PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Clever (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandy Rotoure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clever comes into the arena with Rush - Fly By Night blaring out of the sound system. Rotoure has chosen you can hate me now-Nas as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Joe Clever has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Clever
vs
Rotoure

175 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
23
160 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Clever!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sandy Rotoure!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clever throws a right and a left that Rotoure avoids nicely.
Rotoure blocks a low kick nicely.
Rotoure pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Clever stuffs the takedown.
Rotoure tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rotoure is looking to chop away at Clever's legs.
Rotoure scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Joe Clever has been cut.
Rotoure connects with a good right hand that stumbles Clever. Clever circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Clever is rocked!

Clever closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Oh Clever is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Clever seems to be working for a kimura but Rotoure defends the submission attempt.
Rotoure wants to get back to his feet.
Clever seems to have got his legs back now.
Clever is trying to control the action in half guard but Rotoure is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Clever is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rotoure is just riding it out for now. Clever eventually gives up the hold.

Clever is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clever is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rotoure doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Clever.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rotoure manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rotoure is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clever is controlling him.
Clever pushes down on Rotoure's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Clever tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rotoure knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clever is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rotoure defends it well.
Clever is breathing heavily.
Rotoure slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rotoure is trying to keep Clever in close.
Clever wants to pass the guard but Rotoure is keeping the position.
Clever wants to control from the top but Rotoure keeps moving.
Clever pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rotoure is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clever stands and throws Rotoure's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rotoure manages to get back to half guard.
Rotoure controlling the position for now.
Rotoure tries to get to full guard but Clever has control of the leg.
Clever uses his free foot to push down on Rotoure's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rotoure.
Rotoure is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rotoure defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Clever.
Rotoure tries to lock up and control but Clever gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Clever wants to finish this one by submission but Rotoure is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Clever.
Rotoure tries to hold on but Clever postures up.
Rotoure is trying desperately to improve position.
Clever fails to advance to Rotoure's back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sandy Rotoure will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Clever's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Clever drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Clever trying to control but Rotoure is working from the bottom.
Rotoure keeping full guard, as Clever tries to pass.

Clever has gone for a leg lock! Rotoure slips out almost immediately though and dives into Clever's guard.
Rotoure sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Clever's guard.
Clever is looking to improve his position.
Rotoure trying to pass the guard but Clever defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clever blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rotoure.
Rotoure wants to stand but Clever has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Clever looking for submissions off his back.
Rotoure wants to control but Clever is keeping him busy.

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

Clever shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rotoure is staying active underneath Clever, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clever trying to pass the guard but Rotoure defending well.
Rotoure trying to control here.
Clever tries to pass to full mount but Rotoure defends it.
Rotoure tries to get to full guard but Clever has control of the leg.
Clever tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rotoure knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rotoure has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Clever is working away from the top position though.

Clever is trying to work for a kimura but Rotoure is defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Clever looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rotoure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotoure is in all sorts of trouble here.

Clever working for a guillotine from mount but Rotoure is in no mood to give up.
Rotoure blocking the ground and pound.
Rotoure really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Clever has control of Rotoure's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rotoure regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rotoure really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rotoure bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Clever looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rotoure is one step ahead there.

Clever is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rotoure passes Clever's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Clever tries to roll over but Rotoure keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Clever dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Clever's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rotoure lands a two punch combo.
Rotoure wants to clinch up but Clever keeps it at a distance.

Clever takes the fight into the clinch.
Clever trying to land knees to the body.

Clever manages to pull guard.
Clever looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rotoure is one step ahead there.

Rotoure drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rotoure jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Clever has his foot on Rotoure's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rotoure works his way back into a safe position though.
Rotoure must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Clever is working an open guard so Rotoure takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotoure lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Clever gets a takedown into half guard.
Clever works his way into side control.
Rotoure tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Clever is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rotoure has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rotoure sneaks back into half guard.

Rotoure manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotoure misses with a takedown attempt

and Clever counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rotoure's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clever works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Clever looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Clever wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rotoure keeps working.
Rotoure is trying to stand up here but Clever is controlling him well.
Rotoure is not content to let Clever control the position.
Rotoure is trying to stand back up but Clever is controlling him

Clever wants to work for an arm triangle but Rotoure is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clever is pressing down on Rotoure's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rotoure is holding on for now.

Clever is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Clever.
Rotoure fails to land with a series of punches.
Rotoure throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A choreographed right hand from Rotoure misses the target.

Clever drives through with a takedown into guard.
Clever wants to control from the top but Rotoure keeps moving.
Rotoure lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clever!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotoure scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Clever?
Rotoure putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Clever is squirming around, avoiding Rotoure's attempts to control the action.
Clever keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rotoure tries to control but Clever wriggling away.
Rotoure lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clever keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Rotoure swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sandy Rotoure!