PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Roberson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zares White (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.

Roberson
vs
White

171 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Salvatore Roberson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zares White!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White dives in and grabs Roberson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roberson pushes down on White's head and hops out.
White shoots in for a takedown but Roberson shows good takedown defense.
White tries to bum rush Roberson with a series of wild strikes but Roberson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
White doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Salvatore Roberson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zares White.
White looking for a sweep. Not yet White, not yet.
White looking to control.
White is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roberson is controlling him.
Roberson tries to stand but White is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
White misses with a takedown

and Roberson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in White's guard now.
Roberson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
White looks winded!

Roberson stands and steps away. White gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
White looks to throw the jab but Roberson is out of range.
White shoots for a double leg takedown but Roberson sprawls well. He's pushed White's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
White tries for a takedown but Roberson circles away easily

and Roberson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Roberson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
White closes the distance looking to clinch

and Roberson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in White's guard now.

Roberson gets to his feet. White looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zares White seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from White.
White tries to clinch up

and Roberson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Roberson escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White misses with a combination

and Roberson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Roberson wants to get up but he can't break White's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Roberson prevents White from getting back to his feet.
White is looking to stand back up but Roberson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by White.

Roberson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for White to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White swings and misses with a hook to the body.
White throws a head kick but Roberson moves out of range.
White shoots and misses

and Roberson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Roberson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Roberson stands up and waves to White to follow him.
A slow jab from White misses its intended target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
White misses with a takedown attempt

and Roberson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for White!

Roberson stands up and beckons White to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Roberson dominated that round.
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.

White tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown by White or perhaps it was just good defense by Roberson which made him look bad.
White is looking to clinch.
White tries to clinch but Roberson is having none of it.
White wants to clinch

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into side control. White won't be happy with that.
White wants to get back to his feet but Roberson is dominant here and he's now got White's back!
White is breathing heavily.

Roberson gets back to his feet. White is certainly not going to complain about that decision.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Roberson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
White has his takedown stuffed

and Roberson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in White's guard.
Salvatore Roberson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zares White.

White isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Roberson stacks White on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Roberson!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Roberson decides to stand up, so the ref orders White to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Roberson counters with a single leg into guard. White didn't expect that.

Roberson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on White, up you get!
White throws a combination that misses

and Roberson counters with a single leg into guard. White didn't expect that.

Roberson gets to his feet. White looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Roberson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Roberson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for White!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White tries to buck Roberson off but Roberson is having none of it.
White is trying to control Roberson's posture but Roberson avoids it.

Roberson decides to stand up, so the ref orders White to his feet.
Roberson moves away from the strike by White.
White with a poor takedown

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into side control. White won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberson stands up and beckons White to his feet.
White will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Roberson slips under a jab.
White misses with a body shot.
White tries to clinch

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into side control. White won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Roberson stands up and beckons White to his feet.
White changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Roberson tries to avoid it but White manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Roberson to the ground. Roberson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Roberson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

White tries a head kick but it misses.
White darts in trying to clinch

and Roberson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
White is trying to control the position but Roberson postures up.

Roberson stands up from White's guard - Roberson perhaps looking for a knockout.
White throws a combination that misses

and Roberson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in White's guard now.
Roberson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for White on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Roberson gets to his feet - White follows without any prompting.
White takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
White with a lazy takedown attempt

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roberson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
White tries to clinch up

and Roberson counters with a takedown into side control.

Roberson decides to stand back up. Roberson steps back and let's White get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from White.
White misses with a takedown attempt - Roberson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
White throws a body kick that misses

and Roberson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Roberson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberson dodges the punch combination from White.
White shoots in for a takedown but Roberson shows good takedown defense.
Salvatore Roberson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zares White.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from White.
White throws a lazy head kick

and Roberson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for White!
White is trying to improve his position.
White is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A shot to the body from White misses

and Roberson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
White trying to control the position.
White wants to get back to his feet but Roberson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberson stands and steps away. White gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
White tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roberson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten White somewhat.
Roberson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
White shoots and misses

and Roberson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Roberson stands up and beckons White to join him on the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Roberson stuffs the takedown.
Zares White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salvatore Roberson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
White throws a body kick that misses

and Roberson counters with a nice double leg into side control. White won't be happy with that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Roberson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roberson, 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Roberson!