PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Abernale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tray Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tray Roberts has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with John Abernale's chin.

Abernale
vs
Roberts

190 cm
20
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

ZSTAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Abernale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tray Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abernale throws a head kick but Roberts moves out of range.

Abernale has managed to clinch.

Abernale escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Roberts feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Abernale is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roberts is controlling him.
Abernale controls Roberts momentarily but Roberts frees himself.
Roberts won't allow Abernale to get back to his feet.
Roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Abernale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abernale wants to sweep here but Roberts controlling him for the moment.
Roberts advances to half guard.
Roberts works his way into side control.
Abernale wants to get back to his feet but Roberts drags him back down.

Roberts wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Abernale, who protects the arm well.
Abernale takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abernale is looking for a sweep.
Abernale is not content to let Roberts control the position.
Abernale tries to bench press Roberts off him but Roberts keeps the position.
Abernale is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Roberts off and has taken his back!
Roberts trying to control the hands but Abernale breaks the grip.
Roberts manages to reverse the position and now he's in Abernale's guard. Nice work there by Roberts.
Abernale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Abernale is breathing heavily.

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.
Abernale keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Roberts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Abernale will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Abernale misses with a wild combination.
Abernale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Roberts counters with a takedown into side control.
Abernale tries to bench press Roberts off him but Roberts keeps the position.
Abernale is working to avoid the ground and pound but Roberts connects with a decent elbow.
Abernale knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Roberts on the ground.

Roberts stands up and beckons Abernale to his feet.
A punch combination from Abernale misses.
Roberts throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Abernale counters with a left and a right that stings Roberts.
Roberts clobbers Abernale with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Abernale lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Roberts moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Abernale misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts lands a nice shot that snaps Abernale's head back.
Abernale fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Roberts looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Roberts has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Roberts there as he acknowledges the shot.
Roberts works over Abernale's head and body with a nice combination.
Abernale scores with a push kick.

Roberts feints and as Abernale raises his hands in defense, Roberts changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Abernale wants to stand up but Roberts is controlling him.
Roberts stopping the sweep attempt from Abernale.
Abernale has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Roberts has passed into side control.
Abernale is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Roberts is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abernale tries to improve position but can't.
Abernale tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Roberts presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Roberts with the ground and pound from mount.
Abernale really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Roberts has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Abernale's face.
Roberts lands a nice shot to the head.

Roberts get's back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Abernale.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abernale avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abernale misses with a double jab
and Roberts counters with a left and a right that stings Abernale.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tray Roberts dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Abernale takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Abernale throws a one two combo.

It looks like Tray Roberts has been cut.
Abernale tries to clinch but Roberts moves out of range.
Roberts is looking to chop away at Abernale's legs.
Abernale tries to clinch up.
Abernale swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abernale is looking to clinch.
Roberts misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Abernale.
Abernale throws a series of strikes that have Roberts backpedaling.
A combination from Abernale does no damage.
Abernale throws a nice looking combination but Roberts bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice cross by Roberts.
Abernale throws a nice looking combination but Roberts bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Roberts drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Abernale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roberts prevents Abernale from getting back to his feet.

Abernale wriggles free and stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
An inside leg kick lands from Roberts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abernale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roberts circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roberts throws a series of strikes that have Abernale backpedaling.
A combination from Roberts does no damage.
Roberts misses with a two punch combination.
Abernale scores with a one two! Roberts had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Horrible takedown by Abernale or perhaps it was just good defense by Roberts which made him look bad.
Roberts dodges the punch combination from Abernale.

Roberts has taken the fight to the clinch.

Abernale is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Roberts can't fight it off and eventually Abernale manages to take the fight to the floor. Roberts looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Roberts had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Abernale is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Roberts Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Abernale's back instead.
Abernale wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts struggling to keep hold of the position.

Roberts is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Abernale has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Abernale is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Roberts has Abernale flattened out and is raining down punches.
Abernale is trying to get back to his feet but Roberts has full control of the position and if anything, Abernale has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Roberts tightening his grip on Abernale, looking for the choke.
Roberts biding his time, looking for the opening.
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.

Roberts has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Roberts somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Roberts somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Abernale is trying to stand back up.
Abernale trying to control but not successfully.
Abernale is trying to break free.

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.
Abernale trying to control the hands but Roberts won't let him.
Roberts has the hooks in. Abernale is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Roberts doesn't have the hooks in and Abernale manages to turn into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Roberts is on top in guard.
Tray Roberts has got the better of the ground game so far.

Roberts drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Roberts jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roberts won't allow Abernale to get back to his feet.
Roberts slips nicely into half guard.
Abernale is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tray Roberts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tray Roberts's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Roberts fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Abernale on the side of the head.
Abernale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roberts swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abernale misses with a takedown attempt

and Roberts counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Abernale's guard now.
Roberts pushes down on Abernale's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Roberts is looking to advance position but Abernale won't allow it.
Abernale pushes Roberts off looking to stand but Roberts dives back in and keeps control.
Abernale tries to get to full guard but Roberts has control of the leg.

Roberts wants to work for an arm triangle but Abernale is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roberts working the head and body with strikes.
Abernale wants to get back to full guard but Roberts has passed into side control.
Abernale is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abernale throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
Abernale holding both Roberts 's hands and preventing any damage.
Roberts trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Abernale trying to get back to his feet but Roberts is in full control for now.

Roberts looking to break Abernale's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Abernale remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Roberts will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Roberts is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Abernale knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Abernale for a finish.

Abernale is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abernale is trying to stand back up.
Abernale trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Abernale turns into Roberts and is now in his guard.

Roberts pushes Abernale off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Roberts avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tray Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts connects with the punch.
Abernale lands with a cross.
Roberts lands with an overhand left.
Roberts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abernale fails with a takedown attempt.
Roberts keeps the fight on the outside.
Abernale throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Abernale misses with a double jab.
Roberts throws a nice looking combination but Abernale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Roberts misses with a two punch combination.
Roberts cracks Abernale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
John Abernale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abernale lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Abernale shoots and misses
and Roberts counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Abernale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abernale throws a looping overhand right but Roberts ducks down to avoid it.
Roberts looks to land a combination but Abernale avoids it well.
Roberts scores with a spinning back kick!
Roberts dodges the punch combination from Abernale.
Roberts misses with a series of wild punches.
Roberts misses with a body kick.

That's four 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.

Abernale gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Abernale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Abernale is pressed up against the cage. Roberts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Abernale down to the mat. Abernale avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Abernale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown by Abernale or perhaps it was just good defense by Roberts which made him look bad.
Abernale throws a right and a left that Roberts avoids nicely.
Roberts fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Abernale closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Abernale escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Abernale throws a sloppy head kick and Roberts moves out of range easily.
Abernale tries to close the distance and clinch but Roberts swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abernale lets loose with a powerful body kick. Roberts will feel that in the morning.
Roberts throws a right and a left that both miss.

Abernale pushes Roberts up against the cage in a clinch.

Abernale breaks from the clinch.
Roberts tests Abernale's chin there with a solid looking shot.
John Abernale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abernale lands with a nice combination. Roberts backs away looking to recover.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tray Roberts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roberts 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tray Roberts!