PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marat Magomedov (ranked 540 p4p, 72 weight class) and Emilio Rojas (ranked 673 p4p, 86 weight class). Magomedov comes into the arena with Evangelion OST - The Beast II blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Magomedov
vs
Rojas

178 cm
31
160 lbs
19 - 8 - 2

175 cm
32
168 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 19 - 8 - 2, fighting out of London, Marat Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Emilio Rojas!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomedov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rojas lands a nice shot that snaps Magomedov's head back.

Rojas clinches.
Rojas throws a punch but it's blocked by Magomedov.
A short right from Rojas.
Rojas misses with the head strike.
Magomedov throws a head punch that misses.
Magomedov tries for a takedown but Rojas manages to get underhooks.
Magomedov misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Magomedov.
Magomedov blocks an uppercut.
Rojas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rojas working aggressively here.
Rojas looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rojas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Magomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rojas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rojas tries to break the clinch but Magomedov is controlling the position.

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

Rojas pushes Magomedov up against the cage in a clinch.
Magomedov gets through Rojas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rojas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

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

Rojas has Magomedov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magomedov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Magomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rojas is one step ahead there.
Rojas wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magomedov wants to sweep here but Rojas controlling him for the moment.
Magomedov has a closed guard, preventing Rojas from standing up.

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.

Magomedov looking for a guillotine here but Rojas defends easily.

Rojas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rojas, as that shot connected.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Magomedov.
Rojas throws a hook but Magomedov avoids it easily.
Magomedov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rojas works Magomedov's body with a nice hook.

Rojas moves into range and clinches up with Magomedov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rojas has a couple of punches blocked by Magomedov.
Magomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Magomedov wants a takedown but no success here.
Rojas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magomedov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Magomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rojas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rojas cracks Magomedov with a nice body shot.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Magomedov.

Magomedov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rojas can't fight it off and eventually Magomedov manages to take the fight to the floor. Rojas looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Magomedov won't allow Rojas to get back to his feet.
Magomedov slips nicely into half guard.

Rojas kicks Magomedov off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rojas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice defenses there by Magomedov.

Rojas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Magomedov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Magomedov lands a right hand.
Rojas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Magomedov backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Magomedov fails to land.
Rojas blocking some punches.
Magomedov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rojas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magomedov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rojas controls his hands.
Magomedov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rojas misses with the head strike.
Magomedov working aggressively here.
Rojas misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Rojas.
I was talking to Magomedov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Magomedov misses with some punches.
Magomedov blocking some punches.
Magomedov wants to take the fight to the mat but Rojas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marat Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rojas working aggressively here.
Rojas trying to land knees to the body.
Rojas misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice body punch from Magomedov.
Rojas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rojas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rojas there as he acknowledges the shot.
Magomedov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Magomedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rojas.
Rojas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Magomedov throws out the jab.
Rojas throws the kick towards the body but Magomedov avoids it.
Rojas stuns Magomedov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Magomedov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Magomedov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rojas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Magomedov has time to react.
Magomedov connects with a solid leg kick.

Rojas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magomedov, pushing him back against the cage.
Rojas is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rojas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Magomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Magomedov scores with a shot to the side of Rojas's head.
Emilio Rojas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Magomedov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Magomedov wants to pass the guard but Rojas is keeping the position.

Rojas pushes Magomedov off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Magomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Emilio Rojas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rojas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Magomedov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rojas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Rojas moves into the clinch successfully.

Magomedov gets control of Rojas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Magomedov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Magomedov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rojas defends well.
Rojas is looking to stand up but Magomedov won't let him.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rojas is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Magomedov working for a triangle but Rojas defends it easily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rojas misses with a hook.
Rojas misses with a hook. Magomedov ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov misses with a right hand
and Magomedov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab from Magomedov misses.
Rojas misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Rojas misses its intended target.
Rojas throws an overhand right that lands on Magomedov's shoulder, as Magomedov tries to avoid the shot.
Magomedov tries a low kick but Rojas avoids it.
Magomedov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rojas's head backwards.

