PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ellert Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Roberts
vs
Reigns

180 cm
23
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

200 cm
27
185 lbs
5 - 9 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ellert Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Roman Reigns!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reigns is trying hard to land a takedown here. Roberts sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reigns loads up on a big right hand but Roberts slips the punch.
Roberts displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Reigns.
Roberts lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Reigns is looking to clinch but Roberts is avoiding it.

Roberts gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reigns shoots and misses
and Roberts counters with a left and a right that stings Reigns.
Ellert Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Reigns.
Roberts is breathing heavily.

Roberts clinches up against the cage.
Reigns jumps guard but Roberts stands there with Reigns around his waist. Reigns gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Roberts jumps into guard, dragging Reigns to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Roberts is looking to stand up but Reigns isn't so interested in that idea.
Roberts might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Roberts looking for a guillotine here but Reigns defends easily.
Reigns really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roberts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Reigns wants to stand but Roberts has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Roberts looking for a guillotine here but Reigns defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reigns is aware though and is defending well.

Roberts escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Reigns gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Reigns throws a strike but Roberts rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberts trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.

Roberts gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Reigns gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Roberts counters with a series of strikes. Reigns will be more careful next time no doubt.
Reigns is looking to clinch.
Reigns looks for a takedown but Roberts sprawls well.
Reigns fails with the takedown
and Roberts counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts circles away from the clinch attempt.

Reigns throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Roberts was covering up waiting for the punch and Reigns finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Reigns from controlling successfully.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellert Roberts dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Reigns.
Reigns fails with the takedown.
Reigns misses with a takedown

and Roberts counters with a single leg into guard. Reigns didn't expect that.
Ellert Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Reigns.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Reigns preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Roberts stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ellert Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reigns shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roberts sprawls well. Roberts wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Reigns gets slowly back to his feet.
We've been told by Roberts's head coaches at Finn Warriors Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roberts throws a nice looking combination but Reigns bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns fails with an attempt to clinch.
Reigns connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Reigns misses with a few strikes there.
Roberts lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Roberts misses with a series of wild punches.
Roberts swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Reigns counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns missing with a left hand there. Roberts was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reigns fails to land the takedown.
Reigns swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Roberts counters with a head kick. That will keep Reigns thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Roberts ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Reigns wants to clinch up but Roberts keeps it at a distance.
Roberts looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Reigns fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Roberts to the ground. Reigns is now in Roberts's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reigns postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns trying to control but Roberts is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Roberts or perhaps it was just good defense by Reigns which made him look bad.
Reigns is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Roberts slaps away a takedown attempt from Reigns, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reigns tries to clinch there but Roberts circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roberts fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Reigns misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Reigns fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A combination from Roberts does no damage.
Reigns throws a lazy uppercut
and Roberts counters with a left and a right that stings Reigns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellert Roberts dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Reigns tries to clinch but Roberts moves out of range.
Roberts stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roberts wants it to stay on the feet.
Reigns keeps the fight on the outside.

Roberts drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Roberts throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Roberts stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Reigns looks for a takedown but Roberts sprawls well.
Roberts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns tries for a takedown but Roberts sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ellert Roberts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Reigns.
Reigns tries to clinch up but Roberts circles away and keeps his distance.
Reigns doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Roberts counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Roberts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Reigns sprawls well initially but Roberts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Roberts drops an elbow to the side of Reigns's head.

Roberts stands up from half guard.
Roberts digs a good hook to Reigns's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns shoots in but no luck this time.
Roberts uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Reigns.

Roberts has taken the fight to the clinch.
Roberts gets underhooks to prevent Reigns's takedown attempt.
Roberts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Reigns has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reigns has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Roberts avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Roberts breaks from the clinch.
Reigns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Roberts.
Roberts keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roberts pinned against the cage. Roberts gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Roberts connects with a right hand. Reigns shakes it off.

Roberts scores with a takedown into Reigns's guard.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reigns is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Roberts loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roberts accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roberts 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.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Roberts with a flurry of punches that miss.

Roberts decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for Roberts, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ellert Roberts showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Roberts has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ellert Roberts!