PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darren Lockyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Roofer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Roofer's choice of entrance music: Jonesmann Feat. Azad - Der Soldat James Rhyme. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lockyer
vs
Roofer

189 cm
37
198 lbs
29 - 11 - 1

188 cm
33
194 lbs
25 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 29 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darren Lockyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Roofer!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lockyer looks to score with a jab to the body but Roofer is just out of range.
Roofer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lockyer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Roofer moves out of range as Lockyer strikes.
A low kick from Lockyer misses
and Roofer counters with a nice uppercut.
Lockyer on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Roofer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lockyer connects with a looping right hand.
Lockyer throws a looping overhand right but Roofer ducks down to avoid it.
Lockyer takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Ben Roofer has been cut.
Darren Lockyer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lockyer swings for the body but Roofer moves out of range.
Roofer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lockyer misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Roofer counters with a thumping low kick.
Lockyer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Roofer was well out of range. Poor timing from Lockyer.
Roofer lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roofer lands a nice looking body kick.
Lockyer throws out a loose jab but Roofer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roofer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lockyer jabs Roofer to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lockyer throws a lazy right hand but Roofer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Roofer only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Lockyer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lockyer scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lockyer throws a body punch but Roofer moves out of range.
Roofer smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lockyer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Roofer throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lockyer throws a lazy right hand but Roofer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've been informed that Roofer has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Lockyer throws a predictable looking body shot
and Roofer counters with a nice leg kick.
Lockyer throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Roofer misses with a kick to the body.
Roofer connects with a solid leg kick.
Lockyer swings for the body but Roofer moves out of range.
Roofer lunges at Lockyer with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lockyer's hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roofer is looking to land body kicks.
Lockyer throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Roofer on the side of the head.
Roofer throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lockyer connects with the punch.

Lockyer closes the distance and clinches.
Lockyer lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Roofer's face.
Roofer lands a body shot.
Lockyer scores with a shot to the side of Roofer's head.
Roofer working aggressively here.
Lockyer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roofer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Roofer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Roofer.

Lockyer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lockyer looks to score with a jab to the body but Roofer is just out of range.
Roofer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lockyer.
Lockyer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Roofer.
Roofer scores with a kick to the body.
Lockyer misses with a hook. Roofer ducked under it nicely.
Roofer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roofer checks a leg kick.
Lockyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lockyer throws out a powerful jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Roofer lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lockyer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lockyer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Roofer misses.
No joy there for Lockyer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Good shot there by Lockyer.

That has opened up Ben Roofer's cut even more.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lockyer checks a leg kick.
Roofer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lockyer misses with a wild body shot.
Lockyer throws a body shot but no joy.
Lockyer cracks Roofer with an open hand slap.
Roofer ducks under a wild hook from Lockyer.
No joy there for Lockyer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Roofer tries a quick counter leg kick but Lockyer is wise to it.
Roofer defending well as Lockyer loads up on a big left hand.
A little jabbing left from Roofer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lockyer fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lockyer lands a nice hook to Roofer's body. Roofer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lockyer checks a leg kick.
Lockyer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lockyer is looking to clinch.
Lockyer swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Roofer counters with an outside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Roofer. That's going to slow Lockyer down.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lockyer checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer looks to score with a jab to the body but Roofer is just out of range.
Roofer flicks out a counter leg kick but Lockyer steps away.
Lockyer checks a leg kick.
Lockyer is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Roofer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Roofer jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Roofer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lockyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roofer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lockyer throws a series of punches but Roofer avoids them all with ease.
Lockyer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lockyer throws a looping overhand right but Roofer ducks down to avoid it.
Lockyer throws a right hand that Roofer ducks under and follows up with a left that Roofer also avoids with ease.
A chopping leg kick lands by Roofer.
Roofer lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Lockyer is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roofer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lockyer. Roofer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lockyer moves out of range of the body kick from Roofer.
Roofer looks for the body kick but Lockyer saw that one coming.
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 Darren Lockyer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Roofer's cut.
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.

Roofer ducks under a wild hook from Lockyer.
Roofer throws a quick inside leg kick.
Roofer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lockyer thuds his shin into the meat of Roofer's side.
Lockyer looks to throw the jab but Roofer is out of range.
Roofer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Roofer walks into a stiff left hand from Lockyer.
Lockyer works Roofer's body with a nice hook.
Lockyer throws a hook to the side of Roofer's head but Roofer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Roofer was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Roofer throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lockyer counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lockyer ducks under a wild hook from Roofer.
Lockyer lands a body shot.
Lockyer lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roofer drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Roofer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Roofer defending well as Lockyer loads up on a big left hand.
That kick from Roofer tenderised Lockyer's leg. Lockyer is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roofer misses with a body kick.
Lockyer connects with a single shot there.
Roofer ducks under a wild hook from Lockyer.
Roofer listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Roofer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lockyer.
Lockyer cracks Roofer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lockyer lands a body shot.
Lockyer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lockyer looks to land a right hand but Roofer moved out of range.
Lockyer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lockyer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Roofer's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Jab by Lockyer.
Roofer shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lockyer lands a glancing blow to the side of Roofer's head.
Roofer on the wrong end of a nice jab.

