PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Neuer (ranked 952 p4p, 127 weight class) and Roy Roach (ranked 1593 p4p, 204 weight class). Roach has chosen Jump Around, House of Pain as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Neuer
vs
Roach

199 cm
25
195 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

183 cm
26
193 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Hot Spunk
Groove Gear

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Manuel Neuer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Roy Roach!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neuer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Neuer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Neuer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roach is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Neuer with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roach. Neuer does a little dance to reset his feet.

Neuer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Roach pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Roach.
We've been hearing reports that Neuer has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Roach lands with an uppercut that bounces Neuer off the cage and back into range.
Neuer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Roach throws a good cross that connects.
Neuer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Neuer is looking to counter the offense by Roach and move into the clinch.
Roach looks to score with a jab to the body but Neuer is just out of range.

Neuer dives in and scores a takedown into Roach's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Neuer throws a strike but Roach rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Roach avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Neuer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Neuer 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer being controlled here, momentarily.

Neuer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roach gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roach wants to control from the top but Neuer keeps moving.

Neuer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Roach trying to control the position from guard on top but Neuer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.

Neuer is looking for a triangle but Roach pushes his legs off easily.
Roach looking to pass the guard.

Neuer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roach doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Roach manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Roach is pushing down on Neuer's leg trying to pass to half guard. Neuer is fighting to maintain full guard but Roach has managed to sneak the leg through.
Neuer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neuer looking for a kimura from the bottom but Roach passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach wants to control but Neuer is keeping him busy.
The referee asks Roach politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Roach prefers to stall for the moment though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neuer is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Roach off and has taken his back!
Roach trying to control the hands but Neuer won't let him.

Neuer looking to break Roach's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Roach remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Neuer will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Neuer has got his arm under Roach's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Roach has spun round into Neuer's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Neuer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roach is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Neuer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roach is aware though and is defending well.

Neuer has an active guard here but Roach has managed to pass into half guard.

Neuer looking for submissions off his back.
Neuer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roach.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roy Roach will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Neuer moves in looking to clinch but Roach pushes him off.
Roach doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Roach throws a big shot that misses.
Roach lands a nice leg kick that just misses Neuer's sensitive parts.
Nice body punch from Roach.
Neuer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Roach keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roach lands a two punch combo.
Neuer misses with an uppercut.
Roach throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Roach throws a body punch but Neuer moves out of range.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Roach. Neuer shrugs it off though.
Roy Roach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roach connects with a good right hand that stumbles Neuer. Neuer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Neuer slips a straight right by Roach.
Roy Roach seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roach jabs Neuer to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Roach throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neuer shoots in looking for a takedown but Roach manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Neuer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Neuer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Roach as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer shoots in for a double leg but Roach sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Neuer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roach just misses with a punch to the body.
Roach thuds a left hand into Neuer's body.
Roach misses with a jab, cross combination.
Neuer misses with a low kick as Roach jumps back.
A combination from Roach does no damage.
Roach scores with a hook.
Neuer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roach stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Neuer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roach ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Neuer moves away.
Neuer throws a head kick that misses.
Neuer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Roach counters with a series of strikes. Neuer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Neuer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roach lands a right hook to the body.
Roach has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Neuer fails with a takedown attempt.
Roach checks a leg kick.
Neuer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Neuer.
Neuer shoots for a double leg takedown but Roach sprawls well. He's pushed Neuer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roach just misses with a punch to the body.
Neuer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roach tries a head kick but it misses.
Neuer half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Roy Roach is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Neuer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Roach catches Neuer with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Roach lands with a straight right. Neuer didn't see that one coming.
Roach misses with an attempted mid kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roach. Neuer does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Roach. Those never looked like landing.
A head kick misses from Neuer.
Neuer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Roach.
Roach misses with a few strikes there.
Neuer tries a head kick but it misses.
Roach scores with a nice head shot.
Roach throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Neuer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Neuer drives through and clinches with Roach against the cage.

Neuer has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Roach uses from the top position.
Roach tries to free his leg and advance position but Neuer is retaining full guard.
Roach trying to control the position from guard on top but Neuer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neuer has his foot on Roach's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roach works his way back into a safe position though.
Roach really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Neuer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Neuer isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Roach stacks Neuer on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Roach!
Roach trying to control the position but Neuer is working away.
Neuer tries to bench press Roach off him but Roach keeps the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roach throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Neuer tries to bench press Roach off him but Roach keeps the position.
Neuer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Roach is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Roach showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Roach tries to land a body kick

and Neuer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Roach's guard.

Neuer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Roach looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Roach looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Roach!

Neuer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Neuer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Neuer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Neuer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Roach has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach wants to control but Neuer is keeping busy.

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

Neuer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roach defends it well.
Neuer not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two 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.
Roach trying to hold on to Neuer's head to control him but Neuer postures up.
Roach is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roach is looking to get back to full guard here but Neuer has managed to pass to side control instead.
Roach tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Neuer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Roach can't do much from the bottom here.
Roach manages to work his way to half guard, despite Neuer's best efforts.
Roach trying to control here.

Neuer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roach doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Neuer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach wants to get back to full guard.
Roy Roach is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Neuer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Roach defending well though.
Roach 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.

Neuer seems to be looking for submissions.
Roach is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Neuer seems to be looking for submissions.

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.
Roach trying to hold on to Neuer's head to control him but Neuer postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Neuer takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Roach tests Neuer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Roach ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Roach throws a low kick, looking for Neuer's leg but Neuer calmly moves out of range.
Roach misses with an uppercut. Neuer saw that one coming.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neuer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Roach.
Nice body punch from Roach.
Manuel Neuer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roach throws a body punch but Neuer moves out of range.
Neuer throws an off balance right hand
letting Roach counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roy Roach.
I've got Roach winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roy Roach!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Roy Roach waved his t-shirt featuring Hot Spunk's logo in front of the cameras.