PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rueben Roth (ranked 4682 p4p, 4661 weight class) and Stepan Rykov (ranked 462 p4p, 459 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.

Roth
vs
Rykov

200 cm
25
255
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
25
255
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rueben Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stepan Rykov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rykov scores with the left hand. Roth knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Rueben Roth has been cut.
Rykov blocks a low kick nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Roth.
Rykov is being controlled here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rykov parries the strikes from Roth easily there. Roth is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rykov to escape.

Roth is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rykov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roth is working Rykov over with some ground and pound from side control.
Roth controlling from side mount.
Rykov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Roth cracks Rykov with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rykov seems a little lost for a moment, as Roth dominates the positioning.
Roth working the ground and pound but Rykov is defending the strikes.
Roth works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rykov seems a little lost for a moment, as Roth dominates the positioning.
Roth tries to advance to mount but can't.
Roth working the ground and pound.

Roth wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rykov, who protects the arm well.
Roth tries to score with some ground and pound. Rykov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Roth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rykov keeps working.
Roth lands a nice forearm strike.
Roth looks up at the clock and then as Rykov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Roth smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rykov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Roth lands a nice shot to the head.
Roth landing strikes from the mount and Rykov is in trouble!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rykov is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Roth 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.
Roth scoring with strikes but Rykov is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth working for a submission but Rykov is keeping him at bay.
Roth lands a heavy elbow.
A nice elbow there by Roth.

Roth has hold of Rykov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rykov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rykov taking shots to the head.
Roth is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Roth with shots to the head and body - Rykov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Roth controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth with a couple of short strikes.
Roth is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roth lands a big shot there that rocks Rykov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Rykov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Roth.
Roth scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rykov?
Roth tries to control but Rykov wriggling away.
Roth content just to control the position here.
Rykov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Roth can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rykov is looking to escape.
Roth controlling from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rueben Roth dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rueben Roth's cut.
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.

Roth dives in and grabs Rykov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rykov pushes down on Roth's head and hops out.

Rykov takes the fight into the clinch.

Rykov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Roth is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rykov to the mat. Rykov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Roth works over Rykov with some ground and pound from guard.
Roth trying to control the position from guard on top but Rykov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roth not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Roth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Roth slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rykov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roth scoring with some ground and pound.
Roth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roth stands up over Rykov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Roth lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Roth postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roth sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roth is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Roth with a nice head shot there.
Roth stays in close to Rykov's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roth slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Roth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rykov can do to turn this around?
Roth lands a couple of digs.

Roth is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rykov has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
Roth chips away with some ground and pound.
Roth with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth working some strikes from top position.
Roth distracts Rykov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rykov is breathing heavily.
Roth forces his way into half guard.
Rykov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roth scores with a couple of nice shots.
Roth working the head and body with strikes.
Roth scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Roth is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Roth is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rykov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Roth.
Rueben Roth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth slows the pace down in half guard.
Nice strikes from Roth there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth working over Rykov with some ground and pound. Rykov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rueben Roth dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rueben Roth's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rykov clinches with his opponent.

Roth gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Roth is nestled in close to Rykov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roth looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rykov is not content to let Roth control the position.
Roth slips a nice elbow through Rykov's hands, connecting with Rykov's forehead.
Ground and pound from Roth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth trying to mount his opponent but Rykov defends it.
Roth lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Roth slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rykov has hold of Roth's hands but Roth slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Roth lands with a punch from half guard.
Roth looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Roth winds up and cracks Rykov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Roth lands strikes from half guard.
Rykov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roth is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rykov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Rykov is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth working Rykov over with strikes.
Rykov is still in real trouble! Can Roth finish him?
Roth moves into full mount! Rykov won't be happy about that!
Rykov seems to have recovered his senses.
Roth lands a big elbow.
Roth lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rykov hang on?
Roth landing shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roth looking to control and managing it successfully.

Roth with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Roth looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Roth landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth raining down hammerfists from mount.
Roth looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Rykov covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rueben Roth!