PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Master Roshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Niel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Master Roshi has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Roshi
vs
Niel

195 cm
27
166 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
26
167 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Master Roshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Niel!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roshi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Niel is fending him off so far but Roshi persists. Nope, Niel circles away and we're back to standing.
Niel misses with a head kick.
Niel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Roshi has been working on his balance at CT + BJJ & Wrestling & Boxing & MT SPARRING GYM, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Niel.
Roshi checks a leg kick.
Roshi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niel pinned against the cage. Niel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Roshi shoots in looking for a takedown. Niel tries to sprawl out of it but Roshi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Niel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Master Roshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niel just misses with a punch to the body.
Niel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Niel sprawls well. Niel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roshi gets slowly back to his feet.
Roshi darts in looking for a takedown but Niel gets double underhooks and turns Roshi into the cage.
Niel throws a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roshi closes the distance and clinches up with Niel, looking for a takedown. Roshi pushes Niel against the cage but Niel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Niel stuffs the takedown attempt from Roshi. Roshi gets slowly back to his feet.
Niel misses the jab.
A big left from Niel misses.
Niel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roshi.
Niel flicks out a counter leg kick but Roshi steps away.
Roshi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Niel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niel throws a low kick, looking for Roshi's leg but Roshi calmly moves out of range.
As Niel looks to move away, Roshi throws a big counter combo but Niel just gets out of the way.
Niel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Roshi at a distance.
Niel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roshi.

Roshi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Roshi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Niel bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Horrible takedown attempt by Roshi or perhaps it was just good defense by Niel, which made it look bad.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Niel sprawls well. Niel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roshi gets slowly back to his feet.
Roshi is breathing heavily.
Roshi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roshi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
John Niel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Niel lands a head kick!
Roshi fails with the takedown.
Roshi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Niel.
Roshi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roshi closes the distance and clinches up with Niel, looking for a takedown. Roshi pushes Niel against the cage but Niel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Roshi with that takedown attempt.
Niel misses with a wild combination.
Niel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Niel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roshi is looking for a counter combo.

Roshi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Niel is looking to stand up but Roshi isn't so interested in that idea.
Niel is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Roshi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Niel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Niel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roshi is controlling him.
Roshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roshi content to stall in guard here.
Roshi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roshi controlling from the top position.

Niel uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Roshi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Niel defends well and Roshi ends up having to push Niel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Niel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Roshi tries for a takedown but Niel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roshi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Niel swivels and escapes.
Roshi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown but Niel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Niel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Roshi shoots in looking for a takedown. Niel tries to sprawl out of it but Roshi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Niel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roshi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Niel defends well and Roshi ends up having to push Niel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Roshi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Niel connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Roshi scrambles back to his feet.
Niel misses with a body kick.
Niel misses with a straight right.
Roshi dodges the punch combination from Niel.
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!
Niel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roshi.
Niel lands a nice looking body kick.
Roshi shoots in but no luck this time.
Roshi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Niel misses with a head kick.
Roshi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roshi.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Niel.
Niel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roshi moves away.
Roshi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Niel dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Roshi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Roshi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Niel defends it nicely.
Niel slaps away a takedown attempt from Roshi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Roshi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Niel swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Master Roshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niel misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roshi.
Niel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Roshi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown but Niel shows good takedown defense.
Niel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Roshi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Roshi shoots for a takedown but Niel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roshi shoots in and drives through. Niel sprawls well.
Niel misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Roshi misses the target.
Niel throws a jab when Roshi was well out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both fighters circling a little - Niel finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Niel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Roshi. Roshi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Niel throws a head kick that misses.
Roshi goes for a double leg but Niel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Niel continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roshi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Master Roshi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roshi fails with the takedown.
Niel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Roshi was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Niel connects with a solid leg kick.
Roshi takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Niel scores with a push kick.
Niel is looking to chop away at Roshi's legs.
A good leg kick by Niel.
Roshi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A good leg kick by Niel.
Roshi blocks a head kick by Niel.
Niel lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Roshi misses with the combination.
Roshi fails with a takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Niel on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roshi shoots for a takedown but Niel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Niel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Niel thumps Roshi with a low kick.
Niel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roshi walks into a jab.
Niel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Niel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Niel throws a head kick but Roshi moves out of range.
Niel misses with an uppercut. Roshi saw that one coming.
No luck for Roshi with that takedown attempt.
Niel throws a head kick but Roshi moves out of range.
Roshi fails with a takedown attempt.
Roshi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Roshi fails with the takedown.
Roshi slips under a jab.
Roshi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Niel.
Niel looks for the body kick but Roshi saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roshi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niel pinned against the cage. Niel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Niel throws a body shot but no joy.
Roshi misses with a double jab.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Niel but Niel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Niel. No joy for Roshi on that attempt.
Niel looks for the body kick but Roshi saw that one coming.
Niel throws a nice head kick!

