PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mason Rogers (ranked 1366 p4p, 2124 weight class) and Jeff Fafa (ranked 145 p4p, 213 weight class). Jeff Fafa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rogers
vs
Fafa

168 cm
31
152
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
26
145
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mason Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeff Fafa!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rogers throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fafa was covering up waiting for the punch and Rogers finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fafa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rogers is controlling him.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Fafa is retaining full guard.
Fafa pulls Rogers in close to prevent any damage.
Rogers forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fafa holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fafa wants to stand back up but Rogers manages to pass into side control.
Rogers cracks Fafa with a big elbow.
Fafa wants to get back to his feet but Rogers drags him back down.

Rogers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fafa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fafa 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.
Rogers works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've been hearing good reports from Rogers's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rogers landing strikes.

Rogers is trying to get an arm triangle but Fafa is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fafa is looking to reverse the position.

Fafa bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Jeff Fafa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rogers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fafa scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Mason Rogers has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rogers feints and then cracks Fafa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fafa down.
Rogers works the jab nicely.
Rogers is looking to slow Fafa down with leg kicks.
Rogers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fafa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rogers fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fafa throws a right hand that Rogers ducks under and follows up with a left that Rogers also avoids with ease.
Rogers slips a jab and a cross from Fafa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fafa takes a swing at Rogers's ribcage but misses.
A nice combination there by Fafa.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rogers lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Fafa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Fafa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Fafa blocks a head kick by Rogers.
Rogers throws a head kick but Fafa moves out of range.
Rogers throws the kick towards the body but Fafa avoids it.
Rogers fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fafa.
Fafa misses with a looping left.
Rogers throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fafa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fafa swinging wildly here.
Rogers throws a leg kick which misses Fafa's front leg but catches the back leg as Fafa tries to avoid it.
Rogers throws a leg kick but Fafa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fafa tries to bum rush Rogers with a series of wild strikes but Rogers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fafa tries to bum rush Rogers with a series of wild strikes but Rogers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rogers changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers lets loose with a powerful body kick. Fafa will feel that in the morning.
Rogers throws a body punch but Fafa moves out of range.
Rogers wants to slow Fafa down by chopping away at his legs.
Rogers on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fafa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rogers manages to avoid it.
Fafa throws a body punch but Rogers moves out of range.
Rogers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fafa.
Rogers feints and then cracks Fafa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fafa down.
Rogers connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fafa's hands.
Rogers turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fafa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rogers misses with the body kick
and Fafa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick by Fafa misses

and Rogers holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rogers misses with the head strike.
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 Mason Rogers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mason Rogers's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fafa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rogers lands a front kick.
Rogers throws a low kick, looking for Fafa's leg but Fafa calmly moves out of range.

Rogers has closed the distance and engaged Fafa in a clinch.
Fafa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rogers lands with a light punch inside.
Rogers working aggressively here.
Fafa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fafa avoiding damage as Rogers throws knees to the body.
Fafa blocks a body shot from Rogers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogers working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

It looks like Jeff Fafa has been cut.
Rogers pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rogers misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers pressing his opponent against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rogers.

Rogers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fafa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rogers moves away.

Rogers shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fafa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fafa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fafa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rogers is looking for a kimura here.
Fafa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fafa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers passes into half guard.
Fafa controlling the position for now.

Fafa manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers wants to clinch.
Fafa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rogers misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rogers has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fafa misses with a series of wild punches.
Fafa checks the leg kick.
Rogers digs a good body shot into Fafa's ribs.
Rogers throws a head kick that misses
and Fafa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Rogers is rocked!
Fafa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Oh Rogers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fafa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rogers gets a clinch.
Rogers seems to have got his legs back now.
Fafa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rogers effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers cracks Fafa with a nice body shot.
Rogers is struggling to control the position.
Rogers is stalling here.
Rogers scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rogers works on Fafa's body with a couple of short punches.

Rogers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rogers connects with an inside leg kick.
Fafa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rogers moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fafa misses the jab.
Rogers seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rogers lands a nice looking body shot.
Rogers slips a jab and a cross from Fafa.
Rogers attempts a counter takedown but Fafa avoids it well and moves away.
Rogers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fafa defends well and Rogers ends up having to push Fafa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Rogers dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rogers has managed to clinch.
Rogers prevents a body shot from Fafa.
Fafa tries to throw a body punch but Rogers avoids it by throwing Fafa back against the cage.
Fafa takes a shot to the head.
Rogers stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fafa wants to stall.
Rogers is pushing Fafa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Fafa manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers trying to control but Fafa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fafa wants to get back to his feet but Rogers is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fafa keeping full guard, as Rogers tries to pass.
Fafa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fafa holds on and takes a little breather.
Rogers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fafa is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rogers postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Fafa keeps moving.
Rogers prevents Fafa from getting back to his feet.
Rogers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jeff Fafa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rogers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fafa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fafa tries to bench press Rogers off him but Rogers keeps the position.
Rogers working away.
Rogers trying to control the action but Fafa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is really struggling to control Fafa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fafa dodges the ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rogers throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Fafa works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Rogers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fafa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.
Fafa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fafa pushes Rogers off looking to stand but Rogers dives back in and keeps control.
Fafa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fafa wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rogers blocks a low kick nicely.
Mason Rogers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rogers scores with a kick to the midsection.
Fafa lands a jab to Rogers's midsection.
Fafa misses with a head kick.
Rogers attempts a counter takedown but Fafa avoids it well and moves away.
Jeff Fafa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice body kick from Rogers.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Rogers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rogers, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Rogers!
During a confident post fight interview, Mason Rogers thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.