PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Rossi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peterson comes into the arena with Diamond blaring out of the sound system. Rossi has chosen Fratelli d italia - ( Inno di Mameli ) as his entrance music. Al Rossi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Peterson
vs
Rossi

175 cm
29
140 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

172 cm
25
142 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Peterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Al Rossi!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi misses with a low kick.
Peterson shoots in looking for a takedown. Rossi tries to sprawl out of it but Peterson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rossi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rossi looks to land a right hand but Peterson moved out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Peterson as he connects with a hook.
A slow jab from Rossi misses its intended target.
Rossi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rossi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Peterson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rossi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rossi.
Rossi is looking to score with low kicks.
Rossi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Peterson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses.
Rossi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Peterson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Peterson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rossi.

Peterson moves into range and clinches up with Rossi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson dodges an elbow strike from Rossi.
Peterson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rossi throws a punch but it's blocked by Peterson.
Rossi misses with the head strike.
Rossi misses with an elbow over the top.
Rossi lands an elbow inside that Peterson shrugs off.
Peterson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Peterson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rossi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Peterson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Peterson wants to clinch.
Rossi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Peterson's calf.
Rossi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rossi throws a leg kick which misses Peterson's front leg but catches the back leg as Peterson tries to avoid it.
Rossi tries to score with a low kick but Peterson moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi punishes Peterson's body with a nice straight punch.
Rossi throws a one two combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi lands a jab to the head.
Rossi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Peterson.
Peterson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rossi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Peterson moves out of range as Rossi throws a body kick.
Peterson swinging wildly here.
Rossi misses with a right hand
and Peterson counters with a straight right hand.
Rossi doesn't manage to clinch there - Peterson circles away.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses.
Rossi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rossi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Peterson.
Rossi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Al Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rossi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
The crowd cheers as Rossi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Peterson doesn't seem phased though.
Rossi misses with a low kick.
Rossi looks to throw a body kick
and Peterson counters with a one-two to the body.
Peterson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rossi misses with a head kick.
Peterson moves out of range of the strikes.
Rossi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rossi moves out of range of the strikes.
Rossi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Peterson.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rossi enables Peterson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rossi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Peterson wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peterson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rossi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Victor Peterson just wasn't active enough.
Peterson keeps the fight on the outside.
Some bone on bone action there as Peterson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Rossi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Peterson blocks a head kick by Rossi.
Peterson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rossi under the eye.
Rossi tries to score with a low kick but Peterson moves his leg out of the way.
Rossi lands a body shot.
Rossi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses.
Horrible takedown by Peterson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rossi which made him look bad.

Peterson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Peterson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Peterson working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Peterson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Peterson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Peterson laying and praying for a moment but Rossi takes advantage and regains half guard.
Rossi is refusing to be controlled, as Peterson sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rossi is defending against the submission attempts here by Peterson.
Rossi won't allow Peterson to pass to mount.

Peterson is looking for a kimura here.

Rossi is defending against the submission attempts here by Peterson.

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

Peterson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rossi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Peterson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peterson is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rossi reverses the position - he's now on top in Peterson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rossi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rossi throws a right hand that Peterson ducks under and follows up with a left that Peterson also avoids with ease.
Rossi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Peterson manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Peterson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Rossi.
Peterson blocks a head kick by Rossi.
Rossi misses with a low kick.
Rossi throws a low kick but Peterson moves out of range easily.

Peterson closes the distance and clinches.
Peterson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Peterson avoiding damage as Rossi throws knees to the body.
Rossi trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Peterson on the inside.

Peterson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rossi is trying to keep Peterson in close.
Rossi keeping full guard, as Peterson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.

Peterson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rossi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Peterson, into his guard.

Peterson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rossi throws a head punch that misses.
Peterson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rossi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rossi trying to control the position but instead, Peterson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rossi into the cage.
Peterson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rossi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Peterson's brow.
Rossi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rossi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Peterson managing to block the knees to the body from Rossi.
Rossi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Peterson breaks the clinch.
Rossi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rossi misses with a body kick.
Rossi tries a low kick but Peterson avoids it.
Rossi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Peterson is able to avoid easily.
Rossi motions for Peterson to come forward. Rossi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rossi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Al Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Peterson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peterson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Peterson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A leg kick checked by Peterson.
Peterson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rossi throws out the jab.
Rossi lands a jab to the head.
A head kick by Rossi misses
letting Peterson counter with a right hand.
Peterson scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rossi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No joy there for Rossi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Peterson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rossi wants to clinch
and Peterson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rossi thinking.
Rossi misses with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Peterson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rossi throws a push kick but Peterson slaps the foot to one side.
Peterson lands a jab to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Al Rossi.
I think Rossi 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Al Rossi!
Al Rossi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.