PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacks Sole (ranked 2616 p4p, 4193 weight class) and Toran Roth (ranked 354 p4p, 526 weight class). Roth is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dogodine u Prizrenu. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sole
vs
Roth

200 cm
31
200
15 - 6 - 1

176 cm
33
187
7 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jacks Sole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Toran Roth!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Roth. Those never looked like landing.
Sole is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Roth is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sole's half guard.
Sole is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Roth slows the pace down in half guard.
Sole keeps control of the position for the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sole has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Roth is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roth is keen to just control but Sole is a slippery customer.
Roth sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sole is controlling Roth's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Sole pushes Roth up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sole pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sole tries to close the distance and clinch but Roth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sole is looking to clinch but Roth is avoiding it.

Sole clinches up with Roth and pushes him back against the cage.
Sole working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Roth.

Roth manages to break the clinch.

Sole forces Roth back against the cage and clinches.
Sole throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Roth prevents a body shot from Sole.

Sole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roth keeps the fight on the outside.
Sole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sole fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roth, pushing him back against the cage.
Sole blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jacks Sole is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth moves away
and Roth counters with a two punch combo.
Sole tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Roth counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sole has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Roth is working away from the top position though.
Roth is looking to take a break and control but Sole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roth is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sole is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roth missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
Roth tries to pass to full mount but Sole defends it.
Sole is trying to get back to full guard.
Roth is looking to take a break and control but Sole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sole tries to get to full guard but Roth has control of the leg.
Roth is taking a breather. Sole says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Sole reverses the position - he's now on top in Roth's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Toran Roth will probably get the nod.
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 circles away from the clinch attempt
and Roth counters with a one-two to the body.
Sole tries to clinch up
and Roth counters with a good low kick that Sole was not able to check.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth is having none of it.
Sole is looking to clinch but Roth is avoiding it.
Jacks Sole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roth circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roth connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sole tries to clinch up.
An inside leg kick lands from Roth.
Toran Roth seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roth feints and then cracks Sole's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sole down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sole is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roth is looking for the big counter here.
Roth throws a hook but Sole blocks it.

Sole clinches up with Roth and pushes him back against the cage.
Sole misses with a punch on the inside.

Roth breaks the clinch.
Roth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sole tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth lands with a cross.
Sole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Roth is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sole's half guard.

Sole makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Jacks Sole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth moves away

and Roth counters with a shoot takedown. Sole fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sole swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Roth got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sole has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roth has managed to get both his arms back between Sole's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roth wants to control from the top but Sole keeps moving.
Roth's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Roth wants to pass the guard but Sole is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 looking to pass the guard.
Roth postures up.
Roth engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sole closes the distance looking to clinch
and Roth counters with a left and a right that stings Sole.

Sole gets a clinch.

Roth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Roth closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Sole throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth scores with the left hand. Sole knows he should have avoided that one.
Sole wants to clinch but Roth slips to the side
and Roth counters with a series of strikes. Sole will be more careful next time no doubt.

Sole is rocked!
Sole tries to clinch up.
Sole fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roth is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth moves out of range.
Sole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sole wants to clinch.
Roth swats away the attempt to clinch by Sole.
Sole doesn't manage to clinch there - Roth circles away.
Sole tries to clinch up
and Roth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Roth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roth changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sole tries to avoid it but Roth manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sole to the ground. Sole escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sole wants to clinch.
Roth swats away the attempt to clinch by Sole.
And Roth tries to counter it with a takedown but Sole pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Roth closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sole did well to prevent Roth getting side control.
Roth is looking to advance position but Sole won't allow it.

Sole looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Roth is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sole defends it well.
Sole keeping control of the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toran Roth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from Roth does no damage.
Sole tries to clinch there but Roth circles away.
Sole tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Roth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Roth keeps the fight on the outside.
Roth throws a nice looking combination but Sole bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Roth gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sole.

It looks like Toran Roth has been cut.
Sole lands a body shot.

Roth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sole rushes Roth and presses him up against the cage.
Roth blocking some punches.

Roth has picked Sole up - he's going for a ride! Roth dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sole trying to control here.
Sole is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sole is positioning himself well to prevent Roth advancing to mount.
Roth prevents Sole from improving his position.
Sole won't allow Roth to pass to mount.
Sole wants to get back to full guard but Roth has mounted him!
Sole wants to hold on but Roth pushes him away.
Roth sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Toran Roth is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sole is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sole wants to hold on but Roth pushes him away.
Sole is working to get back to half guard.
Roth controlling from the full mount.
Sole is squirming around, avoiding Roth's attempts to control the action.
Sole is looking to get to half guard.
Roth controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sole sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Roth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sole keeps working.
Sole won't allow Roth to pass to mount.
Toran Roth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roth wants to take a breather but Sole is having none of it.
Sole is looking to improve his position.
Roth controlling the action here.
Jacks Sole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Sole wants to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Roth looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth moves out of range.
Roth connects with a solid leg kick.
Sole tries to clinch but Roth is having none of it.
Roth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sole tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Roth counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Roth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roth content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth is fighting to break Sole's control of his arms but Sole is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toran Roth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roth 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toran Roth!
A determined Toran Roth didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
The defeated Jacks Sole had this to say: 'Shit happens, I'll learn from this.'.