PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shon William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Roode (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominic Roode will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

William
vs
Roode

186 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Rio de Janeiro, Shon William!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominic Roode!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roode cracks William with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Shon William has been cut.
Roode falls off balance throwing a combination

and William counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
William tries to pull guard but Roode holds him up against the cage and eventually William drops back down to his feet.

William turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and William manages to end up in side control.
William creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Roode sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
William with the ground and pound but Roode regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

William is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
William sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Roode defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William controlling the pace.
Roode is trying to stand.
William really is a fat lump.
William lands with a punch from half guard.
William trying to control the pace.

William decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Roode throws a series of punches but William avoids them all with ease.
Roode throws a left and a right that both miss

and William moves into the clinch.

Roode manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
William is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
William throws a strike but Roode rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
William has control of Roode's left arm, preventing Roode from doing any damage.
William is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
William is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
William working a defensive guard but Roode passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
William keeping control of the position.
William trying to control from the bottom.
William is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Roode jumps into side control!

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.
William trying to control but Roode flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
I really don't envy William right now.
William rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Roode passes into side control, despite William's attempt to control the position.
William can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Roode dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shon William's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roode doesn't manage to clinch there - William circles away.
Roode connects with a nice looking jab.

Roode changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. William looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
William wants to get back to his feet but Roode is dominant here and he's now got William's back!
William rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
William looks like he's trying to stand up.
William flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
William trying to control from the bottom.
William wants to improve his position but Roode is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William is trying to control but Roode manages to pass to mount!

Roode gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
The fight stays on the outside here - Roode looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Roode looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
William wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roode tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
William wants to improve his position but Roode is controlling well.
William is trying to stand back up but Roode is controlling him
William wants to control but Roode is keeping busy.
William controlling the position for now.
Dominic Roode has got the better of the ground game so far.
William is trying to stand back up but Roode is controlling him

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roode avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Roode throws a right and a left that both miss.
William takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
William avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
William looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Roode is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in William's half guard.
William wants to stand back up but Roode manages to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
William isn't going anywhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William tries to buck Roode off but Roode is having none of it.

Roode stands up.

Roode closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
William tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
William just trying to survive but Roode is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Roode showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shon William's cut.
That's time! William's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

William will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Roode closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. William did well to prevent Roode getting side control.

William has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Roode is on him like a limpet, forcing William back against the cage.
Roode working hard to break the clinch.

Roode's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roode gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
William is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Roode asserts his dominance and retains side control.
William wants to control but Roode postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roode has control of an arm but William manages to advance to Roode's back!
Roode trying to get back to his feet but William is in full control for now.
Roode covering up well under a series of strikes from William.
William controlling the position well here. Roode rolled but William kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Roode wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
William controls the position.
Roode is trying to get back to his feet but William has full control of the position and if anything, Roode has just worked his way into a worse spot.
William controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roode is trying to stand back up.
William controlling from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
William missing with strikes from the back.
William is working the ground and pound. Can Roode escape?
Roode covering up well under a barage of strikes.

William looking to break Roode's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Roode remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise William will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Shon William has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dominic Roode is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Roode fending off the submission attempt from William.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shon William showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Roode 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominic Roode!