PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Walter Rothko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamichael Christopher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamichael Christopher has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rothko
vs
Christopher

178 cm
29
147 lbs
8 - 14 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 14 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lamichael Christopher!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christopher keeps the fight on the outside.
Christopher misses with the combination.
Rothko closes the distance and clinches up with Christopher, looking for a takedown. Rothko pushes Christopher against the cage but Christopher circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rothko slaps away a takedown attempt from Christopher, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Christopher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rothko walks into a straight right hand from Christopher.
Walter Rothko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Christopher clinches up with Rothko and pushes him back against the cage.
Christopher is looking for a takedown.
Rothko is working for takedown but Christopher is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Rothko . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Christopher tries to break free but Rothko pushes him back against the cage.
Christopher prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rothko pulls guard effortlessly.
Christopher scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rothko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Christopher is working to get back to half guard.
Christopher tries to hold on but Rothko postures up.
Rothko lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Christopher 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.
Christopher is trying to escape the mount.
Rothko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Christopher is looking to improve his position but Rothko isn't that keen on the idea.
Rothko wants to control the pace but Christopher is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christopher regains half guard.
Rothko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rothko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothko passes to full mount!
Rothko looking to control but Christopher is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Christopher avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rothko .
Rothko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rothko punching from mount but Christopher doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rothko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Christopher tries to clinch there but Rothko circles away.
Rothko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Christopher fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rothko to the ground. Christopher is now in Rothko 's guard.

Christopher postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rothko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Christopher, into his guard.
Christopher seems keen to control Rothko 's posture.

Christopher escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rothko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothko wants to pass the guard but Christopher is keeping the position.
Rothko content to stall in guard here.
Rothko trying to control but Christopher is working from the bottom.
Rothko pushes down on Christopher's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothko works his foot free and advances to mount.

Christopher defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rothko .
Christopher is squirming around, avoiding Rothko 's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothko tries to push Christopher's head away but Christopher is holding on tight.
Rothko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rothko looking to ground and pound but Christopher is blocking nicely.
Christopher looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rothko controlling well, preventing Christopher from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rothko working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Christopher staying busy and making it hard for Rothko to control.
Rothko misses with punches from the back.

Christopher preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rothko .
Rothko trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Christopher doesn't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Rothko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Christopher is fending him off so far but Rothko persists. Nope, Christopher circles away and we're back to standing.

Rothko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rothko has a closed guard, preventing Christopher from standing up.

Christopher drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rothko dives on top into guard.
Rothko stays in close to Christopher's body and controls the position.
Christopher can't keep his opponent in guard - Rothko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rothko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothko wants to control but Christopher is keeping him busy.
Rothko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rothko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rothko wants to control the pace but Christopher is squirming around nicely.
Rothko manages to capitalize on a mistake by Christopher to take his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Christopher fending off the submission attempt from Rothko .
Christopher is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Rothko just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

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, Christopher has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christopher rolls, trying to escape but Rothko keeps control of the position.
Rothko wants to control but Christopher is keeping busy.
Christopher just trying to survive but Rothko is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rothko misses with an elbow to the head.
Rothko has the hooks in. Christopher is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Lamichael Christopher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rothko working for a choke but Christopher reverses nicely into Rothko 's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rothko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christopher trying to control but Rothko is working from the bottom.
Christopher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rothko wants to stand but Christopher is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Christopher is defended easily by Rothko .
Christopher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rothko has Christopher up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Rothko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rothko , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Rothko !