PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Walter Rothko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Dominguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rothko
vs
Dominguez

178 cm
26
147 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

167 cm
26
156 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Walter Rothko !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Dominguez !
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rothko is defended easily by Dominguez .
Rothko tries to clinch but Dominguez is having none of it.

Dominguez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rothko was covering up waiting for the punch and Dominguez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rothko is trying to control the position but Dominguez postures up.
Dominguez looking to sit in guard and control but Rothko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dominguez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rothko has picked Dominguez up and slammed him! Dominguez can't keep hold of the triangle and Rothko manages to pass to side control!

Rothko is trying to get an arm triangle but Dominguez is defending well.
Dominguez tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez prevents Rothko from improving position.

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

Rothko is trying to get an arm triangle but Dominguez is defending well.
Rothko has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Dominguez wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez can't escape the position.

Rothko has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Dominguez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rothko is looking to control Dominguez but Dominguez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Dominguez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Rothko throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Dominguez tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dominguez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rothko .
Will Rothko go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Rothko looking for the choke but no joy.
Dominguez trying to control the hands but Rothko breaks the grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dominguez fending off the submission attempt from Rothko .
Dominguez has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Rothko doesn't have the hooks in and Dominguez manages to turn into his guard.
Rothko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dominguez won't allow Rothko to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rothko working for a triangle but Dominguez defends it easily.
Rothko is trying to keep Dominguez in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dominguez moves into the clinch successfully.

Rothko pulls guard successfully.
Rothko is adopting a defensive guard.
Dominguez stops Rothko from standing up.
Dominguez wants to pass the guard but Rothko is keeping the position.
Rothko is trying to control the position but Dominguez postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Walter Rothko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Dominguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rothko did well to prevent Dominguez getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rothko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rothko gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rothko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dominguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dominguez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Rothko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rothko keeping moving, preventing Dominguez from controlling successfully.
Dominguez wants to stand but Rothko is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez throws an elbow that misses. Rothko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dominguez 's guard. Nice move by Rothko !
Rothko passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Dominguez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rothko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rothko decides to stand back up.
No luck for Rothko with that takedown attempt.

Rothko tries to keep at a distance but Dominguez has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothko tries to pull guard but Dominguez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Dominguez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rothko is trying to keep an underhook but Dominguez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Dominguez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rothko is trying to stand back up but Dominguez is controlling him
Rothko works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rothko has his feet on Dominguez 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dominguez . That's going to slow Rothko down.
Some wild striking there from Rothko .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rothko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dominguez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Rothko keeps moving.
Dominguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rothko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rothko throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothko wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rothko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josh Dominguez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dominguez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dominguez showed some decent athleticism there.
Walter Rothko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dominguez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rothko sees it coming and defends easily.
Dominguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rothko keeps working.

Rothko looking for submissions off his back.
Rothko is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dominguez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dominguez wants to take a breather but Rothko is having none of it.
Dominguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rothko . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rothko wants to improve his position but Dominguez is controlling well.
Dominguez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rothko !
Dominguez looking to control but Rothko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rothko sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothko wants to control but Dominguez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dominguez wants to control but Rothko is keeping him busy.
Dominguez wants to advance to full mount but Rothko doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Dominguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rothko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rothko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rothko working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rothko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dominguez tries to get to full guard but Rothko has control of the leg.
Rothko is trying to control. Dominguez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dominguez pushes Rothko off looking to stand but Rothko dives back in and keeps control.

Rothko is working for a kimura but Dominguez is defending it quite comfortably.
Rothko is keen to just control but Dominguez is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez trying to control here.
Dominguez tries to kick Rothko off but Rothko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Still in half guard, Rothko seems content to control.
Rothko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Walter Rothko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Dominguez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dominguez lands in his opponent's guard.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rothko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Dominguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dominguez 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Dominguez !