PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Robles (ranked 25100 p4p, 0 weight class) and RK Mate (ranked 5906 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Robles
vs
Mate

215 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

168 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Steve Robles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, RK Mate!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robles throws a head kick but Mate moves out of range.
Robles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Robles wants it to stay on the feet.
Robles doesn't manage to clinch there - Mate circles away.
Mate shoots in but Robles avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mate rushes Robles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Robles really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mate slows down the pace here.

Mate has Robles pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mate pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Robles tumbling to the mat - Mate dives into Robles's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robles trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Robles is on top in guard.

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

Robles is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mate's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mate's back!
Mate manages to reverse the position and now he's in Robles's guard. Nice work there by Mate.
Mate won't allow Robles to sweep him here.

Robles is working an open guard so Mate takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mate getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mate scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mate moves into the clinch.

Robles successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mate controls from within his opponent's guard.

Robles looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mate passes into half guard.
Robles is looking for a sweep. Mate is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mate is stalling here. Robles is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mate seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Robles has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Mate wants to control but Robles postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mate manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mate has one foot on Robles's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Mate shoots in looking for a takedown. Robles tries to sprawl out of it but Mate keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Robles manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Robles feinted with a counter takedown.
Steve Robles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RK Mate.

Mate moves into range and clinches up with Robles.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mate.

Mate breaks from the clinch.
Mate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mate moves into the clinch.
Robles tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Robles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mate is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Robles to keep the fight standing.
Mate tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Robles.
Robles wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mate has him pressed against the cage.

Robles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mate looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mate clinches with his opponent.
Mate stops a takedown attempt from Robles.
Mate tries to pull guard but Robles holds him up against the cage and eventually Mate drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RK Mate 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.

Robles tries to keep at a distance but Mate has taken the fight into the clinch.
Robles is trying to pull guard but Mate turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mate tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mate misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Robles.
Robles fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mate taking a breather.
Mate tries to break the clinch but Robles is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Robles manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mate wants to control from the top but Robles keeps moving.
Mate passes Robles's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robles is trying to get back to full guard.
Robles is looking to get back to full guard here but Mate has managed to pass to side control instead.
Mate controlling the position from side mount.
Robles tries to buck Mate off but Mate is having none of it.

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.
You can see the frustration on Robles's face as Mate controls the position.
Robles tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mate wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mate moves into full mount!
Robles slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mate trying to control the pace.
Robles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mate.

Mate is looking for a kimura here.
Mate is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robles tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mate has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Mate controlling the position easily from mount.
Mate throwing strikes here but Robles is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four 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.
Robles holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mate tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mate controlling from mount.
Robles avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mate.
Robles is trying to escape the mount.
Mate wants to control the pace but Robles is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RK Mate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mate fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Robles avoids it really well and circles away.
Mate circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mate counters with a one-two to the body.

Mate moves into the clinch.
Mate stalling.
Robles jumps guard but Mate stands there with Robles around his waist. Robles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Robles looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mate feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mate is looking to clinch but Robles is avoiding it.

Mate moves into range and clinches up with Robles.
Mate goes for a takedown in the clinch but Robles prevents it.
Robles tries to pull guard but Mate holds him up against the cage and eventually Robles drops back down to his feet.
Mate can't break the clinch.
Mate is trying to force a seperation but Robles has the dominant position.
A short left from Mate.

Robles is rocked!
Mate lands with a light punch inside.
Oh Robles is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mate tries to break free but Robles pushes him back against the cage.
Robles fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Robles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mate manages to pull guard.
Mate striking off his back but it's not causing Robles any problems.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mate is on top in guard.

Mate prevents Robles from getting back to his feet.
Mate throws a big elbow that misses.
Mate in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Robles wants to stand but Mate is controlling the position.
Mate postures up in Robles's guard and throws a big left but Robles blocks it.
Mate's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mate loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mate slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mate is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Robles still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Robles has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mate explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Mate fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Robles, pushing him back against the cage.

Mate breaks from the clinch.

Mate closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Robles tries for a takedown but Mate manages to get underhooks.
Mate wants to take the fight to the mat but Robles manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Robles looking to stall.

Mate decides to pull guard.
Mate has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Robles is one step ahead there.

Mate has his foot on Robles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Robles works his way back into a safe position though.
Mate throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
RK Mate has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mate is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Robles is aware though and is defending well.
Mate bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Robles's guard.

Mate with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mate landing with the ground and pound.
Mate passes Robles's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Mate stands up from half guard.
Mate throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Mate.
Robles tries to counter with a takedown but Mate is quick to defend against it.
Mate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mate shoots and misses

and Robles counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Robles.

Mate has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Robles has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Robles seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Robles misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mate manages to pull guard.

Mate is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Robles is aware though and is defending well.

Mate working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Robles has passed into half guard!
Mate wants to control but Robles is keeping busy.
Robles will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mate manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Mate fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robles dives in for a single leg takedown but Mate sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mate shoots in for a double leg but Robles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Robles wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Robles moves into the clinch.
Robles tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Robles fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mate tries to break free but Robles pushes him back against the cage.
Mate tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mate has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Robles after a bit of a struggle.
Steve Robles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
RK Mate is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Robles tries to pull guard but Mate forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
RK Mate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mate has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... RK Mate!