PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chris Roper (ranked 6071 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Scott (ranked 7112 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Roper has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Roper
vs
Scott

176 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chris Roper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Scott!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scott moves in looking to clinch but Roper pushes him off.
Scott displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roper.
Scott looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Roper with a lazy takedown attempt
and Scott counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Scott scores with a jab.
Roper throws a lazy head kick
and Scott counters with a one-two to the body.
No luck for Roper with that takedown attempt.
Scott changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Roper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scott keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Scott stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott tries to clinch
and Roper counters with a one-two to the body.
Scott tries for a takedown but Roper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roper tries to counter by clinching up but Scott breaks away and moves out of range.
Scott goes for a double leg but Roper avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Roper continues to drive forward.
Roper scoring well with a low kick there.
Scott tries to clinch there but Roper circles away.
Roper throws a big counter combination but Scott scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Scott's coach down at Island Safe Space was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Scott's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Scott tries to score with a low kick but Roper moves his leg out of the way.
Scott fails with the takedown

and Roper counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Scott tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Scott jumps guard but Roper turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Scott looks winded!

Roper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Scott is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scott moves in looking to clinch but Roper pushes him off.
Roper changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Roper moves into the clinch successfully.
Roper has Scott pressed against the cage, preventing Scott from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Roper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Scott is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Roper lands an elbow just above Scott 's eye.
Roper stalling the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Scott is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Roper jumps guard.
Scott trying to control but Roper is working from the bottom.

Roper escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Scott gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott controls from within his opponent's guard.
Roper looking for a sweep. Not yet Roper, not yet.
Roper trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Scott preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scott scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Scott trying to control but Roper is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Roper will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Scott shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Roper manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Scott postures up.

Scott decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Roper closes the distance and clinches.

Roper gets control of Scott's arms and successfully pulls guard. Roper will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roper is trying to control the position but Scott postures up.

Roper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Scott can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Scott looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Scott is one step ahead there.
Roper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Scott controls the pace.
Scott trying to control the position from guard on top but Roper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Scott looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Scott is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Roper closes the distance and pushes Scott back into the cage.
Scott takes a shot to the head.
Scott is trying to break the clinch but Roper is controlling him.
Roper is trying to pull guard but Scott has him pressed against the cage.
Scott wants to break free but Roper has control.
Roper jumps guard but Scott stands there with Roper around his waist. Roper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Scott tries to break the clinch but Roper is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roper scores a nice knee to the body.

Roper pulls guard effortlessly.
Roper controls Scott momentarily but Scott frees himself.
Roper keeping moving, preventing Scott from controlling successfully.
Roper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Scott can do to turn this around?
Scott won't allow Roper to get back to his feet.
Roper is trying to control the position but Scott postures up.
Roper is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Scott controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott trying to control the position from guard on top but Roper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Scott looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roper is fending him off so far but Scott persists. Nope, Roper circles away and we're back to standing.
Roper shoots in and drives through. Scott sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Roper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roper clinches with his opponent.

Roper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scott defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roper.
Scott misses with a leg kick.
Roper changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Roper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Roper dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Roper closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Roper avoiding damage.
Scott wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roper has him pressed against the cage.

Roper gets control of Scott's arms and successfully pulls guard. Roper will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Scott is pushing down on Roper's leg trying to pass to half guard. Roper is fighting to maintain full guard but Scott has managed to sneak the leg through.
Scott tries to pass the half guard into mount. Roper knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott is keen to just control but Roper is a slippery customer.
Scott takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roper is looking to control Scott's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roper avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scott prevents Roper from standing back up.
Chris Roper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roper wants to improve his position but Scott is controlling well.
Roper keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Scott is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roper is just riding it out for now. Scott eventually gives up the hold.

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.
Roper trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Scott shoots and misses

and Roper counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Roper.

Roper ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Roper no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Scott pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roper is keeping the position for now.
Roper looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Scott manages to get himself to full guard.

Roper trying to control but Scott is working from the bottom.
Roper tries to free his leg and advance position but Scott is retaining full guard.
Roper wants to control from the top but Scott keeps moving.
Roper wants to pass the guard but Scott is keeping the position.
Scott throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

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.
Roper preventing the sweep.
Roper advances position into side control!

Roper is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Scott is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Roper scores with a couple of short elbows.
Michael Scott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chris Roper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scott is not content to let Roper control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Roper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roper, 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Roper!