PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lindsey Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giorgos Polatidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Roach
vs
Polatidis

166 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

175 cm
20
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lindsey Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Giorgos Polatidis!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polatidis doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Roach cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Polatidis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roach, pushing him back against the cage.
Roach prevents a takedown attempt there.

Roach successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Polatidis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Polatidis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Polatidis wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polatidis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polatidis wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
Polatidis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roach is keeping the position for now.
Polatidis slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Roach keeping moving, preventing Polatidis from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roach ducks right into an uppercut from Polatidis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Polatidis tries to clinch but Roach is having none of it.

Polatidis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roach, pushing him back against the cage.
Polatidis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lindsey Roach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giorgos Polatidis.
Roach tries to pull guard but Polatidis holds him up against the cage and eventually Roach drops back down to his feet.

Roach breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Polatidis moves in looking to clinch but Roach pushes him off.
Horrible takedown attempt by Polatidis or perhaps it was just good defense by Roach, which made it look bad.
Polatidis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Polatidis shoots and misses
and Roach counters with a big head kick but Polatidis shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polatidis throws a series of strikes that have Roach backpedaling.
Polatidis with a poor takedown
and Roach counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Polatidis thinking.

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

Roach jumps guard and drags Polatidis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Polatidis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roach is keeping the position for now.
Polatidis is still trying to improve position.
Polatidis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roach trying to control the position here.
Polatidis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polatidis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Polatidis tries to free his leg and advance position but Roach is retaining full guard.

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

Roach clinches up with Polatidis and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roach's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Polatidis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Polatidis darts in looking for a takedown but Roach gets double underhooks and turns Polatidis into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsey Roach dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Polatidis instigates a clinch.
Roach is trying to break the clinch but Polatidis has him pressed against the cage.
Polatidis is trying to pull guard but Roach has him pressed against the cage.
Roach wants a takedown.

Roach pulls Polatidis into guard.
Roach could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Polatidis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Polatidis wants to pass the guard but Roach is keeping the position.
Polatidis showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polatidis throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Polatidis stays in close to Roach's body and controls the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Polatidis tries to stand but Roach is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Roach looks to clinch
and Polatidis counters with a series of strikes. Roach will be more careful next time no doubt.
Polatidis misses with a combination
and Roach counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Polatidis thinking.
Polatidis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polatidis tries to clinch but Roach moves out of range.
Roach tries to clinch up.

Roach gets a clinch.
Roach displaying some good clinch control by pressing Polatidis up against the cage.
Roach tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Polatidis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Roach prevents Polatidis from breaking the clinch.
Roach is trying to stall.
Polatidis slowing the pace effectively.
Roach tries to break free but Polatidis pushes him back against the cage.
Roach is trying to pull guard but Polatidis has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lindsey Roach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polatidis taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Polatidis has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Roach uses from the top position.
Polatidis working a defensive guard here.

Polatidis has his foot on Roach's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roach works his way back into a safe position though.

Roach drops back, looking for a kneebar! Polatidis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Polatidis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Polatidis!
Roach is being controlled here.
An elbow from Polatidis crashes against the mat.
Roach is looking to get back to his feet here but Polatidis is keeping cool and he's managed to take Roach's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roach covering up well and avoiding damage.
What can Roach do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roach staying busy and making it hard for Polatidis to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giorgos Polatidis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Polatidis fails to land the takedown.
Roach tries to clinch there but Polatidis circles away.
Polatidis shoots in looking for a takedown but Roach manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Polatidis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Polatidis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Roach tries to avoid it but Polatidis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Roach to the ground. Roach escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lindsey Roach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giorgos Polatidis.

Roach gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Polatidis is trying to pull guard but Roach turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Roach breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polatidis shoots in looking for a takedown. Roach tries to sprawl out of it but Polatidis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Roach manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Polatidis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Polatidis just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromRoach.
Polatidis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polatidis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roach sprawls well. Roach wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Polatidis gets slowly back to his feet.

Roach has closed the distance and engaged Polatidis in a clinch.

Roach breaks the clinch.
Giorgos Polatidis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Polatidis dives in and grabs Roach's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roach pushes down on Polatidis's head and hops out.
Roach tries to close the distance and clinch up but Polatidis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Despite the aggression on Polatidis's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Decent striking displayed by Polatidis there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polatidis shoots in looking for a takedown. Roach tries to sprawl out of it but Polatidis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Roach manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Roach shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Polatidis as he jumps to the side.
Polatidis swats away the attempt to clinch by Roach.
Polatidis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Polatidis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Roach as he jumps to the side.
Roach is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Roach rushes Polatidis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polatidis is trying to force a seperation but Roach has the dominant position.

Roach's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roach tries to clinch but Polatidis moves out of range.
Polatidis dives in and grabs Roach's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roach pushes down on Polatidis's head and hops out.
Polatidis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Roach wants to clinch.
Polatidis tries to clinch but Roach moves out of range.
Roach tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Polatidis manages to circle out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Roach tries to clinch up.
Polatidis has his takedown stuffed

and Roach counters by moving into the clinch.
Polatidis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roach just stands there and leans against the cage.
Roach jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Polatidis walks away with a smile on his face. Roach gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Roach. No joy for Polatidis on that attempt.
It looked like Roach was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Polatidis.
Roach tries to clinch there but Polatidis circles away.

Roach gets a takedown into half guard.

Roach is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roach is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lindsey Roach showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Roach 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lindsey Roach!