PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Israel Adesanya (ranked 24983 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Roberto (ranked 5413 p4p, 0 weight class). Israel Adesanya had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Adesanya
vs
Roberto

193 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Israel Adesanya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Roberto!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roberto feints and as Adesanya raises his hands in defense, Roberto changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Adesanya is looking to stand back up but Roberto counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Adesanya.
Adesanya knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Roberto on the ground.

Roberto perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Roberto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Adesanya is breathing heavily.

Roberto wants to work for an arm triangle but Adesanya is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberto with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roberto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Adesanya defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberto slips a nice elbow through Adesanya's hands, connecting with Adesanya's forehead.

Roberto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Adesanya doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Roberto.
Roberto content to control rather than advance.
Adesanya is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roberto scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Roberto sitting and controlling from the half guard.
It looks like Roberto might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Roberto escapes and gets back to his feet.

Roberto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Roberto lands in his opponent's guard.
Roberto sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roberto forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Roberto seems content to control.
Adesanya taking some punishment here, with Roberto in his half guard.
Roberto trying to control the pace.
Roberto working the head and body with strikes.

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.
Roberto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Roberto passes to side control.
Roberto cracks Adesanya with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Adesanya takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Roberto moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Roberto dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roberto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Roberto not doing much here.
Roberto passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberto takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roberto lands a heavy elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberto looking to control and managing it successfully.
More stalling from Roberto.
Adesanya taking shots to the head.

Adesanya is rocked!
Roberto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Adesanya can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oh Adesanya is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Adesanya defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Roberto.
Roberto is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Adesanya goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Roberto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Raphael Roberto!