PBP Commentary

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

Suarez
vs
Reigns

187 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
279 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ernie Suarez!
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, Roman Reigns!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reigns tries for a takedown but Suarez circles away easily
and Suarez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Reigns dives in and grabs Suarez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Suarez pushes down on Reigns's head and hops out.

Suarez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Suarez has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Reigns off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Reigns closes the distance and pushes Suarez back into the cage.
Suarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Suarez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Suarez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Suarez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Reigns advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suarez punching from the bottom.
Reigns is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Reigns working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Suarez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Reigns trying to control from half guard but Suarez is working away.
Suarez 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.
Suarez wants to get back to his feet.
Reigns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Suarez punching from the bottom.

Suarez is defending against the submission attempts here by Reigns.
Suarez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Reigns working over Suarez with some ground and pound. Suarez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Well, if Reigns is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Suarez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Reigns.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reigns drives through and clinches with Suarez against the cage.

Reigns has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Suarez regains guard immediately.
Suarez punching from the bottom.
Suarez lands a decent punch to the body there.
Reigns must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Reigns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Suarez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Suarez has escaped and now he's on top!

Suarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reigns is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Suarez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Reigns gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Suarez has his feet on Reigns's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Suarez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Reigns counters with a nice body shot.
Reigns leaves Suarez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roman Reigns will probably get the nod.
That's time! Suarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Reigns moves into range and clinches up with Suarez.
Suarez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Reigns gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Reigns is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Suarez keeping moving, preventing Reigns from controlling successfully.
Suarez wants to stand and escape but Reigns is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reigns trying to control the position from guard on top but Suarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Suarez trying to keep a closed guard but Reigns is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reigns stands up from Suarez's guard - Reigns perhaps looking for a knockout.
A punch combination from Suarez misses.
Suarez blocks the body kick.

Reigns darts in and clinches Suarez up against the cage.
Suarez throws a head punch that misses.

Reigns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reigns throws a push kick but Suarez slaps the foot to one side.
Reigns swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Reigns tries to land a leg kick but Suarez saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Suarez scores with a shot to the side of Reigns's head.
Reigns tries to break free but Suarez pushes him back against the cage.

Suarez lands a takedown into guard.
Reigns is adopting a defensive guard.
Reigns looking to control.
Reigns wants to hit a switch here but Suarez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Reigns there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suarez looking to secure an arm triangle but Reigns defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Suarez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Suarez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

It looks like Roman Reigns has been cut.

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.
Reigns is wriggling around trying to escape.
Reigns tries to hold on but Suarez pushes him away.
Suarez working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reigns is wriggling around trying to escape.
Suarez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reigns tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Reigns is breathing heavily.
Suarez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Suarez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roman Reigns's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Suarez fails to land with a series of punches.
Reigns takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Suarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Reigns takes the fight into the clinch.

Suarez pulls Reigns into guard.
Suarez controls Reigns momentarily but Reigns frees himself.

Reigns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Suarez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Suarez has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suarez stopping the sweep attempt from Reigns.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Suarez stands and steps away. Reigns gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Roman Reigns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Suarez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Reigns.
Reigns shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Suarez but Suarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A lazy left from Suarez finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Suarez.

Reigns gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Suarez jumps guard but Reigns stands there with Suarez around his waist. Suarez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernie Suarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Reigns decides to pull guard.
Suarez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Reigns 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.
Reigns is trying to keep Suarez in close.
Ernie Suarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suarez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Reigns seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Suarez cracks Reigns with a solid left hand.
Suarez wants to control from the top but Reigns keeps moving.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Reigns closes the distance and clinches.
Suarez is trying to pull guard but Reigns has him pressed against the cage.
Suarez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Reigns to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Reigns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Reigns closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Suarez's guard.
Suarez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Suarez is trying to keep Reigns in close.
Reigns trying to control but Suarez is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roman Reigns.
I think Reigns 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Reigns!