PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dave Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enrique Rold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Johnson
vs
Rold

175 cm
25
150 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

168 cm
32
155 lbs
17 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dave Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Enrique Rold!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Rold's head but Rold sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Rold dives in and scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Rold tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Rold being controlled here momentarily.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rold trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ground and pound from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rold taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson prevents Rold from improving his position.
Rold is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
Johnson tries to roll but Rold sticks to his back.
Johnson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Johnson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is keeping busy.
Well, with Rold on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Johnson is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Johnson tries to escape the position.
Johnson trying to control the hands but Rold won't let him.
Rold is trying to stick to Johnson's back but Johnson is turning into Rold. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rold's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Johnson.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rold 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 seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Rold has wrist control.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

Johnson keeping full guard, as Rold tries to pass.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Rold tries to pass.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rold controls the pace.

Rold drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rold jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rold trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rold from controlling successfully.
Rold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rold wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rold is one step ahead there.
Rold throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson throws a strike but Rold rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rold wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Rold is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Enrique Rold will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rold shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rold trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson wants to control but Rold is keeping busy.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Rold has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rold trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Rold content to stall in guard here.
Rold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rold from controlling successfully.
Rold trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson controlling the position.
Enrique Rold has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rold from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
We've been told by Johnson's head coaches at Netherlands Top Team & KT that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rold keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Rold.
A little jabbing left from Rold on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rold misses with a straight right.

That's two 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.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rold makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rold.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Rold has wrist control.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.

Rold escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Rold trying to control the position.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rold avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rold lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Johnson 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.
Rold slips nicely into half guard.
Rold trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is concentrating on defense, preventing Rold from advancing position.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Rold sits in half guard.

Rold is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Rold eventually gives up the hold.
Rold trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rold is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Rold sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enrique Rold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Rold scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rold takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson checks a leg kick nicely.
Rold lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rold.
Rold has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rold's guard.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rold's head.
Rold looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rold is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
Johnson trying to control the position but Rold manages to sink in the hooks.
Rold doesn't have the hooks in and Johnson manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rold looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rold looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.

Rold pushes a forearm under Johnson's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Johnson is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Enrique Rold!
After the fight, Enrique Rold was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.