevelt throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Roosevelt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roosevelt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roosevelt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Roosevelt wants to clinch up but Escher keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escher throws a body kick that misses.
Escher on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Escher moves out of range of the body kick from Roosevelt.
Roosevelt tries to close the distance and clinch but Escher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roosevelt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Truman Roosevelt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Roosevelt throws a push kick but Escher slaps the foot to one side.
Roosevelt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roosevelt plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Escher moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roosevelt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Roosevelt throws a wild body kick that Escher sees coming a mile off.
Escher throws a hook but Roosevelt avoids it easily.
Roosevelt misses with a kick to the body.
Roosevelt slips a straight right by Escher.
Bertrand Escher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roosevelt tries to clinch there but Escher circles away.
Roosevelt throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Roosevelt.

Escher gets a takedown into half guard.

Escher is trying to work for a kimura but Roosevelt is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Truman Roosevelt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roosevelt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Truman Roosevelt!
In his post fight interview, Truman Roosevelt started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.