PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ian Langley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Rockford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Langley might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to inner ninja - Classified ft David Myles. Rockford has chosen Build Your Kingdom Here as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Langley
vs
Rockford

175 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ian Langley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Billy Rockford!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Langley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rockford circles away.

Rockford rushes Langley and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Rockford prevents the takedown attempt.
Langley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rockford after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Langley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rockford wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Langley tries for a takedown but Rockford manages to get underhooks.

Rockford is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Langley can't fight it off and eventually Rockford manages to take the fight to the floor. Langley looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Langley holds on and takes a little breather.
Rockford preventing the sweep.
Rockford is looking to stand up but Langley won't let him.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Langley lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rockford!
Langley unloading with bombs!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Langley lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langley has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rockford's face.
Rockford really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Langley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Langley with shots to the head and body - Rockford looks very uncomfortable down there.

Rockford is rocked!
Langley punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rockford is still in real trouble! Can Langley finish him?
Rockford's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Langley is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rockford in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Langley working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rockford is looking to get to half guard.
Langley with the ground and pound from mount.
Langley landing strikes, looking to finish!
Langley 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.
Langley cracks Rockford with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Langley working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Rockford looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Langley! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ian Langley!
In his post fight interview, Ian Langley started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.