PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Just Roll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Once Solemn kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Roll
vs
Lapis

182 cm
22
183 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ice Nutrition
Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Just Roll!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapis lands a jab.
Lapis lands with a hook. Roll tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice shot lands for Lapis.
Lapis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Roll.
Roll shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lapis but Lapis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lapis feints a jab promting Roll to slip. Lapis then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Roll slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Roll shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lapis sprawls well. Lapis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roll gets slowly back to his feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Lapis scores with a four punch combination!
Roll misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Just Roll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roll takes one to the chin there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lapis pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Roll back to the cage. Lapis follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Lapis scores with a hook to the body. Roll takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lapis misses with a double jab.
Lapis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Roll has a takedown stuffed.

Roll changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lapis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roll tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Roll has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lapis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Roll is looking to advance position but Lapis won't allow it.
Lapis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roll sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lapis defending well though.

Roll is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lapis has managed to free his arm - good work.

Roll is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lapis felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roll seems to be working for a kimura but Lapis defends the submission attempt.
Lapis tries to roll over but Roll keeps him under control.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roll is looking for a kimura but Lapis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Roll to get the leverage.
Lapis tries to roll over but Roll keeps him under control.

Roll is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is looking to control Roll's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lapis avoid being mounted?
Roll not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Roll is trying to work for a kimura but Lapis is defending well.

Roll is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Roll is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is looking to control Roll's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lapis avoid being mounted?

Roll is trying to work for a kimura but Lapis is defending well.
Lapis tries to roll over but Roll keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roll is trying to control the action in half guard but Lapis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lapis trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Roll manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Lapis 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.

Lapis connects with a nice looking jab.
Roll has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Roll there as he acknowledges the shot.
Roll shoots and misses

and Lapis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lapis.
Roll keeping moving, preventing Lapis from controlling successfully.
Lapis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Lapis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roll has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lapis has managed to get both his arms back between Roll's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapis looking to pass the guard.
Lapis wants to stand but Roll is controlling his posture from full guard.

Roll throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lapis escapes and throws Roll's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Lapis trying to control the position but Roll is working away.
Roll struggling a bit here.
Roll tries to bench press Lapis off him but Lapis keeps the position.
Lapis controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roll tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lapis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lapis trying to control the position but Roll is working away.
Lapis tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
We've been hearing good reports from Roll's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Roll tries to improve position but can't.
Lapis wants to stand but Roll is controlling his arm.
Roll is looking to reverse the position.
Lapis wants to stand but Roll is controlling his arm.
Roll struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Roll tries to buck Lapis off but Lapis is having none of it.
Lapis wants to control but Roll is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Roll's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Roll tries to buck Lapis off but Lapis is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis wants to stand but Roll has his arm trapped.
Roll is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roll is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lapis wants to control but Roll is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Lapis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Roll has a takedown stuffed.
Roll showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lapis.
Lapis misses with a two punch combination.
Roll changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lapis tries to avoid it but Roll manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lapis to the ground. Lapis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Roll 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.
Roll wants to control from the top but Lapis keeps moving.
Roll preventing the sweep.
Lapis working a defensive guard here.

Lapis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Roll slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Lapis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roll pulls his head out easily.

Roll is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lapis wants to control but Roll is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Roll wants to work for an arm triangle but Lapis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lapis manages to get to full guard.
Roll trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lapis looking for a guillotine here but Roll defends easily.
Roll wants to control from the top but Lapis keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roll is looking to work some ground and pound but Lapis has wrist control.
Roll throws a big elbow that misses.

Lapis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Roll pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lapis is keeping the position for now.
Roll trying to control the position from guard on top but Lapis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lapis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roll accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roll passes Lapis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Roll is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Just Roll did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lapis shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Roll eats them both and turns towards Lapis to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Roll misses with a takedown attempt - Lapis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Roll shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lapis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lapis working a defensive guard here.

Lapis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roll defends it easily.
Lapis trying to control the position.

Lapis looking for a guillotine here but Roll defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roll stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lapis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roll passes Lapis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Roll has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lapis tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roll wants to finish this one by submission but Lapis is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Roll.
Lapis is trying desperately to improve position.

Lapis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Roll.

Roll goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lapis turns into him and now he's in Roll's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis wants to get up but he can't break Roll's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Roll is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lapis defends well.

Roll throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Roll has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lapis is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Roll.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis wants to stand but Roll is controlling his arm.
Roll gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lapis in particular looking to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lapis tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Just Roll will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Roll fails with the takedown.
Andrey Lapis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Roll closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Roll lands in his opponent's guard.
Roll trying to control but Lapis is working from the bottom.
Roll pushes down on Lapis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lapis wants to get back to full guard.

Roll is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Lapis as he works his way to full guard.
Roll preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roll wants to pass the guard but Lapis is keeping the position.
Just Roll overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lapis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Roll trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roll got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lapis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roll has managed to get both his arms back between Lapis's legs - danger averted.
Roll working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Roll drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lapis dives on top into guard.

Roll throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lapis uses it to pass to side control.
Roll tries to buck Lapis off but Lapis is having none of it.
Lapis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roll keeps working.
Roll is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lapis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is looking to advance position but Roll won't allow it.

Roll is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapis pulls his head out easily.
Lapis tries to stand and escape but Roll is controlling the position.
Lapis trying to control the action but Roll is working from the bottom.

Roll looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roll tries to get to full guard but Lapis has control of the leg.
Roll is not content to let Lapis control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lapis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Roll is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Lapis jumps into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Just Roll.
I think Roll has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 48:47
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 48:47
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Just Roll!
Just Roll retains his welterweight title!
The defeated Andrey Lapis had this to say: 'Thaks for the fight, man! Next time I'll take this belt back again, I promise!'.