PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Roberts
vs
Black

190 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
163 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brad Black!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Black fails to land the takedown.

Black manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Roberts on his heels. He'll look to pass Roberts's guard now, I'm sure.
Black prevents Roberts from getting back to his feet.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.

Roberts is working an open guard so Black takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Roberts really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Black shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roberts pinned against the cage. Roberts gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Anthony Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Black.

Roberts bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black is trying to get back to half guard.
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Black manages to work his way to half guard, despite Roberts's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to kick Roberts off but Roberts keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Black controlling the position well.
Roberts prevents Black from standing back up.
Black trying to control but Roberts postures up.
Black controlling the position for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brad Black wasn't active enough on the ground.
Roberts ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Black moves away.
Roberts throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Roberts will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Black looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Black is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roberts defends it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roberts wants to get back to his feet.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Roberts defending well though.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.
Roberts knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Black on the ground.
Black trying to pass the guard but Roberts defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts pushes Black off looking to stand but Black dives back in and keeps control.

Black stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Roberts stuffs the takedown attempt from Black. Black gets slowly back to his feet.

Black clinches up against the cage.
Roberts tries to circle away but Black has him pinned against the cage.
Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Roberts is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Black gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Black thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Roberts is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.
Roberts on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Roberts tries to get out of the position.
Black frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is squirming around, avoiding Black's attempts to control the action.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black lands a big shot there that rocks Roberts but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Black scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Roberts takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Black lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black scoring with strikes but Roberts is staying in there.
Black controlling the position easily from mount.
Black is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Roberts can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Black scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Black trying to control the action but Roberts is working from the bottom.
Black scores with punches from side control.
Black misses with the ground and pound.
Roberts defending against the ground and pound.

Black decides to stand up, so the ref orders Roberts to his feet.
Black fails with an attempt to clinch.

Black clinches with his opponent.
Black lands an elbow inside that Roberts shrugs off.
Black is trying to maintain a safe position but Roberts gets an underhook and turns Black into the cage.

Black gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black decides to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Black tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roberts sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Black somewhat.
Black closes the distance and clinches up with Roberts, looking for a takedown. Black pushes Roberts against the cage but Roberts circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Black stuffs the takedown attempt from Roberts. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet.
Black dives in and grabs Roberts's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roberts pushes down on Black's head and hops out.
Anthony Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Black.
Black will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A leg kick checked by Black.
Roberts jabs at Black's body.
Anthony Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Black is fending him off so far but Roberts persists. Nope, Black circles away and we're back to standing.

Black has managed to clinch.
Black is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black lands a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Brad Black has got the better of the ground game so far.
Black trying to control but Roberts is working from the bottom.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Roberts has wrist control.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roberts preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Black not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Black lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Black engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black working some strikes from top position.
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Black seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Roberts has wrist control.
Black controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roberts is trying to control the position but Black postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black pushing down on Roberts's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Black performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Black winds up and cracks Roberts with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Black is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roberts is just riding it out for now. Black eventually gives up the hold.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black works his foot free and advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Black 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Black fails with an attempt to clinch.

Black has managed to clinch.
Black wants to take the fight to the mat but Roberts manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Black has hold of one of Roberts's legs. Roberts is fighting the takedown attempt but Black gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Black connects with a couple of short punches.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Black seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Black forces his way into half guard.
Black seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Black missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black stalling.
Black wants to control but Roberts is keeping him busy.
Roberts tries to kick Black off but Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Black is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Black is trying to control. Roberts wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Black in particular looking to stall.

Brad Black has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A big right from Roberts misses.
Black closes the distance and clinches up with Roberts, looking for a takedown. Black pushes Roberts against the cage but Roberts circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Black keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roberts as he avoids it easily.
Anthony Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Black.
Black looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Roberts shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Black's guard.
Black wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Roberts stands up over Black, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Black has his hands on Roberts's head, controlling the position.
Black has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Brad Black.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
Black misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Roberts bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Black is trying to control Roberts's posture but Roberts avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roberts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Roberts is looking to take a break and control but Black is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Black trying to control but Roberts postures up.
Black is positioning himself well to prevent Roberts advancing to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Anthony Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brad Black is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Black manages to escape and get back to his feet!

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Black comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Black winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Black!
Brad Black decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.