PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jax Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ray Roberts will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Marciano
vs
Roberts

185 cm
23
221 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

196 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jax Marciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marciano as he avoids it easily.
Marciano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Roberts gets a clinch.
Roberts drops down looking for an ankle pick but Marciano pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roberts swats away the attempt to clinch by Marciano.
Roberts tries to counter by closing the distance.
Roberts fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jax Marciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Roberts.
Marciano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marciano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marciano sets himself, and Roberts steps forward looking for the clinch! Marciano avoids it this time.

Roberts moves into the clinch successfully.
Marciano prevents Roberts from breaking the clinch.
Roberts wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Marciano manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano tries to throw a body punch but Roberts avoids it by throwing Marciano back against the cage.
Marciano drops down looking for an ankle pick but Roberts pulls his leg out and moves away.
Marciano has a takedown stuffed.

Roberts fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marciano, pushing him back against the cage.

Marciano jumps guard.

Marciano looking for a guillotine here but Roberts defends easily.
Roberts is fighting to break Marciano's control of his arms but Marciano is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano looking to control.
Roberts really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marciano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Marciano is adopting a defensive guard.
Roberts looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Marciano is proving hard to escape from.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marciano managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Roberts looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Marciano is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Roberts's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Roberts's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts covering up well and avoiding damage.
Marciano biding his time, controlling Roberts.
Roberts is trying to stand back up.
Marciano just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Roberts's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Roberts will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marciano tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marciano is defended easily by Roberts.
Roberts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roberts has a takedown stuffed.
Roberts closes the distance and clinches up with Marciano, looking for a takedown. Roberts pushes Marciano against the cage but Marciano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marciano was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Marciano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Roberts tries to avoid it but Marciano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Roberts to the ground. Roberts escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marciano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roberts sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marciano somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jax Marciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Marciano shows good takedown defense.
Marciano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roberts pinned against the cage. Roberts gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Roberts changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Roberts misses

and Marciano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Marciano has Roberts pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Roberts manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Marciano breaks the clinch.

Marciano gets a clinch.
Roberts taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Marciano is looking to take this one to the mat.
Roberts goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marciano prevents it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Marciano tries to pull guard but Roberts holds him up against the cage and eventually Marciano drops back down to his feet.
Roberts throws an elbow that misses.
Marciano fails to pull guard.
Marciano is working for takedown but Roberts is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marciano gets underhooks to prevent Roberts's takedown attempt.
Marciano has had enough of the clinch but Roberts keeps him there for the moment.

Roberts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roberts shoots in for a double leg but Marciano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Roberts is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts stuffs the takedown attempt from Marciano. Marciano gets slowly back to his feet.
Marciano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marciano throws a leg kick but Roberts sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Marciano tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Roberts defends well and Marciano ends up having to push Roberts into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown. Marciano tries to sprawl out of it but Roberts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marciano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Roberts has a takedown stuffed.
Marciano thows a body kick. Roberts tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marciano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marciano seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown. Marciano tries to sprawl out of it but Roberts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marciano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marciano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roberts tries to clinch but Marciano moves out of range.
Marciano drops down looking for a counter takedown but Roberts sprawls and moves away.

Marciano has Roberts up against the cage in a clinch.
Roberts is leaning against Marciano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marciano has Roberts pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Roberts manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Marciano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Roberts walks away with a smile on his face. Marciano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jax Marciano dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Roberts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roberts fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marciano blocks a head kick by Roberts.
Marciano tries to clinch up but Roberts circles away and keeps his distance.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Marciano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marciano tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Roberts defends well and Marciano ends up having to push Roberts into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Marciano sets himself, and Roberts steps forward looking for the clinch! Marciano avoids it this time.
Roberts throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marciano shoots in looking for a takedown but Roberts manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marciano's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Roberts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roberts keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice side step and Roberts releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Jax Marciano is winning the standup battle so far.
Roberts shoots in but no luck this time.
Jax Marciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Roberts.
Marciano is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts tries to clinch up but Marciano circles away and keeps his distance.
Marciano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Roberts dives in and grabs Marciano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marciano pushes down on Roberts's head and hops out.
Marciano wants to clinch up but Roberts keeps it at a distance.
Roberts stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roberts.
An attempted straight right counter from Marciano misses the target.
Roberts takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Marciano shoots in and drives through. Roberts sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roberts.
Marciano is looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano fails to land the takedown.
Roberts misses with a head kick.
Marciano throws a low kick, looking for Roberts's leg but Roberts calmly moves out of range.
Marciano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roberts dips to his left and cracks Marciano with an uppercut!
Roberts shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marciano defends it nicely.
A thudding body kick lands there by Marciano!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Roberts misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roberts keeps the fight on the outside.
Marciano is looking to clinch.
Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown but Marciano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Roberts's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Marciano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Roberts circles away quickly and effectively.
Marciano checks a leg kick nicely.
Marciano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Roberts! But no joy.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Marciano here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
A jab from Marciano finds it's way through Roberts's defenses.
Roberts pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marciano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Roberts only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Marciano moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Marciano could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Marciano darts in looking for a takedown but Roberts gets double underhooks and turns Marciano into the cage.
Roberts shoots for a takedown but Marciano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marciano shoots in looking for a takedown. Roberts tries to sprawl out of it but Marciano keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Roberts manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marciano moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromRoberts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roberts fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jax Marciano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marciano 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jax Marciano!