PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andreas Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Etienne James Botha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andreas Monroe has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Monroe
vs
James Botha

170 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

202 cm
18
273 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andreas Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Etienne James Botha!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Botha closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Monroe is controlling Botha's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Monroe wants to improve his position but Botha is controlling well.
Botha is looking to take a break and control but Monroe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Botha is pressing down on Monroe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Monroe is holding on for now.
Monroe is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Botha trying to control from half guard but Monroe is working away.
Monroe wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Monroe throws a head kick that misses.
Botha leaves Monroe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Monroe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Botha's waist but Botha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Monroe off to one side.
Monroe could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Monroe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Monroe dives in and grabs Botha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Botha pushes down on Monroe's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andreas Monroe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Botha shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Monroe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe wants to stand but Botha is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Botha trying to control but Monroe is working from the bottom.
Botha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Monroe working a defensive guard here.
Botha looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe trying to control the position.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Botha from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Monroe throws a head kick but Botha moves out of range.
Botha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Monroe is looking for a counter combo.

Botha has closed the distance and engaged Monroe in a clinch.

Botha gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Botha prevents Monroe from improving his position.
Monroe is refusing to be controlled, as Botha sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Botha is trying to work for a kimura but Monroe is defending well.
Monroe is controlling Botha's trapped leg to prevent Botha from advancing to side control.
Monroe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Monroe tries to get to full guard but Botha has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Botha is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Botha seems to be looking for submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Etienne James Botha dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Monroe throws a sloppy head kick and Botha moves out of range easily.

Botha dives in and scores a takedown into Monroe's guard.
Monroe wants to stand and escape but Botha is having none of it.
Botha preventing the sweep.

Monroe has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Botha has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Botha taking a breather.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Monroe prevents a body shot from Botha.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe looking to throw knees to the head but Botha is blocking nicely.
Monroe is working for takedown but Botha is calmly controlling the position for now.

Botha has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Monroe clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe turns into Botha and is now in his guard.
Monroe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Monroe throws a strike but Botha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Botha would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Monroe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Botha looking to sit in guard and control but Monroe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Monroe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Botha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Monroe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Monroe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Monroe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Monroe throwing strikes from guard but Botha blocks nicely.
Monroe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Botha is proving hard to escape from.
Monroe connects with a couple of short punches.
Monroe has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Monroe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Monroe working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe postures up in Botha's guard and throws a big left but Botha blocks it.
Monroe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Monroe is looking to stand up but Botha won't let him.
Monroe chips away with some ground and pound.
Monroe postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Monroe throws a head kick that misses.
Botha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Botha is breathing heavily.

Monroe moves into the clinch.

Monroe breaks the clinch.

Monroe looking to score a takedown here. Botha is defending well but Monroe drives through and ends up in Botha's guard.
Monroe stands up over Botha, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Monroe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Monroe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Monroe preventing the sweep.
Monroe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Monroe is working Botha over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Monroe lands a couple of digs.
Monroe postures up and lands a big shot to Botha's brow.
Monroe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Monroe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andreas Monroe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Botha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monroe.

Botha moves into range and clinches up with Monroe.

Monroe jumps guard and drags Botha to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Botha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monroe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Monroe 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Botha stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Monroe throws a head kick that misses.
Botha leaves Monroe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Monroe backs off Botha throws a huge counter combo but Monroe manages to avoid it all.
Andreas Monroe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monroe gets caught napping as Botha dives in and scores a takedown. Monroe manages to retain guard.
Botha stops Monroe from standing up.
Monroe controls Botha momentarily but Botha frees himself.
Monroe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Monroe controls Botha momentarily but Botha frees himself.
Botha wants to stand but Monroe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botha trying to control the position from guard on top but Monroe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monroe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Botha is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Monroe lands with a kick to the temple. Botha shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Botha has taken the fight to the clinch.

Botha breaks the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Monroe enables Botha to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Monroe manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Botha prevents Monroe from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe keeping full guard, as Botha tries to pass.
Botha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Botha looking to sit in guard and control but Monroe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Monroe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Monroe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Botha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Monroe wants to stand but Botha has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Monroe with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Botha has a closed guard, preventing Monroe from standing up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Botha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Monroe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Monroe gets tackled into the cage by Botha. Botha maintains the clinch.
Monroe is struggling to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Monroe trying to control the position but instead, Botha has worked for underhooks and has pushed Monroe into the cage.
Monroe trying to stall but Botha improves his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Etienne James Botha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Botha has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Etienne James Botha!