PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Rosenstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Rashad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Rosenstein
vs
Rashad

182 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Rosenstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jermaine Rashad!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rosenstein 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.
Rashad looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Rosenstein wants to stand but Rashad has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rosenstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Rashad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rosenstein stands up and waves to Rashad to follow him.
Rashad fails with the takedown

and Rosenstein counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rashad!
Rosenstein sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rosenstein looking to control but Rashad is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rashad is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rosenstein working the ground and pound effectively.
Rosenstein sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Rosenstein is working for a guillotine from mount but Rashad frees his head quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosenstein takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rashad is looking to get to half guard.
Rosenstein controlling from mount.
Rosenstein looking to ground and pound but Rashad is blocking nicely.
Rosenstein tries to control but Rashad wriggling away.

Rosenstein moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rashad has worked his arm free - good work by Rashad!

Rosenstein has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosenstein throws a good cross that connects.

Rosenstein clinches with his opponent.

Rosenstein gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Rosenstein gets to his feet - Rashad follows without any prompting.
Rosenstein throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rosenstein rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rashad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rosenstein gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rosenstein gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rashad.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rosenstein.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rosenstein.

Rosenstein has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rashad regains guard immediately.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rosenstein with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rosenstein is looking to stand up but Rashad won't let him.
Rosenstein is looking to work some ground and pound but Rashad has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosenstein wants to stand but Rashad is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rosenstein with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rosenstein tries to stand but Rashad is controlling from the bottom.
Rashad wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rosenstein decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rosenstein throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rosenstein lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rashad's sensitive parts.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rosenstein.
Rosenstein throws a series of strikes that have Rashad backpedaling.
Rashad darts in trying to clinch

and Rosenstein counters with a shoot takedown. Rashad fights it but they end up in guard.
Rosenstein trying to control but Rashad is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rashad throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rosenstein wants to control from the top but Rashad keeps moving.

Rashad throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rosenstein uses it to pass to side control.
Rashad tries to improve position but can't.
Rosenstein tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rashad is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rashad regains full guard. Nicely done.

Rashad throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rosenstein throws a big right hand that misses.
Rosenstein pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rashad is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rosenstein dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rosenstein goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Rosenstein moves into range and clinches up with Rashad.
Rashad has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rosenstein avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rashad takes an elbow to the temple.

Rosenstein breaks the clinch.

Rosenstein forces Rashad back against the cage and clinches.
Rosenstein working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rosenstein prevents a takedown attempt there.

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

Rosenstein instigates a clinch.
Rashad is working for takedown but Rosenstein is calmly controlling the position for now.
Michael Rosenstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Rashad.

Rosenstein jumps guard.
Rosenstein is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rosenstein pulls Rashad in close to prevent any damage.
Rashad passes into half guard.
Rosenstein knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rashad on the ground.
Rosenstein tries to kick Rashad off but Rashad keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rashad trying to control from half guard but Rosenstein is working away.
Rashad not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Rosenstein makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rosenstein scores with a hook to the body. Rashad takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Rosenstein closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

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

Rosenstein rushes Rashad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rosenstein breaks from the clinch.

Rashad gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rosenstein stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rosenstein fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rashad, pushing him back against the cage.
Rosenstein landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rashad takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rosenstein lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Rosenstein manages to break the clinch.

Rosenstein gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Rosenstein.
Rashad is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rosenstein is trying to trip Rashad. He has hold of a leg but Rashad is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rosenstein persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rashad is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rosenstein is trying to stand back up but Rashad is controlling him
Rashad thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rashad prevents Rosenstein from standing back up.

Rashad is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rosenstein defends it well.
Rosenstein wants to get back to full guard.
Rashad tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rosenstein knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rashad prevents Rosenstein from standing back up.

Rosenstein makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A head kick by Rashad misses

and Rosenstein counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rosenstein decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rashad, up you get!
Jermaine Rashad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rosenstein rushes Rashad and presses him up against the cage.
Rosenstein taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Rosenstein.

Rosenstein escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rosenstein misses with a few strikes there.

Rosenstein looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rashad!
Rosenstein is landing with some decent strikes but Rashad is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rosenstein trying to control but Rashad is having none of it.
Rosenstein blocks Rashad's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rosenstein trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Michael Rosenstein overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rashad manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosenstein thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rosenstein wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rashad keeps working.
Rosenstein is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rashad can do to turn this around?
Rashad gets full guard.
Rosenstein would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rashad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rosenstein is one step ahead there.

Rosenstein gets to his feet. Rashad looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Rosenstein pushes Rashad up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rosenstein breaks the clinch.

Rosenstein looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rashad looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rosenstein looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rosenstein dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rosenstein lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rosenstein moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Rosenstein closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rosenstein wants the takedown. Rashad is fighting it off but Rosenstein persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rashad's guard against the cage.
Rosenstein has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rashad is proving hard to escape from.

Rosenstein stands up from Rashad's guard - Rosenstein perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rosenstein moves into the clinch successfully.

Rosenstein jumps into guard, dragging Rashad to the mat.
Rosenstein throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rosenstein is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rosenstein is thwarting Rashad's attempts to control the position.
Rashad missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rosenstein tries to stand and escape but Rashad is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rashad is refusing to be controlled, as Rosenstein sits in half guard.
Rashad slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rosenstein trying to control but Rashad is working from the bottom.
Rosenstein thows a big elbow that misses.

Rosenstein gets to his feet. Rashad looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rosenstein connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rosenstein rushes Rashad and presses him up against the cage.
Rosenstein crunches a lovely knee into Rashad's ribcage.

Rosenstein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rashad misses with a takedown attempt
and Rosenstein counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Rosenstein closes the distance and clinches.
Rashad tries to pull guard but Rosenstein holds him up against the cage and eventually Rashad drops back down to his feet.

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

Rosenstein forces Rashad back against the cage and clinches.
Rosenstein stalling in the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rashad doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Rosenstein clinches.
Rosenstein lands with a right to the head.
Rosenstein misses with a knee strike.
Rosenstein digs a right hand underneath Rashad's ribcage. Rashad let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Rosenstein has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rashad is trying to keep an underhook but Rosenstein manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rashad is trying to stand up here but Rosenstein is controlling him well.
Rosenstein not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rashad gets full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rashad is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rashad in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Rosenstein tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Rashad!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jermaine Rashad!