PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Paul (ranked 2386 p4p, 23765 weight class) and Rio Rolla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Paul has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Paul
vs
Rolla

200 cm
26
255
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
31
255
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rio Rolla!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rolla closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Paul to the mat! Paul manages to get full guard.
Rolla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paul swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paul can't keep his opponent in guard - Rolla advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rolla working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Paul's thigh. Paul counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paul trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rolla looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolla passes Paul's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rolla tries to pass to full mount but Paul defends it.

Rolla is working for a kimura but Paul is defending it quite comfortably.
Rolla wants to pass to mount but Paul is defending the position.

Rolla is working for a kimura here but Paul manages to reverse the position and he's now in Rolla's guard.
Rolla is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Paul knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rolla on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rolla is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Paul!
Rolla is looking to take Paul's back but instead Paul gets back to half guard. Nice work.

Rolla is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paul has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rolla is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Paul defends it well.
Rolla passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rolla goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Paul rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rolla's guard! Nice work there by Paul!
Rolla tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rolla bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paul's guard.

Rolla passes Paul's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Paul won't allow Rolla to pass to mount.
Paul is in trouble now - Rolla has advanced to mount!

Rolla looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Rolla wants to finish this one by submission but Paul is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rolla.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rolla wants to take his opponent's back but Paul doesn't allow it.
Rolla is still trying to improve position.

Rolla is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Paul to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Paul shrugs it off.
Paul is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rolla is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Paul has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Paul!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice takedown defense from Paul. No joy for Rolla on that attempt.
Paul scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rolla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paul circles away.
We've been told by Paul's head coaches at Mentor Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nice takedown defense from Paul. No joy for Rolla on that attempt.
Paul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
John Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rio Rolla.
Paul cracks Rolla with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rolla takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rolla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paul circles away.
Paul scores with a sloppy right hand. Rolla should have avoided that one.

It looks like Rio Rolla has been cut.
Rolla tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Paul defends well and Rolla ends up having to push Paul into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rolla misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul stuffs the takedown.
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Rolla circles away.
Rolla changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rolla shoots in but Paul avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rolla fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolla has a takedown stuffed.
Paul attempts a counter takedown but Rolla avoids it well and moves away.

Rolla feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Paul 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.
Rolla tries to free his leg and advance position but Paul is retaining full guard.
Rolla advances position into side control!
Paul is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rolla off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Rolla's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Paul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Rolla right now.
Paul looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rolla is covering up but some of the strikes from Paul are getting through and doing damage.
Rolla staying busy and making it hard for Paul to control.
Rolla tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Paul putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rolla is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rolla regains half guard.
Paul scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Paul.
Rolla moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Paul working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rolla's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolla looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Paul has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Paul lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rio Rolla has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paul looking to sit in guard and control but Rolla gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rolla wants to pass the guard but Paul is keeping the position.
Rolla works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Rolla is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paul has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rolla is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Paul doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rolla.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rolla is looking for a kimura but Paul is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rolla to get the leverage.
Rolla is thwarting Paul's attempts to control the position.
Rolla is pressing down on Paul's thigh, looking to free his foot. Paul is holding on for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rio Rolla's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rolla fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Paul to the ground. Rolla is now in Paul's guard.
Rolla looking to pass the guard.
Rolla keeps trying to improve his position.
Rolla sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Paul's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rolla trying to mount his opponent but Paul defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rolla wants to work for an arm triangle but Paul is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rolla tries to pass to full mount but Paul defends it.
Paul has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rolla is working away from the top position though.
Rolla frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rolla jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Paul is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Paul and Rolla has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Rolla swings around for an armbar but Paul sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rolla's guard.
Paul stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rolla swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rolla working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paul doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Rolla is tightening it up a little... Paul has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Paul reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Paul taps out! Nice BJJ there by Rolla!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rio Rolla!