PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bob Backlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Scalante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scalante has chosen Started from the bottom as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bob Backlund is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Backlund
vs
Scalante

189 cm
26
197 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

188 cm
42
185 lbs
25 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bob Backlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocky Scalante!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backlund fails with the takedown
and Scalante counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Backlund fails with a takedown attempt.

Backlund gets the takedown into side control.

Backlund looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Backlund is trying to ground and pound but Scalante uses the momentary lack of control by Backlund to regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Backlund wants to work for an arm triangle but Scalante is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Backlund is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Scalante reverses the position - he's now on top in Backlund's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Backlund looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Scalante is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Backlund has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Scalante wants to control from the top but Backlund keeps moving.

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.

Backlund throws his legs up looking for a submission but Scalante uses it to pass to side control.
Scalante really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Backlund. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Backlund is looking to reverse the position.
Backlund manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Backlund gets back to full guard.

Backlund isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Scalante stacks Backlund on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Scalante!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backlund is looking to regain half guard here but Scalante keeps moving and retains side control.
Backlund is working hard here to advance position.
Scalante has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Backlund sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Backlund is staying active underneath Scalante, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Backlund looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Backlund tries to roll over but Scalante keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bob Backlund will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Scalante scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Bob Backlund has been cut.
Backlund fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Backlund darts in looking for a takedown but Scalante gets double underhooks and turns Backlund into the ropes.
Rocky Scalante is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Backlund misses with a low kick.

Scalante shoots in and bounces Backlund off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Backlund is looking for a triangle but Scalante pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Backlund working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Scalante doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Backlund is tightening it up a little... Scalante has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Scalante reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Scalante taps out! Nice BJJ there by Backlund!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Bob Backlund!
Bob Backlund was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
The defeated Rocky Scalante had this to say: '“What does it mean to be the best? It means you have to be better than the number two guy. But what gratification is there in that? He's a loser—that’s why he's number two.” '.