PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rolland Heath (ranked 25116 p4p, 0 weight class) and Perrin Aibarra (ranked 25293 p4p, 0 weight class). Rolland Heath has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Heath
vs
Aibarra

209 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
179 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolland Heath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Perrin Aibarra!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aibarra forces Heath back against the cage and clinches.
Heath takes a shot to the head.
Aibarra is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Heath to keep the fight standing.
Heath throws a punch but it's blocked by Aibarra.
Heath is trying to push Aibarra away but Aibarra has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aibarra displaying some good clinch control by pressing Heath up against the cage.
Aibarra working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Heath can't break the clinch.
Aibarra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Aibarra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aibarra gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Aibarra stalls.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heath breaks from the clinch.
Heath throws a leg kick that misses.

Aibarra moves into the clinch.
Aibarra has Heath pressed against the cage.
Aibarra stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aibarra prevents Heath from breaking the clinch.
Heath is trying to maintain a safe position but Aibarra gets an underhook and turns Heath into the cage.
Aibarra scores with a shoulder strike.
Heath misses with a knee to the head.
Heath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Aibarra breaks from the clinch.

Aibarra instigates a clinch.
Aibarra keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Heath's efforts to push away.

Aibarra breaks the clinch.
Aibarra throws a right and a left that both miss.
Heath misses with a takedown attempt
and Aibarra counters with a left to the body.
Heath looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aibarra is fending him off so far but Heath persists. Nope, Aibarra circles away and we're back to standing.

Aibarra has managed to clinch.
Heath looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aibarra scores with a nice hook to the head.
Good body shot from Aibarra.

Aibarra breaks the clinch.
Heath stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Heath wants it to stay on the feet.

Aibarra has closed the distance and engaged Heath in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Aibarra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aibarra lands a glancing blow to the side of Heath's head.

Aibarra moves into range and clinches up with Heath.

Aibarra jumps guard and drags Heath to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Aibarra is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Heath landing some decent shots from guard.
Heath chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Heath throws a big right hand that misses.
Heath working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aibarra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Heath.
Heath throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heath stopping the sweep attempt from Aibarra.
Heath in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Heath stands and steps away. Aibarra gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Aibarra forces Heath back against the cage and clinches.
Aibarra managing to block the knees to the body from Heath.
Aibarra is pushing Heath up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aibarra lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Aibarra breaks the clinch.
Heath misses with a takedown attempt - Aibarra sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolland Heath. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aibarra instigates a clinch.
Aibarra misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Heath.
Heath's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A body shot lands from Aibarra.
Heath really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Aibarra successfully pulls guard.
Heath will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Heath prevents Aibarra from getting back to his feet.
Aibarra has momentary wrist control but Heath slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Perrin Aibarra dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aibarra gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aibarra keeps control of Heath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aibarra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Heath swings wildly with an uppercut but Aibarra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heath has a couple of punches blocked by Aibarra.

Aibarra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Heath goes for a double leg but Aibarra avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Aibarra continues to drive forward.

Aibarra clinches.
Aibarra has Heath pushed against the cage.
Aibarra tries to pull guard but Heath holds him up against the cage and eventually Aibarra drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aibarra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rolland Heath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Perrin Aibarra.
A knee to the head by Heath.

It looks like Perrin Aibarra has been cut.
Heath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath is looking to break free of the clinch but Aibarra has double underhooks.
Heath tries to break the clinch but Aibarra is controlling the position.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Aibarra. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Aibarra fails to pull guard.
Heath wants to break the clinch but can't.

Aibarra breaks the clinch.
Aibarra slaps away a takedown attempt from Heath, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A shot to the liver by Aibarra. Beautiful body shot.
Aibarra stuffs the takedown.
Heath throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aibarra.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aibarra throws a half hearted mid kick.

Heath tries to keep at a distance but Aibarra has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aibarra forces Heath back against the cage and clinches.
Heath looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Aibarra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aibarra throws a jab when Heath was well out of range.
Rolland Heath is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aibarra lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Aibarra moves into the clinch.

Aibarra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Aibarra fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Heath, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aibarra scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Aibarra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aibarra has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Heath slaps away a takedown attempt from Aibarra, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Aibarra closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Heath creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Aibarra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Aibarra moves into the clinch.

Aibarra pulls guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heath accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aibarra really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Heath. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Heath works over Aibarra with some ground and pound from guard.
Heath throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aibarra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Heath working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aibarra preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aibarra can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aibarra wants to stand but Heath is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heath cracks Aibarra with a solid left hand.
Heath keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aibarra's head.
Heath missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Heath with a nice head shot there.
Heath throwing strikes from guard but Aibarra blocks nicely.
Aibarra trying to keep a closed guard but Heath is proving a slippery customer.
Heath working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aibarra's head.
Aibarra utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Perrin Aibarra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Perrin Aibarra's cut.
That's time! Heath's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aibarra avoids a punch combination nicely.

Aibarra has closed the distance and engaged Heath in a clinch.
Aibarra prevents Heath from breaking the clinch.
Aibarra leaning against his opponent.
Aibarra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Aibarra.

Heath manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Heath looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aibarra moves into the clinch.
Aibarra avoiding damage.
Heath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath is trying to push Aibarra away but Aibarra has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aibarra lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Aibarra stalling against the cage.

Aibarra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aibarra slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Heath fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Aibarra has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Aibarra misses with a takedown attempt

and Heath counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aibarra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Heath landing some decent shots from guard.
Heath is working Aibarra over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aibarra trying to control the position.
Heath postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heath is looking to work some ground and pound but Aibarra has wrist control.
Heath throws a big elbow that misses.
Aibarra working a defensive guard here.
Heath trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Heath loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Heath throws a big right hand that misses.
Heath stands up over Aibarra, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Heath postures up in Aibarra's guard and throws a big left but Aibarra blocks it.
Heath works over Aibarra with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath throwing strikes but missing.
Heath throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aibarra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Heath takes the fight into the clinch.
Heath is stalling here.
Aibarra stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Aibarra lands a body shot in the clinch.

Heath's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Aibarra closes the distance and clinches.
Aibarra pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Heath tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aibarra jumps guard and drags Heath to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Heath is looking to stand up but Aibarra won't let him.
Heath throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aibarra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Heath scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Heath missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Heath 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heath accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Heath missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aibarra wants to stand and escape but Heath is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aibarra is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aibarra shoots for a double leg takedown but Heath sprawls well. He's pushed Aibarra's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rolland Heath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Perrin Aibarra is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Aibarra walks into a straight right hand from Heath.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rolland Heath.
I think Aibarra 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Perrin Aibarra!