PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bam Margera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Neck of the Woods. Margera has chosen Clutch - The Regulator as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ross
vs
Margera

169 cm
28
163 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

180 cm
28
160 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent
//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Hellbent
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mike Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bam Margera!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross throws a low kick but it's checked well by Margera.
Ross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ross lands a high kick!

It looks like Bam Margera has been cut.
Margera throws a good cross that connects.
Ross avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Margera throws a right and a left that Ross avoids nicely.
Ross throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Margera misses with a double jab.
Ross scores with a decent looking hook.
Margera connects with the punch.
Ross throws a sloppy head kick
and Margera counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Margera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Margera looks to land a left hand but Ross moved out of range nicely.
Ross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Margera slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ross.
Ross throws a head kick that misses.
A shot to the liver by Margera. Beautiful body shot.
Margera connects with a single shot there.
Ross misses with the body kick

and Margera moves into the clinch.
Margera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Margera has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ross takes an elbow to the forehead.
A head punch on the inside from Margera fails to land.
Ross misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Ross.
Margera throws a head punch that misses.
Ross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Ross.
Ross tries to work over Margera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ross is defending well for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ross misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Margera's elbow.
Ross doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Margera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ross has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ross misses with a hook to the ribs.
Margera scores with a shot to the side of Ross's head.
A short right from Ross on the inside.

Ross breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ross misses with a straight right.
Margera misses with a body shot.
Ross throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Margera tries to clinch up.
Margera lands a leg kick that knocks Ross off balance momentarily.
A big left from Ross misses.
Margera is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Margera misses the target.

Margera darts in and clinches Ross up against the cage.
Margera blocking some punches.
Margera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ross is defending well for now.
Ross is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Margera's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Margera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ross backwards.
Margera tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.
Ross throws a head punch that misses.
Ross struggles to land a body shot inside as Margera controls his hands.
A hook to the body from Margera.
Margera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ross is defending well for now.
Margera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Margera working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Ross.
Margera is struggling to control the position.
Ross is trying to break the clinch but Margera has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Margera fails to land.
Ross can't get the takedown.
Ross avoiding damage as Margera throws knees to the body.
Ross avoiding damage.
Ross jumps guard but Margera turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Margera is looking to control Ross's arms but Ross gets an underhook and turns him. Now Margera has his back to the cage.
Margera misses with some punches.
I was talking to Ross's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ross.
Ross is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Margera to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ross has had enough of the clinch but Margera keeps him there for the moment.
Ross on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ross scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ross has had enough of the clinch but Margera keeps him there for the moment.
Ross swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Margera has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ross seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Margera can turn it around.
Margera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Margera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bam Margera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bam Margera's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Margera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A jab from Margera does it's job there.
Margera tries a head kick but it misses.
Ross works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ross pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ross dives in for a single leg takedown but Margera sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ross blocks an uppercut.
Margera blocks a body shot from Ross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Margera looking to throw knees to the head but Ross is blocking nicely.
Margera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Margera lands a shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Ross.
Margera misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera misses with the head strike.
Ross lands a left hand.
Margera working aggressively here.
Margera throws a punch but it's blocked by Ross.
Margera misses with a punch on the inside.
Margera gets through Ross's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ross scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ross.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Margera.
Margera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Margera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Margera's elbow.
Margera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Margera.
Margera tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.
Margera lands an uppercut.
Margera landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Margera trying to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ross fails to land.
Nice elbow from Margera.
Margera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Margera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Margera lands a hook that snaps the head of Ross backwards.
Margera throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Margera.
Margera misses with some punches.
Ross misses with the head strike.
Ross tries a body shot but Margera blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Margera.
Margera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ross lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ross tries to throw a body punch but Margera avoids it by throwing Ross back against the cage.
Margera tries a knee to the head but Ross blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ross is trying to pull guard but Margera turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ross working aggressively here.
Ross misses with a punch on the inside.
Ross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Ross breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick from Ross misses.
Ross throws a low kick, looking for Margera's leg but Margera calmly moves out of range.
Margera looks to land a body kick but Ross moved away.
Ross throws a leg kick
and Margera makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A head kick misses from Margera.
Ross throws a low kick, looking for Margera's leg but Margera calmly moves out of range.
Ross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Margera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Margera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Margera's elbow.
Margera prevents a body shot from Ross.
A short right from Ross.
Ross blocks a body shot from Margera.
Margera blocking some punches.
Ross throws a head punch that misses.
Ross lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ross struggles to land a body shot inside as Margera controls his hands.
Ross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Margera blocks a body shot from Ross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right from Margera.
Ross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ross tries to break free but Margera pushes him back against the cage.
Margera can't find room to land a body shot as Ross controls the action.
Margera swings wildly with an uppercut but Ross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Margera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bam Margera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bam Margera's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Margera rushes Ross and presses him up against the cage.
Margera tries a knee to the head but Ross blocks it.
Ross misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ross.
Margera cracks Ross with a nice body shot.
Margera crunches a lovely knee into Ross's ribcage.
Margera scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ross has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Margera after a bit of a struggle.
Ross looking to stall.
Margera just leaning against Ross, taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Margera lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Margera swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Margera connects with an inside leg kick.
Bam Margera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Margera moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross misses with a left hand
and Margera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Margera throws a front kick aimed at Ross's knee but Ross avoids it well.
Margera moves in looking to clinch but Ross pushes him off.
Margera misses with a head kick.
Margera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ross 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.
Margera throws a chopping leg kick but Ross manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ross avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ross thows a body kick. Margera tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A nice combination there by Margera.
Ross goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Margera tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ross is trying hard to land a takedown here. Margera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Margera clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Margera blocking some punches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ross tries a body shot but Margera blocks it.
Ross lands with a light punch inside.
Ross lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ross has a couple of punches blocked by Margera.
Margera throws a punch but it's blocked by Ross.
Ross tries a body shot but Margera blocks it.
Ross is trying to pull guard but Margera has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ross prevents a body shot from Margera.
Ross drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Margera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Margera lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Bam Margera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Margera just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ross's brow.
Ross misses with a punch on the inside.
Margera tries a body shot but Ross blocks it.

Ross successfully pulls guard.

Margera drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Margera jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ross bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Margera's guard.

Margera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ross stopping the sweep attempt from Margera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margera keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
Margera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.
Margera is trying to control the position but Ross postures up.
Margera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.
Margera keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
Mike Ross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Margera is trying to control the position but Ross postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bam Margera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Margera 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bam Margera!
Bam Margera decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.