PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Minh Collins (ranked 4743 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Rooton (ranked 4742 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Collins
vs
Rooton

153 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Minh Collins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Rooton!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rooton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rooton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rooton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Collins drags the fight down to the ground.

Collins is working an open guard so Rooton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rooton moves into the clinch.
Collins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rooton avoids it.

Collins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rooton throws a head kick but Collins moves out of range.
Collins tries to counter with a takedown but Rooton is quick to defend against it.

Rooton moves into the clinch.

Rooton is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Collins can't fight it off and eventually Rooton manages to take the fight to the floor. Collins looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rooton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rooton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooton advances to half guard.
Collins tries to get to full guard but Rooton has control of the leg.
Collins is trying to stand back up but Rooton is controlling him
Rooton controlling the pace.
Rooton works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins tries to hold on but Rooton postures up.
Rooton content just to control the position here.
Rooton unloads with some shots from mount but Collins bucks and avoids them well.
Rooton controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Collins tries to hold on but Rooton pushes him away.
Collins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rooton.
Collins is trying to escape the mount.
Rooton throws some wild stikes that Collins manages to avoid easily.
Rooton throws some wild stikes that Collins manages to avoid easily.
Rooton thowing shots but they're missing.

Collins defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rooton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooton throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Collins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rooton.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Collins gets back to half guard.
Collins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rooton.
Rooton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rooton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Collins kicks Rooton off and gets back to his feet.

Collins moves into range and clinches up with Rooton.
Collins tries to pull guard but Rooton holds him up against the cage and eventually Collins drops back down to his feet.
Rooton wants to break free but Collins has control.

Collins has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rooton is trying to keep an underhook but Collins manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Rooton has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Collins is on him like a limpet, forcing Rooton 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!
Rooton wants to break free but Collins has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Collins has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rooton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Rooton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rooton lands in his opponent's guard.
Rooton passes Collins's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Rooton seems to be working for a kimura but Collins defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rooton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rooton in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins is trying to control but can't.
Collins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Collins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rooton.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rooton in particular looking to stall.
Rooton prevents Collins from improving his position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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.
Rooton not doing much here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Collins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Collins attempts a counter takedown but Rooton avoids it well and moves away.

Rooton has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rooton pulls guard successfully.
Rooton wants to sweep but no luck.
Rooton trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Robert Rooton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Collins gets caught napping as Rooton dives in and scores a takedown. Collins manages to retain guard.

Collins has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rooton has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Collins pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Collins prevents a body shot from Rooton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rooton managing to block the knees to the body from Collins.
Rooton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rooton slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooton has Collins pressed against the cage.
Collins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rooton is defending well for now.
Collins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rooton avoids it.
Rooton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rooton gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rooton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins is looking to control Rooton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Collins avoid being mounted?
Collins is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rooton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Collins tries to get to full guard but Rooton has control of the leg.
Collins looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rooton thows a huge punch but Collins dodges it nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rooton darts in and clinches Collins up against the cage.
Collins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rooton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Collins.
Rooton wants to break free but Collins has control.

Rooton has Collins pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rooton pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Collins tumbling to the mat - Rooton dives into Collins's guard.
Collins is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rooton dives into side control.

Rooton stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooton swinging wildly here.
Minh Collins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rooton closes the distance and clinches.
Rooton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rooton has hold of one of Collins's legs. Collins is fighting the takedown attempt but Rooton gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Collins has control of Rooton's left arm, preventing Rooton from doing any damage.
Minh Collins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Robert Rooton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rooton passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Rooton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rooton 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Rooton!