PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Funky Roll (ranked 2852 p4p, 4418 weight class) and Fatima Ericson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roll comes to the cage accompanied by shape of you (slowed). 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.

Roll
vs
Ericson

165 cm
25
132
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Funky Roll!
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, Fatima Ericson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ericson throws a combination that misses
and Roll counters with a left to the body.

Roll closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ericson quickly recovers to half guard.
Ericson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Roll trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roll controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roll has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Roll has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Roll clinches up with Ericson and pushes him back against the cage.
Ericson is trying to push Roll away but Roll has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ericson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Roll keeps control of Ericson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Roll lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Ericson breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roll throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ericson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Roll defends it well.

Roll has Ericson up against the cage in a clinch.
Ericson scores a nice knee to the body.
Ericson being controlled against the cage.

Roll has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ericson regains guard immediately.
Ericson keeping moving, preventing Roll from controlling successfully.
Ericson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roll controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ericson trying to control the position.
Roll controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Roll is in close to Ericson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ericson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Roll is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ericson with the inside leg kick.
Ericson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ericson misses with a takedown

and Roll counters with a single leg into guard. Ericson didn't expect that.
Funky Roll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fatima Ericson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roll cracks Ericson with a solid left hand.
Roll controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Funky Roll dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ericson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roll sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ericson somewhat.
Ericson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Roll takes the fight into the clinch.
Roll content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ericson is trying to drag Roll to the mat but Roll just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roll looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Ericson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Roll closes the distance and clinches.

Roll gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roll lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Roll tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ericson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Funky Roll overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ericson tries to roll over but Roll keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Roll seems content to control.
Ericson is looking to improve his position.
Ericson scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Roll manages to mount him!
Ericson regains half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roll working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Roll with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Roll is thwarting Ericson's attempts to control the position.
Roll looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Roll trying to mount his opponent but Ericson defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ericson missing with punches from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Roll there.
Roll seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ericson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roll not doing much here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ericson won't allow Roll to pass to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Funky Roll dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Roll leaves Ericson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A lazy body kick from Ericson

and Roll counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Roll works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Roll looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Roll drops an elbow to the side of Ericson's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericson trying to hold on to Roll's head to control him but Roll postures up.
Roll takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Roll.

The referee decides to stand the fighters 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.
Ericson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Roll looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fatima Ericson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Roll has Ericson up against the cage in a clinch.
Ericson wants to break free but Roll has control.
Roll content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ericson tries to score a body lock takedown but Roll shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Roll is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Funky Roll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fatima Ericson.
Roll presses Ericson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Roll is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ericson can't fight it off and eventually Roll manages to take the fight to the floor. Ericson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ericson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Roll blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee calls for Roll to work.

Ericson manages to pull guard.
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.

Ericson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roll gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roll looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ericson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Roll puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Fatima Ericson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ericson wants to get back to full guard but Roll has mounted him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Funky Roll showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Roll has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Funky Roll!
Our winner, Funky Roll, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.