PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arnold Rothstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogers Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rogers Nelson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rothstein
vs
Nelson

170 cm
24
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

171 cm
24
146 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arnold Rothstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rogers Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothstein slips a jab and a cross from Nelson.
Rothstein throws a hook but Nelson avoids it easily.
Rothstein gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
Nelson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nelson misses with a straight right.
Rothstein misses with a wild body shot.
Nelson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rothstein blocks a jab.
Rothstein tries to land a front kick but Nelson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rothstein swings for the body but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rothstein is just out of range.
Rothstein tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nelson was well out of range. Poor timing from Rothstein.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rothstein ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nelson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rothstein throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein thows a body shot but no joy.

Nelson gets a clinch.
Rothstein is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Rothstein lands a takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nelson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nelson wants to sweep here but Rothstein controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nelson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rothstein has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Rothstein trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rothstein throws a big right hand that misses.
Nelson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rothstein. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nelson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nelson controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rogers Nelson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rothstein throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rothstein stuns Nelson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rothstein tries a head kick but it misses.
Rothstein keeps Nelson at a distance using the push kick.
Nelson throws a shot from downtown. Rothstein moves away and avoids it.
Nelson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nelson looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rothstein misses with a head kick.
Rothstein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rothstein. Nelson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nelson with a hook.
Rothstein is looking to wear down Nelson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nelson misses with an uppercut. Rothstein saw that one coming.
Nelson throws a series of punches but Rothstein avoids them all with ease.
Nelson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rothstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Nelson is just out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rothstein.
Nelson throws a shot from downtown. Rothstein moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a hook but Rothstein blocks it.
Nelson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nelson swings for the body but Rothstein moves out of range.
Rothstein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rothstein throws a push kick but Nelson slaps the foot to one side.
Nelson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nelson misses the shot to the body.

Rothstein shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nelson's guard.
Rothstein stands and throws Nelson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rothstein fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rothstein remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nelson is trying to control Rothstein's posture but Rothstein avoids it.
Rothstein 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Nelson tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rothstein lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rothstein working the ground and pound from side control.
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
Rothstein cracks Nelson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rothstein wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Rothstein working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rothstein taking a breather here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nelson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rothstein wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein dominated that round.
That's time! Rothstein's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rothstein closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nelson lands a really nice looking cross but Rothstein seems unphased.
Arnold Rothstein is winning the standup battle so far.
Rothstein dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nelson. That did some damage!
Nelson scores with a sloppy right hand. Rothstein should have avoided that one.
Rothstein throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nelson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rothstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Nelson is just out of range.
Rothstein thumps Nelson with a low kick.
We've been informed that Nelson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nelson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rothstein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice body punch from Rothstein.
A head kick misses from Rothstein.
Rothstein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Rothstein does it's job there.
Rothstein dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rothstein closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein working the ground and pound from side control.
Nelson is trying to improve his position.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet but Rothstein drags him back down.
Rothstein cracks Nelson with a big elbow.
Rothstein lands a few punches from side control.
Rothstein wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.
Rothstein throws an elbow but Nelson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nelson is not content to let Rothstein control the position.
Nelson tries to buck Rothstein off but Rothstein is having none of it.
Rothstein is chipping away with strikes.
Rothstein lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nelson down.
Nelson struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
Nelson is trying to control Rothstein's posture but Rothstein avoids it.
Rothstein trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Rothstein in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Rothstein working the ground and pound but Nelson is defending the strikes.
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nelson is avoiding damage well.
Rothstein staying calm.
Nelson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nelson is not content to let Rothstein control the position.
Nelson is trying to improve his position.
Rothstein wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Rothstein landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Nelson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rothstein looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nelson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nelson throws a big elbow that misses.
Nelson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nelson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rothstein manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nelson manages to get himself to full guard.
Rothstein wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nelson trying to keep a closed guard but Rothstein is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein dominated that second round.
That's time! Rothstein's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rothstein avoids the body shot from Nelson.
Rothstein takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rothstein circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rothstein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nelson manages to avoid it.
Nelson misses with a hook.
Rothstein takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rothstein. Nelson shrugs it off though.
Rothstein misses with a body kick.
Nelson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rothstein is just out of range.
Rothstein misses with a body kick.
Nelson tries to clinch there but Rothstein circles away.
Rothstein misses with a wild body shot.
Rothstein avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice cross by Nelson.
Nelson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rothstein closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nelson quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson trying to hold on to Rothstein's head to control him but Rothstein postures up.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nelson controlling the position for now.
Rothstein has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nelson is bucking up trying to escape but Rothstein cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rothstein raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nelson tries to hold on but Rothstein pushes him away.
Rothstein can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nelson is looking to escape.
Rothstein fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rothstein lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rothstein trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rothstein punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nelson is looking to improve his position but Rothstein isn't that keen on the idea.
Rothstein working the ground and pound effectively.

Nelson is rocked!
Rothstein in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nelson is still in real trouble! Can Rothstein finish him?
Rothstein postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Nelson badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Rothstein around the waist but Rothstein pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Rothstein is the winner by TKO! Rothstein jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arnold Rothstein!
Arnold Rothstein seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.