Rojas gets a clinch.
Magomedov blocking some punches.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Magomedov.
Rojas tries a body shot but Magomedov blocks it.
Rojas wants to get back to striking at distance but Magomedov won't allow it.
Magomedov lands a right hand.
Magomedov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Magomedov blocks an uppercut.
Magomedov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Magomedov wants the takedown. Rojas is fighting it off but Magomedov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rojas's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rojas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rojas is keeping the position for now.
Marat Magomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Magomedov stops Rojas from standing up.
Magomedov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rojas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Magomedov is controlling him.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magomedov is working hard here to advance position.
Magomedov prevents Rojas from getting back to his feet.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rojas wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Magomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marat Magomedov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Magomedov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Magomedov drives through and clinches with Rojas against the cage.
Magomedov lands a hook that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Rojas prevents the takedown attempt.
Rojas throws a head punch that misses.
Magomedov digs a right hand into Rojas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rojas's gas tank.
Magomedov misses with some punches.
Magomedov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Rojas scores with a shoulder strike.
Rojas misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Magomedov fails to land.
Rojas lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rojas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Magomedov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Magomedov lands a shoulder strike.
Magomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Rojas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rojas throws a punch but it's blocked by Magomedov.
Rojas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rojas misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Magomedov.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rojas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Magomedov takes a shot to the head.
A short left from Magomedov.
Magomedov goes for a takedown attempt but Rojas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marat Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab by Rojas.
Magomedov throws a jab but it's blocked by Rojas.
A telegraphed right hand from Rojas misses the target.
Magomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Magomedov misses the jab.
Emilio Rojas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Magomedov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rojas finds it's way round the side to connect with Magomedov's head.
Rojas swats away the attempt to clinch by Magomedov.
Rojas throws out a counter right but Magomedov avoids it with no problem.
Magomedov shoots in looking for a takedown. Rojas tries to sprawl out of it but Magomedov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rojas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Magomedov throws a hook but Rojas blocks it.
Rojas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Magomedov moves out of range as Rojas strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rojas throws a sloppy head kick and Magomedov moves out of range easily.
Magomedov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magomedov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Magomedov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rojas throws a low kick but it's checked well by Magomedov.
Rojas loads up on a big right hand but Magomedov slips the punch.
Rojas looks to throw the jab but Magomedov is out of range.
Rojas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Magomedov.
Magomedov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rojas throws a jab but it's blocked by Magomedov.
Some bone on bone action there as Rojas checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rojas throws out a counter right but Magomedov avoids it with no problem.
Rojas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Magomedov is looking to counter punch.
Rojas misses with a body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Magomedov 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Rojas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rojas can't find room to land a body shot as Magomedov controls the action.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rojas.
Magomedov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Magomedov misses with a looping right.
A leg kick checked by Rojas.
Rojas was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Rojas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Magomedov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Magomedov.
Rojas scores with a nice right hand.
Magomedov throws a leg kick but Rojas checks it.
Magomedov throws a body punch but Rojas moves out of range.
Rojas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rojas throws a predictable looking body shot
and Magomedov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Magomedov misses with a body shot.

Rojas rushes Magomedov and presses him up against the cage.
Magomedov misses with a punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Magomedov.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rojas.

Magomedov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rojas is trying to keep an underhook but Magomedov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Magomedov trying to control from half guard but Rojas is working away.
Rojas wants to get back to his feet.
Rojas felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov moves nicely into side control.
Rojas is trying to buck Magomedov off.
Magomedov trying to control the position but Rojas is working away.
Rojas managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Magomedov.
Rojas is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Magomedov working the strikes but Rojas uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Rojas kicks Magomedov off and gets back to his feet.
Rojas lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emilio Rojas.
I think Rojas 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Emilio Rojas!
A victorious Emilio Rojas thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.