The cut above Ben Roofer's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Darren Lockyer is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roofer checks a leg kick.
Lockyer misses the body punch
and Roofer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Roofer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Roofer looks to score with a jab to the body but Lockyer is just out of range.
Lockyer swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Roofer.
Lockyer is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lockyer lands a jab to the head.
Roofer is looking to chop away at Lockyer's legs.
Lockyer is looking to clinch but Roofer is avoiding it.
Lockyer throws a series of punches but Roofer avoids them all with ease.
Roofer bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roofer punishes Lockyer's body with a nice straight punch.
Lockyer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roofer manages to avoid it.
Roofer swings for the body but Lockyer moves out of range.
Roofer keeps Lockyer at a distance using the push kick.
Lockyer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Roofer counters with a straight right hand.
Roofer lands a nice hook to Lockyer's body. Lockyer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Roofer, right into the meat.
Lockyer lands a really nice looking cross but Roofer seems unphased.
Roofer cracks Lockyer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Roofer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Roofer in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A head kick misses from Roofer.
Lockyer moves out of range of the leg kick from Roofer.
Lockyer misses with a wild body shot.
Roofer lands a really nice looking cross but Lockyer seems unphased.
Lockyer gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Roofer connects with the punch.
Lockyer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Roofer doesn't seem bothered though.
Roofer throws a hook but Lockyer blocks it.
Lockyer will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roofer tries to score with a low kick but Lockyer moves his leg out of the way.
Lockyer throws a big counter combination but Roofer scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Roofer thumps Lockyer with a low kick.
Lockyer explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Lockyer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer scores with a jab to the body.
Roofer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lockyer misses the jab.
Lockyer misses with a low kick as Roofer jumps back.
Lockyer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Roofer.
Roofer lands a leg kick that knocks Lockyer off balance momentarily.
Lockyer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Roofer.
Lockyer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Roofer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lockyer throws a leg kick but Roofer moved away.
Lockyer misses with a body shot.
Lockyer looks to score with a jab to the body but Roofer is just out of range.
It seemed like Roofer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Jab by Roofer.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roofer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lockyer. That did some damage!
Lockyer keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Roofer checks a leg kick nicely.
Lockyer misses with a body shot.
Roofer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Darren Lockyer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Roofer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Roofer connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lockyer. Lockyer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Roofer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lockyer throws a right hand that Roofer ducks under and follows up with a left that Roofer also avoids with ease.
Roofer was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Roofer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Roofer lands an overhand right.

Lockyer gets a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lockyer.

Roofer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roofer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lockyer scores with a decent looking hook.
Lockyer moves out of range of the strikes.
Lockyer is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Roofer takes a swing at Lockyer's ribcage but misses.
Roofer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An inside leg kick from Roofer misses.
Roofer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lockyer.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roofer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Lockyer misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roofer looks to land a body kick but Lockyer moved away.
Roofer moves out of range of the strikes.
Lockyer scores with a shot to the body.
Roofer throws a head kick but Lockyer moves out of range.
Lockyer scores with a punch to the head.
A head kick misses from Roofer.
Lockyer swings for the body but Roofer moves out of range.
Lockyer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Roofer was well out of range. Poor timing from Lockyer.
Roofer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lockyer blocks a low kick nicely.
Lockyer's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Roofer slips a straight right by Lockyer.
Roofer scores with a leg kick.
Roofer connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lockyer momentarily.
Lockyer misses the shot to the body.
Lockyer throws the left hand but Roofer avoids the punch easily.
Lockyer fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Roofer is out of range.
Ben Roofer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roofer ducks under a wild hook from Lockyer.
Roofer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lockyer looks to land a left hand but Roofer moved out of range nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Roofer. That's going to slow Lockyer down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roofer connects with a high kick.
Roofer slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Roofer lands with a thumping leg kick.
The fighters circling - Lockyer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Roofer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lockyer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Roofer.
A slow jab from Lockyer misses its intended target.
Lockyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lockyer slips under a jab.
Lockyer was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lockyer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lockyer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lockyer connects with a looping right hand.
Roofer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Roofer. Roofer obviously looking to wear him down.
Lockyer throws a right hand that Roofer ducks under and follows up with a left that Roofer also avoids with ease.
Roofer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lockyer.
Roofer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Roofer on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Roofer's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lockyer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Roofer scrambles back to his feet.
Roofer looks to land a right hand but Lockyer moved out of range.
Lockyer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roofer tried to score with a low kick but Lockyer checks it.
Both fighters circling a little - Roofer finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Roofer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lockyer.
Lockyer misses with a hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Roofer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lockyer swings widly with a right hand
and Lockyer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Roofer checks the leg kick.
Roofer throws a push kick but Lockyer slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lockyer lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lockyer.
Lockyer connects with a body shot that sends Roofer's belly button to the back.
Lockyer checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lockyer tried to counter with a leg kick but Roofer avoided it.
Lockyer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roofer moves away.
Roofer attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Darren Lockyer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lockyer throws the left hand but Roofer avoids the punch easily.
Roofer throws a head kick but Lockyer moves out of range.
Lockyer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lockyer jabs at Roofer's body.
A lazy left from Lockyer finds it's target.
Roofer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lockyer looks to score with a jab to the body but Roofer is just out of range.
Lockyer throws a hook to the side of Roofer's head but Roofer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Roofer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lockyer moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Darren Lockyer.
Well Lockyer 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Lockyer!
Darren Lockyer decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.