PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxime Roland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Real (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.

Roland
vs
Real

192 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maxime Roland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erik Real!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Real throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Real throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Roland.

Real has closed the distance and engaged Roland in a clinch.
Real using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Roland has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Real tries to break free but Roland pushes him back against the cage.

Roland has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Real uses from the top position.

Roland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Real doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Real manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Real stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Real loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roland will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Real must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Roland tries to strike from the bottom.
Real working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roland 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.
Real pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roland is keeping the position for now.
Roland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roland is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Roland is working hard here to advance position.
Roland keeping moving, preventing Real from controlling successfully.
Roland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Roland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roland wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Real trying to control the position from guard on top but Roland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Roland gets caught flat footed, as Real shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Real is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Roland has his hands on Real's head, controlling the position.

Roland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Roland is trying to keep Real in close.
Real trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roland tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Real's guard.
Real is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Roland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Real looks gassed!
Roland stays in close to Real's body and controls the position.
Real keeping moving, preventing Roland from controlling successfully.

Roland stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Real shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roland as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Real pushes Roland up against the cage in a clinch.
Roland lands an elbow that stopped Real in his tracks for a moment.
Real letting Roland take a breather here.

Roland jumps guard.
Roland wants to get back to his feet but Real is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Real throws a strike but Roland rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roland throws a strike but Real rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Erik Real will probably get the nod.
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.

Roland has closed the distance and engaged Real in a clinch.
Real is trying to pull guard but Roland has him pressed against the cage.
Roland putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Real in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Roland lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Roland fails to pull guard.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Real pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Roland dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Real jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Roland walks away with a smile on his face. Real gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Real looks for a takedown but Roland sprawls well.
Maxime Roland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Real.

Real takes the fight into the clinch.
Roland lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Erik Real has been cut.
Real is breathing heavily.

Roland pulls Real into guard.
Real trying to control the position from guard on top but Roland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roland is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Roland trying to control the pace.
Real wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roland throwing shots but Real is blocking nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Roland in particular looking to stall.

Real manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Roland darts in and clinches Real up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Real is looking to control Roland's arms but Roland gets an underhook and turns him. Now Real has his back to the cage.
Roland effectively controlling the action here.

Roland jumps into guard, dragging Real to the mat.

Roland scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roland shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Real but Real pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Roland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Real as he avoids it easily.

Real clinches up with Roland and pushes him back against the cage.

Roland is trying to trip Real. He has hold of a leg but Real is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Roland persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Real wants to sweep here but Roland controlling him for the moment.

Roland decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Real, up you get!
Roland shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Real as he jumps to the side.
Real shoots for a takedown but Roland saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roland closes the distance and pushes Real back into the cage.
Roland lands an elbow that stopped Real in his tracks for a moment.
Roland stalls.
Roland creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Real's defenses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Real wants to get back to striking at distance but Roland won't allow it.

Roland ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Roland no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Roland trying to strike off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Roland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Real drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Roland dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxime Roland dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erik Real's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Roland rushes Real and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Real tries for a takedown. No joy.
Real tries to score a body lock takedown but Roland shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Roland pulls guard successfully.
Real wants to control from the top but Roland keeps moving.

Roland looking for a guillotine here but Real defends easily.
Roland trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Real takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roland lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Real!
Roland sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Real is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Roland controlling from mount.
Real wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Roland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roland controlling the position easily from mount.
Maxime Roland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Real tries to hold on but Roland pushes him away.
Real can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Roland.
Roland controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poor strikes thrown by Roland there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Real is working to get back to half guard.

Roland with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Roland throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Roland looking to secure an arm triangle but Real defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roland thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Roland content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roland looking to finish with strikes here!

Roland with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxime Roland showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Roland has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxime Roland!
After winning the bout, Maxime Roland thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.