PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hallis Mollen (ranked 1307 p4p, 1266 weight class) and Toran Roth (ranked 191 p4p, 186 weight class). Mollen comes to the cage accompanied by Rise Against - Like the Angel. Roth has chosen Dogodine u Prizrenu as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mollen
vs
Roth

194 cm
38
195
17 - 7 - 1

176 cm
35
199
12 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hallis Mollen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Toran Roth!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roth misses with a double jab

and Mollen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Roth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mollen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Roth is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Roth is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mollen dives into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mollen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Roth throws a series of punches but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.
Roth fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mollen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Roth throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A combination from Roth does no damage.
Mollen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Roth throws an overhand right that lands on Mollen's shoulder, as Mollen tries to avoid the shot.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mollen.
Mollen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mollen slips a jab and a cross from Roth.
Roth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.

Roth shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mollen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mollen is looking to improve his position.
Mollen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.
Mollen is looking for a sweep. Roth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mollen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.
Mollen tries to roll over but Roth keeps him under control.
Mollen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mollen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mollen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Mollen landing rabbit punches to the side of Roth's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Roth trying to control from half guard but Mollen is working away.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mollen punching from the bottom.

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

Roth looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Roth is taking a breather. Mollen 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 fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mollen punching from the bottom.
Mollen punching from the bottom.
Mollen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mollen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roth advances position into side control!
Mollen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roth wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mollen wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Mollen striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Roth decides to stand back up. Roth steps back and let's Mollen get back to his feet.
Roth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roth misses with the combination.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toran Roth dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Roth is quick to defend against it.
Roth shoots in looking for a takedown but Mollen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Roth's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Roth misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mollen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Roth. Roth obviously looking to wear him down.
Sloppy strikes from Roth. Those never looked like landing.
Mollen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth throws a head kick but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
Roth tries to land a front kick but Mollen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Roth, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Toran Roth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roth throws out a loose jab but Mollen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roth lands a nice hook to Mollen's body. Mollen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Roth throws a sloppy head kick and Mollen moves out of range easily.
Roth looks to land a combination. Mollen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mollen ducks right into an uppercut from Roth.
Roth rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mollen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Roth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Roth is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mollen blocks a head kick by Roth.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A combination from Roth does no damage.
Roth tries to bum rush Mollen with a series of wild strikes but Mollen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roth tries to clinch but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roth throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mollen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
Roth misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Roth misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
Roth missing with a left hand there. Mollen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Roth lands with a slapping head kick.
Mollen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Roth is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Roth misses with a head kick.
Roth misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Roth misses.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Roth misses with a double jab.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mollen moves out of range of the strikes.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Roth is quick to defend against it.
Hallis Mollen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Roth. Those never looked like landing.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A head kick misses from Roth.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roth fails in his attempt to clinch.
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!

Roth throws a big shot that misses.
Roth throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roth throws a series of punches but Mollen moves out of range.
Roth throws a series of punches but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Roth is quick to defend against it.
Roth throws a low kick, looking for Mollen's leg but Mollen calmly moves out of range.
Roth misses with a two punch combination.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth darts in trying to clinch

and Mollen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Roth!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mollen stands up.
Roth just misses with a punch to the body.

Roth manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mollen on his heels. He'll look to pass Mollen's guard now, I'm sure.
Mollen tries to strike from the bottom.
Mollen is striking but Roth is not phased and passes to half guard.
Mollen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Roth is trying to control the action in half guard but Mollen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.
Mollen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.
Roth seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Mollen punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mollen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mollen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Roth tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mollen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
It looks like Roth is going to stand back up.
Mollen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.
Roth controlling the action here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mollen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Roth.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
Roth lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mollen circles away quickly and effectively.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth throws a sloppy head kick and Mollen moves out of range easily.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
A big right from Roth misses.
Roth scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Roth throws a one two combo.
Roth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mollen.
Roth misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mollen avoids the head kick by Roth.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Roth does no damage.
Roth misses with a double jab.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mollen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Roth.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.
Roth tries to bum rush Mollen with a series of wild strikes but Mollen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roth throws a front kick aimed at Mollen's knee but Mollen avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes from Roth. Those never looked like landing.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roth lands a jab-cross combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roth throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roth shoots in but Mollen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.
Roth throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
Roth throws a head kick but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen ducks under a wild hook from Roth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth tries to bum rush Mollen with a series of wild strikes but Mollen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.
Toran Roth seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mollen slips a jab from Roth.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Roth feints a jab promting Mollen to slip. Roth then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Mollen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Roth. Those never looked like landing.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mollen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Roth.
Mollen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Roth looks to land a left hand but Mollen moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth scores with a sloppy right hand. Mollen should have avoided that one.
Roth looks to land a combination but Mollen avoids it well.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth fails to land with a series of punches.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth misses with a two punch combination.
Roth tries to bum rush Mollen with a series of wild strikes but Mollen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A punch combination from Roth misses.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Roth is quick to defend against it.
Roth misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth takes a swing at Mollen's ribcage but misses.
Roth throws a series of punches but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roth pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roth throws a head kick that misses

and Mollen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Roth is wriggling around but Mollen manages to pass to half guard.

Mollen decides to stand up.
Roth throws a head kick but Mollen moves out of range.
Mollen takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roth shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mollen's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mollen trying to strike off his back.
Mollen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Roth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roth wants to control from the top but Mollen keeps moving.
Mollen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mollen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Roth wants to control from the top but Mollen keeps moving.
Mollen lands an upkick as Roth stands over him.
Mollen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Mollen striking off his back but it's not causing Roth any problems.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Roth misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roth throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mollen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toran Roth dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Roth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mollen misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mollen.
Mollen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Roth lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Mollen.
Mollen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mollen misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mollen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mollen swings wildly with an uppercut but Roth uses good head movement to avoid it.

Roth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roth misses with the combination.
Mollen attempts a counter takedown but Roth avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth misses with a double jab

and Mollen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mollen.

Mollen stands up and waves to Roth to follow him.
Roth swinging wildly here.
Some wild striking there from Roth.
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.
Roth throws a sloppy head kick and Mollen moves out of range easily.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Roth is quick to defend against it.
Roth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mollen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The fighters circling - Roth throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Roth misses with a jab, cross combination.

Roth gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roth blocks the strikes from Mollen.

Roth decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mollen to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mollen keeps the fight on the outside.
Mollen takes a jab right on the kisser.

Roth drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mollen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roth's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Roth wanted to stand there but Mollen had control of the position.
Mollen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mollen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mollen lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Mollen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mollen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mollen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roth is one step ahead there.
Mollen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Roth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mollen feinted with a counter takedown.
Roth misses with the combination.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roth throws a nice looking combination but Mollen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 44:50
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 44:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toran Roth!
Toran Roth is the new middleweight champion!
Toran Roth decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.