PBP Commentary

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

Rothko
vs
Ferguson

178 cm
32
147 lbs
10 - 20 - 0

165 cm
28
145 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 10 - 20 - 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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ferguson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rothko 's half guard.

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

Ferguson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rothko is just riding it out for now. Ferguson eventually gives up the hold.
Ferguson is thwarting Rothko 's attempts to control the position.
Rothko controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ferguson is working for a kimura but Rothko is defending it quite comfortably.
Rothko is trying to maintain the position but Ferguson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rothko won't allow Ferguson to pass to mount.
Rothko is controlling Ferguson's trapped leg to prevent Ferguson from advancing to side control.

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

Ferguson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ferguson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rothko gets back to full guard.

Ferguson has gone for a leg lock! Rothko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ferguson's guard.

Rothko trying to control but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
Ferguson keeping full guard, as Rothko tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rothko .
Ferguson keeping full guard, as Rothko tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rothko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rothko instigates a clinch.
Rothko pushes Ferguson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ferguson jumps guard but Rothko stands there with Ferguson around his waist. Ferguson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ferguson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rothko to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rothko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown but Rothko shows good takedown defense.
Walter Rothko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaiah Ferguson.
No luck for Ferguson with that takedown attempt.
And Rothko counters with a quick kick to the body but Ferguson blocks it.
Isaiah Ferguson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rothko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ferguson's half guard.
Rothko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ferguson is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko 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.

Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rothko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rothko .

Rothko has hold of one of Ferguson's legs. Ferguson is fighting the takedown attempt but Rothko gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rothko advances to half guard.
Rothko prevents Ferguson from improving his position.
Rothko not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rothko not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothko is nestled in close to Ferguson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rothko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rothko trying to control from Ferguson's half guard. Ferguson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rothko throwing strikes but missing.

Ferguson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rothko passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rothko is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rothko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferguson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rothko tries to control but Ferguson wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothko landing punches.
Ferguson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rothko tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rothko controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ferguson can't escape the position.
Ferguson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rothko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rothko looking to control but Ferguson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rothko takes Ferguson's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Ferguson is in trouble.
Rothko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ferguson can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rothko missing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ferguson darts in looking for a takedown but Rothko gets double underhooks and turns Ferguson into the cage.
Nice takedown defense from Rothko . No joy for Ferguson on that attempt.
Rothko tries to counter by clinching up but Ferguson breaks away and moves out of range.
Walter Rothko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ferguson shoots in and bounces Rothko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ferguson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rothko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rothko working for a triangle but Ferguson defends it easily.
Ferguson prevents Rothko from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferguson stands and throws Rothko 's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Ferguson tries for a kimura but Rothko is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson working away.

Ferguson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rothko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Ferguson swings around for an armbar but Rothko sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ferguson's guard.
Rothko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ferguson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rothko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rothko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothko looking to sit in guard and control but Ferguson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rothko keeping full guard, as Ferguson tries to pass.

Rothko pushes Ferguson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Rothko drives through with a takedown into Ferguson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rothko wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Rothko passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rothko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ferguson keeps working.
Ferguson is looking to regain half guard here but Rothko keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four 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.
Rothko advances to full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rothko content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Rothko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rothko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Rothko !
Isaiah Ferguson spoke after the fight, saying 'good fight i lost oh well'.