PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maurice Rollo (ranked 5051 p4p, 5335 weight class) and Lincoln Retherford (ranked 564 p4p, 580 weight class). Rollo comes to the cage accompanied by Brass Monkey. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rollo
vs
Retherford

185 cm
18
245
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
220
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maurice Rollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lincoln Retherford!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rollo looks to throw the jab but Retherford is out of range.

Rollo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rollo showed some decent athleticism there.

Rollo is looking for a kimura here.
Retherford is looking to control Rollo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Retherford avoid being mounted?

Rollo seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rollo is trying to control the action in half guard but Retherford is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rollo tries to pass to full mount but Retherford defends it.

Rollo seems to be working for a kimura but Retherford defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retherford controlling the position well.

Rollo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rollo prevents Retherford from standing back up.
Rollo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Retherford does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Retherford has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rollo is working away from the top position though.
Rollo trying to control from half guard but Retherford is working away.
Retherford is trying to stand back up but Rollo is controlling him

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

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.

Rollo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Retherford manages to get to full guard.
Retherford wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Retherford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Retherford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rollo is one step ahead there.
Retherford trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retherford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Retherford has Rollo pulled in close to control his posture.

Rollo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Retherford is trying to control the position but Rollo postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rollo trying to control the position from guard on top but Retherford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Retherford closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rollo did well to prevent Retherford getting side control.
Rollo is trying to maintain the position but Retherford is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rollo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Retherford is looking to stand up but Rollo won't let him.
Rollo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Retherford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Retherford trying to control but Rollo is working from the bottom.
Rollo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Retherford.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Retherford being controlled here momentarily.
Retherford postures up in Rollo's guard and throws a big left but Rollo blocks it.
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 Maurice Rollo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rollo gets a takedown into half guard.
Rollo is trying to control. Retherford wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Retherford wants to control but Rollo is keeping busy.
Maurice Rollo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rollo trying to control from half guard but Retherford is working away.
Retherford tries to kick Rollo off but Rollo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rollo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Retherford knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Retherford is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retherford is trying to escape back to his feet but Rollo uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Retherford is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rollo asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Retherford is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rollo off and has taken his back!
Retherford throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Rollo just trying to survive but Retherford is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Retherford just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Retherford missing with punches from the back.
Retherford missing with strikes.

Rollo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Retherford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Retherford's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Retherford looking to break Rollo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rollo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Retherford will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rollo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rollo gets full guard.
Rollo controlling Retherford's posture.
Retherford throws a big elbow that misses.
Retherford chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rollo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rollo, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Retherford.

Retherford is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rollo is trying to control the position but Retherford postures up.
Retherford wants to control from the top but Rollo keeps moving.
Rollo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Retherford has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rollo is proving hard to escape from.
Retherford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rollo wants to sweep but no luck.
Retherford tries to free his leg and advance position but Rollo is retaining full guard.
Rollo trying to keep a closed guard but Retherford is proving a slippery customer.

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

Retherford scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Retherford is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rollo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Retherford in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Retherford working away.
Retherford throws a strike aimed at the side of Rollo's head but Rollo avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes there by Retherford.
Retherford passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rollo!
Retherford breaks from Rollo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Retherford 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!

Retherford uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rollo.
Rollo shoots in looking for a takedown. Retherford tries to sprawl out of it but Rollo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Retherford manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Retherford tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rollo.

Rollo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Retherford sprawls well initially but Rollo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Retherford won't allow Rollo to pass to mount.
Retherford is trying to get back to full guard.

Rollo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Retherford is just riding it out for now. Rollo eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Retherford is looking for a sweep. Rollo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollo is looking to advance position but Retherford won't allow it.
Retherford is trying to control but can't.
Retherford misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Retherford won't allow Rollo to pass to mount.
Retherford manages to get to full guard.
Retherford controlling the position.

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.
Rollo looking to pass the guard.
Retherford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Retherford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rollo is one step ahead there.
Retherford keeping moving, preventing Rollo from controlling successfully.

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

Retherford gets caught flat footed, as Rollo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rollo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Retherford working a defensive guard here.
Retherford keeping full guard, as Rollo tries to pass.
Retherford is trying to control the position but Rollo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Retherford holds on and takes a little breather.

Rollo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Retherford pulls Rollo in close to prevent any damage.
Rollo trying to control but Retherford is working from the bottom.
Retherford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rollo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Retherford is keeping the position 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.

Retherford escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rollo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Retherford has Rollo pulled in close to control his posture.

Retherford is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rollo defends well.
Retherford has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rollo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurice Rollo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rollo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lincoln Retherford!