PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Weston Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Ritchie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Roth
vs
Ritchie

167 cm
26
151 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

174 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Weston Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roman Ritchie!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ritchie instigates a clinch.
Ritchie is trying to push Roth away but Roth has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Roth fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Ritchie pulls guard successfully.
Roth preventing the sweep.

Roth avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roth with a flurry of punches that miss.
Roth with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ritchie is looking for a triangle but Roth pushes his legs off easily.
Roth throws an elbow that misses. Ritchie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Roth's guard. Nice move by Ritchie!

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Roth is on top in guard.

Roth won't allow Ritchie to get back to his feet.
Ritchie wants to hit a switch here but Roth passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ritchie there!
Roth avoids the attempt from Ritchie to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Roth cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ritchie is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritchie is still trying to improve position.
Roth content just to control the position here.
Ritchie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Roth wants to take Ritchie's back but he can't do it this time.
Ritchie is bucking up trying to escape but Roth cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth avoids the attempt from Ritchie to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Roth lands a couple of good shots and Ritchie has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roth throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Ritchie is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Roth has Ritchie flattened out and is raining down punches.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Roth has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth is landing with strikes. Ritchie can't take much more of this.

Roth working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Ritchie is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Roth lands a shot to the head.
Ritchie tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee is taking a good look at Ritchie as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Roth!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Weston Roth dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ritchie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roth, pushing him back against the cage.
Roth fails to pull guard.
Ritchie tries to stall but Roth uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ritchie is looking to control Roth's arms but Roth gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ritchie has his back to the cage.

Roth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ritchie scores with a takedown into Roth's guard.

Roth pushes Ritchie off and scrambles back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roth moves into range and clinches up with Ritchie.

Ritchie manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ritchie working for submissions but it's allowed Roth to get to half guard.
Ritchie is looking for a sweep. Roth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ritchie keeps trying to improve his position.

Ritchie actively working from the bottom here.
Ritchie is breathing heavily.
Roth 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.

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.
Roth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ritchie defending well though.
Ritchie gets full guard.

Roth drops back looking for a leg! Ritchie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ritchie manages to kick Roth off! Roth jumps back into Ritchie's guard.
Ritchie working a defensive guard but Roth manages to pass into side control anyway.
Roth cracks Ritchie with a big right hand but Ritchie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritchie dodges the ground and pound from Roth.
Roth in side control lands a decent elbow.
Roth misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ritchie looks to move to half guard but instead Roth has passed into mount! Damn!
Roth cracks Ritchie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ritchie tries to hold on but Roth postures up.
Roth dominating with strikes here.
Roth scoring with strikes but Ritchie is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritchie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ritchie taking some punishment here, with Roth in his half guard.
Ritchie wants to sweep but Roth has passed to side control!
Roth in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Roth lands an elbow.
Roth scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ritchie to see if he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ritchie looks to move to half guard but instead Roth has passed into mount! Damn!
Roth raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Weston Roth 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!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Roth enables Ritchie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Roth manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

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

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

Ritchie rushes Roth and presses him up against the cage.
Roth jumps guard but Ritchie stands there with Roth around his waist. Roth gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ritchie wants to break free but Roth has control.
Ritchie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Roth jumps into guard, dragging Ritchie to the mat.
Ritchie being controlled here momentarily.
Roth continues to stall.
Roth 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roth is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ritchie is aware though and is defending well.
Ritchie looking to sit in guard and control but Roth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ritchie is on top in guard.

Ritchie trying to control but Roth is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ritchie wants to sweep but Roth has passed to side control!
Ritchie trying to control but Roth flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Roth looking for the choke from the back.
Roth has the hooks in. Ritchie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritchie trying to control the hands but Roth breaks the grip.
Ritchie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Even with his hooks in, Roth manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Roth lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Ritchie.

Roth has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ritchie has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Roth punishes Ritchie with strikes from the back mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth has the hooks in. Ritchie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Ritchie just trying to survive but Roth is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Roth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ritchie can do to turn this around?
Roth scores with punches and elbows.

Roth is persistently looking for the submission but Ritchie is defending it well.
Ritchie trying to control the hands but Roth breaks the grip.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roman Ritchie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Weston Roth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roth controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Weston Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roth, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Weston Roth!