PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Bajramaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rogers might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I Am A Real American. Bajramaj has chosen Godsmack - I Stand Alone as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rogers
vs
Bajramaj

188 cm
34
221 lbs
27 - 15 - 1

194 cm
26
215 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 27 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Erik Bajramaj!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rogers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rogers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bajramaj wants to take the fight to the mat but Rogers manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bajramaj.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rogers lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rogers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rogers working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rogers.
Rogers lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bajramaj backwards.
Rogers tries to stall but Bajramaj uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Rogers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rogers lands a left and a right that send Bajramaj crashing to the mat, dazed. Rogers thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Erik Bajramaj has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bajramaj counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rogers won't be happy with that.
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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Bajramaj is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rogers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Bajramaj is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rogers has escaped the position, nice work there.

Bajramaj goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rogers rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bajramaj's guard! Nice work there by Rogers!
Rogers is looking to stand up but Bajramaj won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Steve Rogers.
Rogers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bajramaj shoots for a takedown but Rogers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rogers moves into range and clinches up with Bajramaj.
Bajramaj drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rogers pulls his leg out and moves away.
Steve Rogers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Bajramaj.
Bajramaj blocks a head kick by Rogers.
Bajramaj fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rogers avoids it really well and circles away.
Steve Rogers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rogers moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rogers has a couple of punches blocked by Bajramaj.
Rogers lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rogers has a couple of punches blocked by Bajramaj.
Rogers misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rogers gets underhooks to prevent Bajramaj's takedown attempt.
Bajramaj goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rogers prevents it.
Rogers scores with a shot to the side of Bajramaj's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rogers working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rogers swings wildly with an uppercut but Bajramaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erik Bajramaj's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rogers is looking to clinch.

Rogers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rogers is trying to push Bajramaj away but Bajramaj has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rogers tries a body shot but Bajramaj blocks it.
Rogers lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bajramaj backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Rogers's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bajramaj has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rogers is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bajramaj's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rogers can't find room to land a body shot as Bajramaj controls the action.
Rogers has a couple of punches blocked by Bajramaj.
Bajramaj blocking some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rogers is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rogers.
Bajramaj looking for a takedown.
Steve Rogers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Bajramaj.
Rogers lands a nice uppercut.
Rogers misses with a short punch on the inside.

Rogers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rogers throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rogers tries to bum rush Bajramaj with a series of wild strikes but Bajramaj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Steve Rogers is winning the standup battle so far.
Bajramaj shoots in but no luck this time.

Rogers moves into the clinch.

Bajramaj wants the takedown. Rogers is fighting it off but Bajramaj persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rogers's guard against the cage.
Bajramaj stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rogers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rogers is looking to stand up but Bajramaj isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bajramaj drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rogers dives on top into guard.

Rogers gets to his feet. Bajramaj looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
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!
Rogers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bajramaj moves away.
Rogers attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Rogers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rogers's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bajramaj blocks a body shot from Rogers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bajramaj drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rogers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bajramaj is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rogers is defending well.
Bajramaj has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rogers after a bit of a struggle.
Rogers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rogers.
Rogers stalling against the cage.
Rogers working aggressively here.

Rogers breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Rogers scores with a four punch combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bajramaj.
Rogers misses with the combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rogers. Bajramaj does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bajramaj slips under a jab from Rogers.
Rogers tries to score with a low kick but Bajramaj moves his leg out of the way.
Rogers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rogers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rogers throws a series of punches but Bajramaj avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bajramaj shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bajramaj accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bajramaj is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bajramaj sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rogers's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erik Bajramaj's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bajramaj blocks a low kick nicely.
Rogers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bajramaj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bajramaj closes the distance and clinches up with Rogers, looking for a takedown. Bajramaj pushes Rogers against the cage but Rogers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bajramaj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bajramaj throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rogers's waist but Rogers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bajramaj off to one side.
Bajramaj tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rogers swivels and escapes.
Steve Rogers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Bajramaj.
Rogers tries to close the distance and clinch but Bajramaj swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rogers lands a big right hand that sends Bajramaj crashing to the mat! Rogers stays standing though and waves Bajramaj back to his feet!
Steve Rogers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rogers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rogers misses with a head kick.
Rogers throws a head kick but Bajramaj moves out of range.
Bajramaj slips under a jab from Rogers.
Steve Rogers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rogers throws a hook but Bajramaj blocks it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rogers.
Rogers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bajramaj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers misses with a head kick.
Rogers tries to clinch there but Bajramaj circles away.
No luck for Bajramaj with that takedown attempt.
Rogers pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bajramaj back to the cage. Rogers follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bajramaj circles away from the clinch attempt

so Bajramaj counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rogers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bajramaj.
Rogers keeping full guard, as Bajramaj tries to pass.
Rogers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bajramaj on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bajramaj drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rogers manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bajramaj has Rogers in his guard.

Bajramaj pushes Rogers off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bajramaj doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Rogers pushes Bajramaj up against the cage in a clinch.
Bajramaj blocks an uppercut.
Bajramaj has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rogers after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to break free.
Rogers misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rogers.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rogers.
Rogers tries to break the clinch but Bajramaj is controlling the position.

Rogers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rogers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rogers manages to break the clinch.
Rogers misses with a series of wild punches.
Rogers tries to bum rush Bajramaj with a series of wild strikes but Bajramaj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Bajramaj drives through with a takedown into Rogers's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bajramaj forces his way into half guard.
Rogers wants to get back to his feet.

Bajramaj is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Erik Bajramaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bajramaj is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rogers has managed to free his arm - good work.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bajramaj looks to land a strike but Rogers avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Rogers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rogers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Rogers!