PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rueben Roth (ranked 3088 p4p, 3249 weight class) and Sovor Trandel (ranked 367 p4p, 378 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Trandel's choice of entrance music: Fuel and Fire - Bride. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Roth
vs
Trandel

200 cm
28
255
5 - 2 - 0

198 cm
22
265
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Conquer

Conviction

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rueben Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sovor Trandel!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roth thows a left - swing and a miss!
And Trandel tries to counter it with a takedown but Roth pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Trandel connects with a body shot.
Trandel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roth closes this distance looking for a takedown but Trandel circles away.
Trandel fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trandel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Roth on the side of the head.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Trandel cracks Roth with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trandel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roth, pushing him back against the cage.
Trandel stops a takedown attempt from Roth.
Nice body punch from Trandel - that landed with a thud.
Roth has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Trandel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rueben Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Trandel is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Roth can't fight it off and eventually Trandel manages to take the fight to the floor. Roth looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Roth'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.
Trandel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Roth has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trandel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roth trying to control the position here.
Trandel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roth is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trandel tries to free his leg and advance position but Roth is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Roth throws the kick towards the body but Trandel avoids it.
Roth drops his hands momentarily and Trandel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Trandel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Roth did well to prevent Trandel getting side control.
Roth is looking to improve his position.
Trandel controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Trandel has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sovor Trandel dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Roth wants to clinch up but Trandel keeps it at a distance.
Trandel feints the counter takedown.
Roth takes one on the button.

Trandel closes the distance and pushes Roth back into the cage.
Trandel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Trandel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch combination from Roth misses.
Trandel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Trandel misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Trandel instigates a clinch.

Trandel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trandel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Trandel takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Trandel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Trandel prevents a body shot from Roth.
Trandel misses with a punch to the body.
Trandel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Roth backwards.
Trandel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Trandel has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Roth clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roth is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Trandel.
Roth trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trandel biding his time, looking for the opening.
Roth trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
What can Roth do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Trandel is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Our spies down at at Oblivion Gate inform us that Trandel has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Roth prevents Trandel from getting a body triangle.
Roth trying to control the hands but Trandel won't let him.

Trandel is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Roth defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Roth looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trandel is hanging on to Roth's back as he tries to escape.
Trandel trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Roth doesn't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth wants to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sovor Trandel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Roth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Trandel tries for a takedown but Roth sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Trandel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Roth.

Trandel feints and as Roth raises his hands in defense, Trandel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Trandel wants to control from the top but Roth keeps moving.
Trandel stands and throws Roth's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trandel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roth knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Trandel is trying to get an arm triangle but Roth is defending well.
Trandel wants to control but Roth is keeping him busy.
Trandel controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roth tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Trandel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Trandel advances nicely into full mount.
Trandel seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Roth is holding on tight.
Trandel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Roth is looking to escape.
Roth is trying to reverse the position but instead Trandel has taken his back - oops!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Trandel.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Trandel is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Roth knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Roth for a finish.
Trandel trying to control momentarily.
Sovor Trandel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Roth looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Roth wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trandel slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rueben Roth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sovor Trandel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Trandel 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sovor Trandel!
Our winner, Sovor Trandel, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.