PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Mcgiven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almeida's entrance music is Hero. A fine choice. Roger Mcgiven has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Almeida
vs
Mcgiven

183 cm
23
219 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
208 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Syndicate Drugs

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fabio Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roger Mcgiven!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mcgiven paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Mcgiven has managed to clinch.
Almeida with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Almeida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Almeida misses with a knee strike.
Mcgiven goes for a takedown attempt but Almeida pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Almeida closes the distance but Mcgiven moves to the side

and Mcgiven counters by clinching up.
Mcgiven goes for a takedown attempt but Almeida pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Almeida closes the distance but Mcgiven moves to the side
and Almeida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Mcgiven looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mcgiven is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mcgiven prevents Almeida from standing back up.
Mcgiven is thwarting Almeida's attempts to control the position.
Almeida is refusing to be controlled, as Mcgiven sits in half guard.

Mcgiven is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Almeida has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgiven passes to side control.
Mcgiven looks gassed!
Almeida wants to get back to his feet but Mcgiven drags him back down.

Mcgiven thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Almeida struggling a bit here.
Almeida is trying to buck Mcgiven off.

Mcgiven goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Almeida has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mcgiven but great work by Almeida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Almeida decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mcgiven to his feet.
Almeida tries to clinch up

and Mcgiven moves into the clinch.
Almeida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mcgiven blocks it with crossed arms.
Almeida misses with a knee strike.
Almeida is pressed up against the cage. Mcgiven has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Almeida down to the mat. Almeida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fabio Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Mcgiven.
Almeida throws a head kick that Mcgiven semi-blocks.
Mcgiven shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Almeida pinned against the cage. Almeida gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Almeida closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mcgiven counters by moving into the clinch.
Almeida lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Almeida trying to stall but Mcgiven improves his position.
Almeida prevents a takedown attempt there.
Almeida scores a nice knee to the body.
Almeida is trying to maintain a safe position but Mcgiven gets an underhook and turns Almeida into the cage.
Almeida prevents a takedown attempt there.
Almeida stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcgiven has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Almeida uses from the top position.

Mcgiven is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Almeida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mcgiven trying to control the position.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Mcgiven keeps moving.
Almeida has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Mcgiven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mcgiven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Almeida is one step ahead there.
Almeida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mcgiven's guard.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Mcgiven keeps moving.
Almeida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Almeida wants to stand but Mcgiven is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Mcgiven dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mcgiven shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Mcgiven is working for a submission of some sort.
Almeida is trying to stand back up but Mcgiven is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mcgiven is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Almeida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mcgiven.
Almeida is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgiven is looking to advance position but Almeida won't allow it.

Mcgiven is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mcgiven trying to pass the guard but Almeida defending well.
Almeida manages to get to full guard.
Almeida has Mcgiven pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Almeida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mcgiven's guard.
Mcgiven keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
Almeida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mcgiven wants to sweep here but Almeida controlling him for the moment.
Almeida is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Mcgiven throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcgiven had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Almeida is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Mcgiven Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Almeida's back instead.
Almeida looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Mcgiven looking to break Almeida's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Almeida remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mcgiven will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Almeida trying to control the hands but Mcgiven breaks the grip.

Mcgiven is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Almeida defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Almeida breaks Mcgiven's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Mcgiven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mcgiven working for a triangle but Almeida defends it easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mcgiven uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Almeida.
Almeida fails in his attempt to clinch.

Almeida closes the distance and clinches.
Almeida stalling in the clinch but Mcgiven improves position.
Almeida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mcgiven has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Almeida is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mcgiven is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Almeida pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Mcgiven manages to pull guard.

Mcgiven looking for a guillotine here but Almeida defends easily.

Mcgiven is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roger Mcgiven will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mcgiven feints and as Almeida raises his hands in defense, Mcgiven changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mcgiven postures up in Almeida's guard and throws a big left but Almeida blocks it.
Almeida has control of Mcgiven's left arm, preventing Mcgiven from doing any damage.
Almeida keeping full guard, as Mcgiven tries to pass.
Mcgiven lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

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

Mcgiven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almeida manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Almeida looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mcgiven avoids the head kick by Almeida.

Mcgiven gets the takedown into side control.
Mcgiven prevents Almeida from escaping the position.

Mcgiven thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mcgiven tries to move into full mount but can't pass Almeida's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mcgiven working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcgiven is looking to take a break and control but Almeida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mcgiven tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mcgiven has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Almeida is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mcgiven.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mcgiven shoots in but Almeida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Almeida fakes the leg kick and cracks Mcgiven in the body.
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Mcgiven pushes him off.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Fabio Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mcgiven throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mcgiven takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Mcgiven has closed the distance and engaged Almeida in a clinch.
Almeida misses with a knee strike.
Mcgiven wants a takedown but no success here.
Almeida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mcgiven blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mcgiven manages to pull guard.

Mcgiven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Almeida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Almeida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mcgiven's guard.
Mcgiven trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mcgiven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Almeida wants to control but Mcgiven is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Roger Mcgiven has got the better of the ground game so far.

Almeida is defending against the submission attempts here by Mcgiven.
Roger Mcgiven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Almeida punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Mcgiven comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mcgiven winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Mcgiven!