PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Roughan (ranked 3263 p4p, 5837 weight class) and Javier Montealdo (ranked 307 p4p, 435 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Roughan
vs
Montealdo

173 cm
26
155
3 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
150
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Josh Roughan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Javier Montealdo!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roughan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Montealdo takes a swing at Roughan's ribcage but misses.
Roughan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roughan moves out of range of the strikes.
Roughan thinks about countering with a body kick.
Montealdo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Montealdo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roughan sprawls well. Roughan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Montealdo gets slowly back to his feet.
Roughan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Montealdo jabs at Roughan's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montealdo misses with a wild combination.
Montealdo lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montealdo misses with a combination

and Roughan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Roughan trying to control but Montealdo is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roughan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Montealdo's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roughan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roughan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roughan works over Montealdo with some ground and pound from guard.
Roughan landing some decent shots from guard.
Roughan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roughan 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.

Montealdo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roughan defends it easily.

Montealdo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roughan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Montealdo scores with a shot to the body.
Roughan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Montealdo moves away.
Roughan avoids a punch combination nicely.

Roughan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Montealdo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Montealdo is trying to control the position but Roughan postures up.

Roughan stands and steps away. Montealdo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Montealdo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Montealdo looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montealdo scores with a jab to the body.
Javier Montealdo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montealdo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Montealdo works the jab nicely.
A jab from Montealdo misses.
Roughan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Montealdo tries to sprawl but Roughan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Montealdo wants to stand back up but Roughan manages to pass into side control.
Check out the look on Roughan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Roughan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roughan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Roughan is looking to take a break and control but Montealdo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montealdo is trying to improve his position.
Roughan scoring with punches and elbows.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Montealdo tries to control but Roughan manages to take his back.
Roughan lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Montealdo hold on?!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Roughan struggling to keep hold of the position.

Roughan looking for the choke but no joy.

Roughan looking for the choke from the back.
Montealdo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Roughan's guard. Nice work there by Montealdo.
Montealdo told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Roughan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Roughan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Josh Roughan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Roughan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Montealdo finds it's way through Roughan's defenses.
Montealdo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Roughan on the side of the head.

Roughan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Roughan working Montealdo over with strikes.
Montealdo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Roughan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Roughan's back!

Montealdo working for a choke but Roughan is defending well.
Montealdo doesn't have the hooks in and Roughan manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Montealdo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Montealdo wants to stand but Roughan is controlling the position.
Montealdo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roughan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Montealdo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roughan has managed to get both his arms back between Montealdo's legs - danger averted.

Roughan drops back looking for a leg! Montealdo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Montealdo manages to kick Roughan off! Roughan jumps back into Montealdo's guard.
Montealdo keeping moving, preventing Roughan from controlling successfully.
Montealdo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Roughan controls the pace.
Montealdo keeping moving, preventing Roughan from controlling successfully.

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.
Montealdo wants to sweep here but Roughan controlling him for the moment.

Montealdo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roughan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Roughan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Roughan pushing down on Montealdo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Montealdo has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Roughan escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Roughan!
Roughan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Montealdo keeps working.
Montealdo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Roughan lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roughan landing strikes.
Montealdo is trying to get back to half guard.

Roughan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Montealdo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roughan scores with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Montealdo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Roughan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Roughan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Roughan lands a few punches from side control.
Josh Roughan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Montealdo is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roughan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Montealdo, who protects the arm well.
Roughan trying to control the position but Montealdo is working away.
Montealdo tries to buck Roughan off but Roughan is having none of it.

Roughan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Montealdo is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roughan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Roughan in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Roughan dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Roughan tries to clinch but Montealdo moves out of range.
Montealdo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roughan as he avoids it easily.
Roughan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Montealdo misses with a double jab
and Roughan counters with a right hand to the body.
Montealdo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Roughan.
Roughan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
No joy there for Montealdo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Montealdo looks to land a combination but Roughan avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roughan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Montealdo.
Montealdo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Montealdo leaves Roughan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Roughan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Montealdo's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Montealdo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Roughan escapes and throws Montealdo's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Roughan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Roughan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Montealdo has escaped the position, nice work there.

Roughan tries for a kimura but Montealdo is defending well.

Roughan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Montealdo, who protects the arm well.
Roughan is looking to take a break and control but Montealdo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roughan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Montealdo tries to buck Roughan off but Roughan is having none of it.
Roughan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Montealdo regains half guard.

Montealdo looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roughan moves into full mount! Montealdo won't be happy about that!
Roughan landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roughan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Montealdo is squirming around, avoiding Roughan's attempts to control the action.
Montealdo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Montealdo is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Roughan has taken his back!

Roughan tightening his grip on Montealdo, looking for the choke.
Montealdo takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Montealdo trying to get back to his feet but Roughan is in full control for now.
Montealdo is really stuck here.

Roughan is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Montealdo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Montealdo for a finish.
Roughan gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roughan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Montealdo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Roughan is hanging on to Montealdo's back as he tries to escape.

Roughan working for the choke.

Roughan working for the choke.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Montealdo is in bad spot here.
Montealdo turns into Roughan and is now in his guard.
Montealdo forces his way into half guard.

Roughan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Montealdo pulls his head out easily.
Javier Montealdo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Roughan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roughan trying to control but Montealdo postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Roughan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roughan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Roughan!
Josh Roughan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Javier Montealdo had this to say: 'Brasilia!!!! Voltarei como o vencedor...'.