PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axe Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberts kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Arctic Monkeys - Leave Before The Lights Come On. Michael Roberts could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Axe Hammer's chin.

Roberts
vs
Hammer

175 cm
28
160 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Axe Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts takes one to the chin there.
Roberts throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hammer's waist but Hammer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Roberts off to one side.

Roberts drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Roberts looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Roberts cracks Hammer with a big right hand but Hammer just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Roberts working the head with strikes.

It looks like Axe Hammer has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roberts tries to score with some ground and pound. Hammer controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Roberts thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Roberts has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Roberts scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Roberts asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Roberts throws an elbow but Hammer slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hammer is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Roberts asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Roberts thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hammer tries to escape but Roberts is in control.
An elbow from Roberts crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts scoring with punches and elbows.

Roberts goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hammer rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Roberts's guard! Nice work there by Hammer!
Hammer being controlled here momentarily.
Hammer wants to stand but Roberts has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts looking for a sweep. Not yet Roberts, not yet.

Roberts uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hammer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hammer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Roberts scores with a takedown into Hammer's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roberts stops Hammer from standing up.
Roberts with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roberts with a flurry of punches that miss.
Roberts is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammer has wrist control.
Hammer can't keep his opponent in guard - Roberts advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roberts thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hammer is defending against the submission attempts here by Roberts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberts scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Roberts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Axe Hammer's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Roberts shoots in but no luck this time.
Roberts moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Michael Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hammer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roberts somewhat.
Roberts moves out of range as Hammer strikes.
Roberts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammer takes a swing at Roberts's ribcage but misses.
Some wild striking there from Hammer.
Roberts is looking to clinch.
Hammer throws a right hand that Roberts ducks under and follows up with a left that Roberts also avoids with ease.
Roberts looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hammer tries a head kick but it misses.
Roberts takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Roberts takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hammer. Roberts does a little dance to reset his feet.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
Hammer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roberts.

Roberts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hammer sprawls well initially but Roberts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Roberts prevents Hammer from standing back up.

Hammer is defending against the submission attempts here by Roberts.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts slips a nice elbow through Hammer's hands, connecting with Hammer's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Roberts connects with a nice short shot to Hammer's temple.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roberts slips a nice elbow through Hammer's hands, connecting with Hammer's forehead.
Roberts missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hammer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.
Roberts throwing shots but Hammer is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hammer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roberts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Roberts looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Roberts throws a strike but Hammer avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Roberts is in close to Hammer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Roberts throws an elbow that misses. Hammer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Roberts's guard. Nice move by Hammer!
Hammer is looking to stand up but Roberts won't let him.

Roberts escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hammer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roberts on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Roberts tries to get out of the position.

Roberts has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hammer off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts shoots in for a double leg but Hammer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Roberts moves into the clinch.
Hammer avoiding damage as Roberts throws knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Roberts gets a trip takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Roberts with the ground and pound but Hammer uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Roberts postures up in Hammer's guard and throws a big left but Hammer blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Roberts dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Axe Hammer's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roberts is defended easily by Hammer.
Hammer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Hammer as Roberts shoots in.
Horrible takedown by Roberts or perhaps it was just good defense by Hammer which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammer looks to throw the jab but Roberts is out of range.
Roberts avoids a punch combination nicely.

Roberts dives in and scores a takedown into Hammer's guard.
Roberts loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roberts stays in close to Hammer's body and controls the position.
Roberts is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammer has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts looking to pass the guard.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Roberts thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Michael Roberts overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roberts is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammer has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roberts's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Roberts decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Roberts clinches up with Hammer and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hammer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hammer dips to his left and cracks Roberts with an uppercut!

Roberts drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roberts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hammer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Roberts drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hammer dives on top into guard.
Hammer is standing up over Roberts. Roberts looks to escape but Hammer dives into side control.
Roberts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hammer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts manages to get back to half guard.
Roberts trying to control here.

Roberts makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer stuffs the takedown.
Hammer lands a jab-cross combination.
Axe Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt - Hammer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hammer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hammer works over Roberts's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Roberts shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Roberts was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Roberts lands a heavy elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammer wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Michael Roberts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hammer takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Roberts showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roberts, 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Roberts!
Our winner, Michael Roberts, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.