Roshi is rocked!
Niel misses with a low kick as Roshi jumps back.
Niel looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Niel throws a body punch but Roshi moves out of range.
Roshi shoots for a double leg takedown but Niel sprawls well. He's pushed Roshi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roshi checks a leg kick nicely.
Roshi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Roshi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Niel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Roshi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Niel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roshi tries to clinch but Niel moves out of range.
Roshi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roshi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Niel swivels and escapes.
Niel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Roshi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
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!
Niel throws a sloppy head kick and Roshi moves out of range easily.
Niel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roshi.
Niel lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Roshi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Niel.
Roshi slips under a jab from Niel.
Niel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Roshi moves out of range of the body kick.
Roshi shoots in looking for a takedown. Niel tries to sprawl out of it but Roshi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Niel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Roshi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Niel.
Niel throws a solid leg kick but Roshi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Niel.
As Niel looks to move away, Roshi throws a big counter combo but Niel just gets out of the way.
Roshi shoots in and drives through. Niel sprawls well.
Niel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Niel wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Niel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jab from Niel.
Roshi dives in and grabs Niel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Niel pushes down on Roshi's head and hops out.
Niel stuffs the takedown.
A chopping leg kick lands by Niel.
Niel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
John Niel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roshi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Master Roshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Niel lands a leg kick that knocks Roshi off balance momentarily.
Niel throws a head kick but Roshi moves out of range.
Roshi dives in for a single leg takedown but Niel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Niel is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Niel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Roshi moves out of range of the strikes.
Roshi shoots for a double leg takedown but Niel sprawls well. He's pushed Roshi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niel looks to score with a jab to the body but Roshi is just out of range.
Roshi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Niel but Niel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Niel throws a head kick that misses.
Roshi seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Niel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niel swings for the body but Roshi moves out of range.
Roshi throws a big counter combination but Niel scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roshi avoids the head kick by Niel.
Niel is looking to clinch but Roshi is avoiding it.

Roshi gets the takedown into side control.
Roshi prevents Niel from escaping the position.
Niel is trying to escape the position but Roshi is controlling the position.
John Niel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Niel is not content to let Roshi control the position.
Roshi slows the pace down.
Master Roshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niel is pushing Roshi's head away, looking to escape. Roshi manages to hold on to the position though.
Niel is not content to let Roshi control the position.
Roshi taking a breather here.
Niel is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Niel's face as Roshi controls the position.
Roshi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Niel is avoiding damage well.
Niel wants to get back to his feet.
Niel is being controlled here.
Roshi wants to stand but Niel is controlling his arm.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roshi throws a right hand that Niel ducks under and follows up with a left that Niel also avoids with ease.
Roshi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Niel throws a push kick but Roshi slaps the foot to one side.
Roshi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Niel.
Roshi goes for a double leg but Niel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Niel continues to drive forward.
Roshi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Niel lands with a right hand.
Roshi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Niel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Roshi was well out of range. Poor timing from Niel.
Roshi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Niel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Niel wants it to stay on the feet.
Niel throws a head kick that misses.
Roshi seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Niel throws the left hand but Roshi avoids the punch easily.
Niel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niel misses with a leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Roshi!
Niel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roshi.
Nice uppercut there from Niel.
Roshi darts in looking for a takedown but Niel gets double underhooks and turns Roshi into the cage.
Niel throws out a loose jab but Roshi uses good head movement to avoid it.
An inside leg kick lands from Niel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roshi shoots in but no luck this time.
Niel cracks Roshi with an open hand slap.
Niel looks to land a combination but Roshi avoids it well.
Niel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice uppercut lands for Niel. That snapped Roshi's head back.
Roshi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Niel tries to avoid it but Roshi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Niel to the ground. Niel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Roshi blocks a head kick by Niel.
Niel throws a half hearted mid kick.
Niel looks to land a combination but Roshi avoids it well.
Roshi shoots for a double leg takedown but Niel sprawls well. He's pushed Roshi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Niel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Roshi shoots in looking for a takedown but Niel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Roshi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Niel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Niel stuffs the takedown.
Roshi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Niel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Roshi.
John Niel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Niel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niel scores with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Niel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Niel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Niel!