PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Rodgers (ranked 3572 p4p, 4754 weight class) and Rocco Archer (ranked 347 p4p, 424 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rodgers
vs
Archer

168 cm
18
155
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
148
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ajax Cloth
Hawaii Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ralph Rodgers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocco Archer!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Archer tries for a takedown but Rodgers circles away easily
enabling Rodgers to counter with a crisp jab.
Archer looks to clinch

and Rodgers counters with a nice double leg into side control. Archer won't be happy with that.

Archer sneaks out the side door and pushes Rodgers away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Rodgers gets the takedown into side control.

Archer bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodgers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Archer as he jumps to the side.

Rodgers closes the distance and clinches.

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

Rodgers drives through with a takedown into guard.

Archer pushes Rodgers off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Archer wants to clinch up but Rodgers keeps it at a distance.
Archer misses with a takedown

and Rodgers moves into the clinch.

Rodgers successfully pulls guard.
Rodgers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Archer on the ground.
Rodgers wants to stand but Archer is controlling the position.
Rodgers trying to control the position.
Archer passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Archer trying to control the position but Rodgers is working away.
Archer sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rodgers is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodgers manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rodgers sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Archer is looking for a sweep. Rodgers is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodgers tries to stand and escape but Archer actually recovers to full guard.
Archer is striking off his back. Rodgers thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer is looking to control Rodgers's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Archer avoid being mounted?

Rodgers is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Archer sees it coming and defends easily.
Archer wants to control but Rodgers is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rodgers seems to be working for a kimura but Archer defends the submission attempt.
Archer is looking to improve his position.

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.
Archer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rodgers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rodgers's back!

Archer looking for the RNC.
Archer trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Rodgers manages to reverse the position and now he's in Archer's guard. Nice work there by Rodgers.
Rodgers postures up.
Archer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodgers manages to get himself to full guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rocco Archer will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Archer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodgers fails with the takedown
enabling Archer to counter with a crisp jab.

Archer 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.
Rodgers trying to control the position.
Archer content to stall in guard here.
Rodgers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rodgers tries to get out of the position.
Archer is fighting to break Rodgers's control of his arms but Rodgers is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Archer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodgers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Archer stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodgers leaves Archer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Archer tries to bum rush Rodgers with a series of wild strikes but Rodgers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rodgers shoots in looking for a takedown but Archer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodgers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Archer! But no joy.
Archer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ralph Rodgers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rodgers manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Archer on his heels. He'll look to pass Archer's guard now, I'm sure.

Archer pushes Rodgers off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ralph Rodgers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Archer is breathing heavily.
Archer misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Archer as Rodgers shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Rodgers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodgers decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodgers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodgers tries to pass to full mount but Archer defends it.
Archer wants to control but Rodgers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rodgers lands with a punch from half guard.
Rodgers trying to pass the guard but Archer defending well.

Rodgers decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Archer sprawls well. Archer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodgers gets slowly back to his feet.

Rodgers clinches with his opponent.
Rodgers has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Archer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rodgers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Archer tries to pull guard but Rodgers forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

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.
Rodgers wants a takedown.
Archer jumps guard but Rodgers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rodgers drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rodgers wants the takedown. Archer is fighting it off but Rodgers persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Archer's guard against the cage.

Archer is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Archer tries to pull guard but Rodgers won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Archer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rodgers jabs Archer to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Rodgers instigates a clinch.

Rodgers pulls Archer into guard.
Archer wants to control from the top but Rodgers keeps moving.
Rodgers is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rodgers's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Archer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodgers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Archer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rocco Archer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Archer stands up and waves to Rodgers to follow him.
Rodgers stuffs the takedown attempt from Archer. Archer gets slowly back to his feet.

Rodgers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Archer throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Rodgers lands with a good body shot.
Archer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers circles away from the clinch attempt.

Archer tries to keep at a distance but Rodgers has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!
Archer looking to slow down the pace here.
Rodgers controlling the action here for a moment.
Rodgers controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers displaying some good clinch control by pressing Archer up against the cage.
Archer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rodgers has Archer pushed against the cage.

Rodgers manages to break the clinch.

That's four 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.
Archer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rodgers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rodgers has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Archer after a bit of a struggle.
Good body shot from Rodgers.
Archer is working for takedown but Rodgers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ralph Rodgers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Archer.

Rodgers breaks from the clinch.
Rocco Archer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rodgers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rodgers lands in his opponent's guard.

Archer is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rodgers presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocco Archer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Archer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocco Archer!