PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilan Rotberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franck Pompi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pompi has chosen French National Anthem as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rotberg
vs
Pompi

183 cm
35
200 lbs
20 - 20 - 0

181 cm
24
193 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ilan Rotberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franck Pompi!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rotberg swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pompi.
Rotberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pompi throws a nice looking combination but Rotberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pompi throws a shot from downtown. Rotberg moves away and avoids it.
Rotberg stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rotberg blocks a head kick by Pompi.
Pompi throws a series of punches but Rotberg moves out of range.
Rotberg blocks a head kick by Pompi.

Pompi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rotberg is looking for a sweep.
Pompi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rotberg!
Pompi controlling his opponent.
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!
Rotberg is desperately trying to improve his position but Pompi has a good base and remains in mount.
Rotberg is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pompi controlling from mount.
Pompi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rotberg really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pompi is trying to control here but Rotberg has managed to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg is looking to control Pompi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rotberg avoid being mounted?
Pompi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Franck Pompi wasn't active enough on the ground.
Pompi throws a right hand that Rotberg ducks under and follows up with a left that Rotberg also avoids with ease.
Rotberg thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pompi missing with a left hand there. Rotberg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rotberg checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Pompi.
Rotberg throws a lazy right hand but Pompi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rotberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rotberg blocks a head kick by Pompi.
Pompi misses with a double jab
and Rotberg counters with a stiff right hand.

Pompi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pompi is keen to just control but Rotberg is a slippery customer.
Rotberg keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rotberg wants to control but Pompi is keeping busy.
Pompi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rotberg does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Pompi.

Rotberg shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pompi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pompi is adopting a defensive guard.
Rotberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rotberg throwing strikes from guard but Pompi blocks nicely.
Rotberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Pompi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rotberg is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pompi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pompi working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Rotberg scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ilan Rotberg will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pompi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pompi misses with a wild body shot.
Pompi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rotberg is out of range and Pompi settles back down.
Rotberg avoids the body shot from Pompi.
Franck Pompi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pompi misses with the combination.
Rotberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Rotberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pompi circles away quickly and effectively.
Rotberg throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pompi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rotberg misses the shot to the body.
Pompi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Rotberg. Those never looked like landing.
Pompi tries to bum rush Rotberg with a series of wild strikes but Rotberg uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rotberg moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Franck Pompi has been cut.
Pompi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pompi thows a leg kick but Rotberg checks it
and Rotberg counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rotberg throws an overhand right that lands on Pompi's shoulder, as Pompi tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pompi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rotberg!
Pompi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pompi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Pompi goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rotberg is on top in guard.
Rotberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Pompi is retaining full guard.
Rotberg stops Pompi from standing up.
Pompi keeping full guard, as Rotberg tries to pass.
Pompi keeping moving, preventing Rotberg from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pompi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rotberg.
Pompi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Pompi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pompi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Pompi wants to take a breather but Rotberg is having none of it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pompi wants to stand but Rotberg has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg is refusing to be controlled, as Pompi sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Franck Pompi.
Rotberg works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pompi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rotberg circles away quickly and effectively.
Rotberg throws a right hand that Pompi ducks under and follows up with a left that Pompi also avoids with ease.
A left lands for Pompi.
Rotberg misses with a wild body shot.
Pompi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rotberg was well out of range. Poor timing from Pompi.
Rotberg ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rotberg missing with a left hand there. Pompi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pompi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rotberg throws a series of punches but Pompi moves out of range.
Ilan Rotberg is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Pompi.
Rotberg misses with a series of wild punches.
Rotberg avoids the head kick by Pompi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rotberg shoots in and drives through. Pompi sprawls well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pompi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pompi throws a head kick but Rotberg moves out of range.
Pompi slips a jab and a cross from Rotberg.
Rotberg tries for a takedown but Pompi circles away easily
and Pompi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pompi tries to clinch

and Rotberg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rotberg.
Pompi wants to stand and escape but Rotberg is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rotberg stands up over Pompi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pompi wants to sweep here but Rotberg controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ilan Rotberg will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Franck Pompi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Pompi.
Rotberg throws a front kick aimed at Pompi's knee but Pompi avoids it well.
Rotberg tries for a takedown but Pompi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pompi throws a right and a left that Rotberg avoids nicely.
Pompi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Pompi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rotberg on his heels. He'll look to pass Rotberg's guard now, I'm sure.
Rotberg keeping moving, preventing Pompi from controlling successfully.
Pompi looking to sit in guard and control but Rotberg gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rotberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Pompi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franck Pompi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rotberg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pompi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rotberg passes Pompi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rotberg is pressing down on Pompi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pompi is holding on for now.
Pompi is looking to escape.
Rotberg stalling.
Pompi is looking for a sweep. Rotberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ilan Rotberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pompi keeps working.
Pompi wants to improve his position but Rotberg is controlling well.
Rotberg prevents Pompi from standing back up.

Pompi has one foot on Rotberg's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rotberg checks a leg kick nicely.
Donk. Rotberg catches Pompi right on the button with a cross.
Pompi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Pompi tries to sprawl but Rotberg drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rotberg is trying to control the action in half guard but Pompi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pompi is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rotberg in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg is keen to just control but Pompi is a slippery customer.
Rotberg trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ilan Rotberg.
Rotberg takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Pompi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rotberg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pompi.
Pompi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rotberg looks to land a combination but Pompi avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Pompi.
Franck Pompi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rotberg avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pompi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rotberg scores with a one two! Pompi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg moves away from the strike by Pompi.
Pompi throws a hook but Rotberg blocks it.

Pompi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pompi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rotberg is looking for a sweep.

Pompi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pompi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rotberg tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pompi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rotberg isn't going anywhere.
Rotberg sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Franck Pompi.
I think Rotberg 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

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