PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chakree Somchai (ranked 1058 p4p, 1541 weight class) and Mason Rogers (ranked 119 p4p, 163 weight class). Mason Rogers told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Somchai
vs
Rogers

169 cm
24
152
9 - 3 - 0

168 cm
31
152
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Chakree Somchai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Mason Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Bruno Lombardi and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rogers tries to keep at a distance but Somchai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Somchai pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Rogers gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rogers sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somchai is trying to stand.

Somchai actively working from the bottom here.
Somchai is looking to control Rogers's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Somchai avoid being mounted?
My spies in JAG Battle Gym inform me that Rogers has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rogers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Somchai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rogers.
Rogers keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Somchai is trying to stand.
Rogers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Somchai is trying to stand up here but Rogers is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rogers dodges the punch combination from Somchai.
Somchai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rogers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rogers throws a leg kick that is checked
and Somchai makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Somchai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from Rogers. Those never looked like landing.
Somchai works over Rogers's head and body with a nice combination.
Rogers lunges at Somchai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Somchai's hand.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Somchai enables Rogers to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Somchai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rogers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rogers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Somchai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Somchai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somchai keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.
Rogers 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.
Rogers passes Somchai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rogers perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Somchai looks like he's trying to stand up.
Somchai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rogers is pressing down on Somchai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Somchai is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Rogers wants to work for an arm triangle but Somchai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Somchai is staying active underneath Rogers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rogers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rogers is keen to just control but Somchai is a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Somchai is trying to get back to full guard.
Somchai is working hard here to advance position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rogers lands a nice short elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Rogers dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Somchai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Somchai tries a head kick but it misses.
Somchai backing away here, and Rogers unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rogers swats away the attempt to clinch by Somchai.

Rogers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Somchai, pushing him back against the cage.
Rogers stalling in the clinch but Somchai improves position.
Rogers pushes Somchai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Somchai lands a damaging elbow.
Rogers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rogers avoids the elbow strike from Somchai, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Somchai lands a nice uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rogers as Somchai tries to tie him up.
Rogers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Somchai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rogers wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers takes a shot to the head.
Rogers tries to work over Somchai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Rogers turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rogers manages to end up in side control.
Somchai is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rogers remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rogers scores with punches from side control.
Rogers trying to control the action but Somchai is working from the bottom.
Rogers scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers trying to control the action but Somchai is working from the bottom.
Rogers scoring with punches from side control.
An elbow from Rogers crashes against the mat.
Rogers wants to control but Somchai is keeping him busy.
Somchai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rogers taking a breather here.
Somchai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers looking to control but instead Somchai has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Rogers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rogers looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Somchai is refusing to be controlled, as Rogers sits in half guard.
Somchai wants to get back to his feet.

Rogers wants to work for an arm triangle but Somchai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rogers controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rogers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Still in half guard, Rogers seems content to control.
Somchai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rogers.
Somchai is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rogers circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Somchai clinches with his opponent.
Somchai lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Mason Rogers has been cut.
Rogers will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Somchai up against the cage.
Rogers is trying to maintain a safe position but Somchai gets an underhook and turns Rogers into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mason Rogers's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rogers moves out of range as Somchai strikes.
Somchai tries to clinch up.
Somchai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rogers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rogers is looking to score with low kicks.
Somchai tries to clinch but Rogers moves out of range.

Somchai has managed to clinch.
Rogers wants a takedown but no success here.
Somchai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rogers is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Somchai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rogers is looking to control Somchai's arms but Somchai gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rogers has his back to the cage.
Rogers trying to control the position but instead, Somchai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rogers into the cage.
Rogers is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Somchai has denied him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Somchai.
Somchai creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rogers's defenses.
Rogers can't get the takedown.
Chakree Somchai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason Rogers.
The referee is keeping an eye on Somchai - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers avoids a wild elbow strike from Somchai.
Somchai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Somchai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rogers blocks an elbow strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Somchai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Somchai.
Somchai lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Somchai.
Somchai presses Rogers against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Rogers fails to land.
Somchai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rogers misses with some punches.
Somchai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rogers takes an elbow to the forehead.

Rogers gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Somchai is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Somchai keeps working.
Rogers is controlling the pace.
Rogers lands strikes from half guard.

Somchai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rogers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rogers moves into full mount! Somchai won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers cracks Somchai with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chakree Somchai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Somchai can't escape the position.
Rogers controlling from mount.
Rogers avoids the attempt from Somchai to control.
Mason Rogers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Somchai blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somchai holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rogers tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Somchai is in a horrible position here. Rogers smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Somchai is trying desperately to improve position.
Rogers wants to control the pace but Somchai is squirming around nicely.
Somchai in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mason Rogers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rogers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rogers tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rogers dominating with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mason Rogers.
I've got Rogers 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Rogers!
A relieved looking Mason Rogers thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.