PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James McAferty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Rogers (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.

McAferty
vs
Rogers

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James McAferty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jack Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers moves out of range of the leg kick from McAferty.
McAferty tries to clinch but Rogers moves out of range.
Rogers lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
McAferty has a takedown stuffed.
McAferty throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rogers counters with a left to the body.
McAferty takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McAferty tries for a takedown but Rogers circles away easily
and McAferty takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McAferty misses with a takedown
and Rogers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James McAferty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McAferty gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rogers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rogers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McAferty connects with a solid leg kick.
Rogers scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
McAferty throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers tries to bum rush McAferty with a series of wild strikes but McAferty uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rogers throws a right hand that McAferty ducks under and follows up with a left that McAferty also avoids with ease.
Rogers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McAferty manages to avoid it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McAferty, right into the meat.
Rogers misses with a combination

and McAferty counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rogers's guard now.

Rogers is working an open guard so McAferty takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rogers swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McAferty.
A combination from Rogers does no damage.
McAferty falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rogers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McAferty fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McAferty doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rogers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McAferty is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers works the jab nicely.
Rogers clobbers McAferty with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McAferty tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rogers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rogers connects with a nice looking jab.
McAferty tries to clinch
and McAferty takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Some wild striking there from Rogers.
McAferty closes the distance and clinches up with Rogers, looking for a takedown. McAferty pushes Rogers against the cage but Rogers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rogers misses with a body shot.
Rogers lands a with a good body shot.
Rogers throws out a powerful jab.
Rogers fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rogers wants it to stay on the feet.
Rogers connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rogers moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rogers stuffs the takedown attempt from McAferty. McAferty gets slowly back to his feet.
Rogers lands a nice hook to McAferty's body. McAferty takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rogers darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rogers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McAferty misses the body punch
and McAferty takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rogers lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McAferty at a distance.
Rogers listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McAferty on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McAferty needs to keep his hands up - Rogers had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Rogers misses.
A punch combination from Rogers misses.
Rogers connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McAferty momentarily.
Rogers misses with a double jab

and McAferty counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rogers won't be happy with that.
McAferty wants to control but Rogers is keeping him busy.

McAferty decides to stand back up. McAferty steps back and let's Rogers get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogers stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rogers works McAferty's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rogers fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McAferty looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rogers misses with a combination

and McAferty counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McAferty performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McAferty thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rogers's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rogers can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAferty trying to control the action but Rogers is working from the bottom.
McAferty trying to control the pace.
McAferty looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McAferty works his way into side control.

That's two 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.

McAferty wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rogers, who protects the arm well.
McAferty wants to control but Rogers is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McAferty decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Rogers scores with a four punch combination!
Rogers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McAferty tries to clinch up
and Rogers counters with a series of strikes. McAferty will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rogers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McAferty tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rogers counters with a three punch combo that has McAferty backing up. McAferty nods at Rogers to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Rogers.
Rogers lands a body shot.
McAferty misses with a combination
and Rogers counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rogers lands a nice shot to the body.
Rogers connects with a looping right hand.
Rogers misses with the combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McAferty.
Rogers misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Rogers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James McAferty dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rogers scores with a decent looking hook.
McAferty fails with the takedown
and Rogers counters with a two punch combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McAferty is defended easily by Rogers.
Rogers cracks McAferty with a good jab.
Rogers misses with a series of wild punches.
McAferty scores with a head kick.
McAferty looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rogers tries to bum rush McAferty with a series of wild strikes but McAferty uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McAferty doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rogers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James McAferty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McAferty clinches but Rogers breaks the clinch
and Rogers counters with a three punch combo that has McAferty backing up. McAferty nods at Rogers to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers throws a series of punches but McAferty avoids them all with ease.
Nice straight punches there by Rogers. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rogers.
Rogers misses with a few strikes there.
Rogers ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rogers works over McAferty's head and body with a nice combination.
Rogers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rogers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jack Rogers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rogers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rogers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rogers throws a lazy right hand but McAferty sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McAferty tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rogers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rogers misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McAferty avoids a punch combination nicely.
McAferty shoots in looking for a takedown. Rogers tries to sprawl out of it but McAferty keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rogers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McAferty misses the shot to the body.
McAferty darts in trying to clinch
and Rogers counters with a nice uppercut.
McAferty with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rogers counters with a one-two to the body.
Rogers misses with a telegraphed body shot

so McAferty counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rogers being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McAferty throwing strikes from guard but Rogers blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing McAferty from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McAferty is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rogers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
McAferty lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jack Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rogers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McAferty. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McAferty wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.
James McAferty is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rogers looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McAferty puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James McAferty showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McAferty, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James McAferty!