PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Ro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Pace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ro
vs
Pace

174 cm
21
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Ro!
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, Jordan Pace!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Ro does no damage.

Pace darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pace looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ro looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pace wants to pass the guard but Ro is defending well.
Ro tries to kick Pace off in order to stand up. Pace Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Pace cracks Ro with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ro is not content to let Pace control the position.

Pace is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ro pushes Pace away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pace gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Pace has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pace.

Pace scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace working Ro over with strikes here.
Pace working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pace postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ro looks a forlorn figure.
Ro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pace on the ground.
Ro is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Pace stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Ro throws a series of punches but Pace avoids them all with ease.
Ro is breathing heavily.

Pace clinches up against the cage.
Ro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Pace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pace circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Ro.

Pace closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ro is pressed up against the cage. Pace has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ro down to the mat. Ro avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Pace has closed the distance and engaged Ro in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Pace scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pace has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pace tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short right from Pace on the inside.

Pace breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Pace drives through and clinches with Ro against the cage.

Pace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pace closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ro did well to prevent Pace getting side control.
Pace is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ro is looking to escape.
Ro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pace scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pace landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Pace decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ro tries to bum rush Pace with a series of wild strikes but Pace uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
David Ro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pace lands a jab to the head.
Ro misses with the combination.

Pace takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pace pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pace is looking to clinch.
Ro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pace.
Pace fails in his attempt to clinch.

Pace closes the distance and clinches.
Ro can't break the clinch.
Ro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pace lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Ro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ro throws a right hand that Pace ducks under and follows up with a left that Pace also avoids with ease.

Pace gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pace breaks the clinch.
Pace slips a jab and a cross from Ro.

Pace instigates a clinch.

Pace breaks the clinch.
Ro throws a series of punches but Pace avoids them all with ease.
Ro throws a right hand that Pace ducks under and follows up with a left that Pace also avoids with ease.
Pace plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Pace takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ro is trying to break free.

Ro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pace closes the distance and clinches.
Ro prevents Pace from breaking the clinch.
Ro connects with a knee to the head.
Ro with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Pace breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pace looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
David Ro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Pace.
Pace lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pace looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pace gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pace is trying to break the clinch but Ro has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pace tries to break the clinch but Ro is controlling the position.
Ro misses with a knee to the head.
Pace prevents Ro from breaking the clinch.
Ro can't break the clinch.
Pace misses with a knee to the head.

Ro manages to break the clinch.
Pace avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No joy there for Ro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pace closes the distance and clinches.
Ro looking to throw knees to the head but Pace is blocking nicely.
Pace throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pace misses with an elbow over the top.
Pace keeps control of Ro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pace throws a punch but it's blocked by Ro.
Ro misses with a knee strike.
Pace crunches a lovely knee into Ro's ribcage.
Pace tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Pace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
David Ro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pace lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pace.
Pace is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Pace pushes Ro up against the cage in a clinch.

Pace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pace counters with a head kick. That will keep Ro thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pace fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pace shoots in for a double leg but Ro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ro misses with a combination

and Pace counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ro is trying to break the clinch but Pace is controlling him.
Ro misses with a knee strike.
Ro misses with a knee strike.
A short uppercut from Pace.

Pace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ro falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pace counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ro won't be happy with that.
Ro pushes Pace away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pace gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Pace is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ro takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ro wants to get back to his feet but Pace is dominant here and he's now got Ro's back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pace lands a shot to the body.
Pace has Ro flattened out and is raining down punches.

Ro is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Pace gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Pace is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Pace misses with a punch to the head.
Ro wants to get back to his feet.

Pace tightening his grip on Ro, looking for the choke.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ro defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Pace's arms.
Pace connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ro to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ro holding both Pace 's hands and preventing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pace has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Ro wants to get back to his feet.
Pace throwing damaging strikes from the back! Ro could be in trouble here!

Pace is persistently looking for the submission but Ro is defending it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ro holding both Pace 's hands and preventing any damage.
Pace lands strikes to the head.
Ro holding both Pace 's hands and preventing any damage.
Ro is covering up but some of the strikes from Pace are getting through and doing damage.
Ro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pace has Ro flattened out and is raining down punches.

Pace looking for the RNC.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pace has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ro has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Pace showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pace counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ro!

Pace with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ro is in a horrible position here. Pace smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ro squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Pace has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pace is going olschool here, as he tries to force Ro to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ro shrugs it off.
Ro is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Ro taking shots to the head.

Pace stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Ro misses with a series of wild punches.
Pace tries to clinch but Ro moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ro misses with a double jab

and Pace counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pace prevents Ro from standing back up.
Ro is looking to get back to is feet but Pace passes into side control.

Pace decides to stand back up.

Pace decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pace is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ro pushes Pace off looking to stand but Pace dives back in and keeps control.
Pace is nestled in close to Ro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Pace is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pace working Ro over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ro pushes Pace off looking to stand but Pace dives back in and keeps control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Pace moves into the clinch.
Ro is trying to break the clinch but Pace is controlling him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pace.

Pace's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ro misses with a double jab

and Pace counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Pace gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Danga de danga de dang - Pace scores with a four punch combination!
Ro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pace counters with a left and a right that stings Ro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ro misses with a combination

and Pace counters with a single leg into guard. Ro didn't expect that.

Ro has his feet on Pace's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Ro throws a right hand that Pace ducks under and follows up with a left that Pace also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pace looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pace tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ro throws a combination that misses

and Pace counters with a single leg into guard. Ro didn't expect that.

Pace gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ro wants it to stay on the feet.
Ro misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pace is defended easily by Ro.
Ro lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pace backs up against the cage.
A punch combination from Ro misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pace closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pace works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ro in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pace lands a heavy elbow.
Ro trying desperately to get to his feet.

Pace stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Pace gets the takedown into side control.
Jordan Pace is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Pace stands up and beckons Ro to his feet.
Ro throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pace counters with a one-two to the body.
Ro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Pace counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Pace decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ro, up you get!
Ro falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pace counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pace.
David Ro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pace gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jordan Pace comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pace has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 25:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan Pace!