PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Rogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernando has chosen Miss Jackson as his entrance music. Michael Rogan could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Manny Fernando's chin.

Rogan
vs
Fernando

182 cm
22
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
204 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Rogan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rogan moves into the clinch.
Fernando trying to land knees to the body.
Rogan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fernando blocks it with crossed arms.

Fernando is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rogan can't fight it off and eventually Fernando manages to take the fight to the floor. Rogan looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fernando is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rogan wants to sweep here but Fernando controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Manny Fernando.
Rogan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rogan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fernando manages to avoid it.

Fernando feints and as Rogan raises his hands in defense, Fernando changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rogan can't keep his opponent in guard - Fernando advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Fernando stands up out of the half guard.
Fernando shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rogan pinned against the cage. Rogan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Fernando with that takedown attempt.

Rogan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fernando, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fernando has hold of one of Rogan's legs. Rogan is fighting the takedown attempt but Fernando gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fernando looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fernando postures up in Rogan's guard and throws a big left but Rogan blocks it.
Fernando is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fernando's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Manny Fernando has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Fernando closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Fernando politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Fernando prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rogan is trying to get back to his feet.
Rogan dodges the ground and pound from Fernando.

Fernando tries for a kimura but Rogan is defending well.

Fernando tries for a kimura but Rogan is defending well.
Fernando working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernando creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Fernando swings around for an armbar but Rogan sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Fernando's guard.
Fernando has control of Rogan's left arm, preventing Rogan from doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Let's hope that Fernando has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernando manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rogan manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Fernando dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fernando looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rogan takes the fight into the clinch.
Fernando managing to block the knees to the body from Rogan.
Rogan prevents the takedown attempt.

Fernando breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rogan.

Fernando scores with a takedown into Rogan's guard.
Fernando stays in close to Rogan's body and controls the position.
Rogan looking for a sweep. Not yet Rogan, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogan trying to keep a closed guard but Fernando is proving a slippery customer.
Fernando throws a big right hand that misses.
Rogan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fernando wants to pass the guard but Rogan is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rogan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Fernando or perhaps it was just good defense by Rogan which made him look bad.
Michael Rogan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Fernando.

Fernando moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando blocks the elbow strike.
Fernando drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rogan pulls his leg out and moves away.

Rogan gets caught flat footed, as Fernando shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rogan can't keep his opponent in guard - Fernando advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rogan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rogan seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fernando throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rogan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rogan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fernando sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fernando accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fernando is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rogan trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fernando fails with the takedown.
Fernando fails with a takedown attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rogan. That's going to slow Fernando down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rogan as Fernando shoots in.
Fernando fails to land the takedown.

Rogan moves into the clinch.
Rogan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fernando is defending well for now.
Fernando misses with an elbow strike.
Rogan tries to land knees in the clinch but Fernando avoids the damage to the body.
Fernando works on Rogan's body with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogan stops a takedown attempt from Fernando.
A body shot lands from Fernando.
Rogan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fernando avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Fernando showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Fernando shoots for a takedown but Rogan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rogan throws a body punch but Fernando moves out of range.
Rogan misses with a low kick.

Fernando pushes Rogan up against the cage in a clinch.

Fernando works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rogan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fernando controls the pace.
Fernando prevents Rogan from getting back to his feet.
Fernando throwing strikes from guard but Rogan blocks nicely.
Fernando stays in close to Rogan's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rogan trying to control the position.

Manny Fernando has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Fernando blocks a head kick by Rogan.

Fernando closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rogan to the mat! Rogan manages to get full guard.
Fernando looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rogan wants to sweep here but Fernando controlling him for the moment.
Michael Rogan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fernando passes into half guard.

Fernando is trying to work for a kimura but Rogan is defending well.
Fernando thows a huge punch but Rogan dodges it nicely.
Fernando has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Fernando decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rogan misses with a low kick.

Fernando shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Fernando was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Manny Fernando is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fernando throws a strike aimed at the side of Rogan's head but Rogan avoids it well.
A lull in the action here.

Fernando has hold of Rogan's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Rogan seems comfortable defending it but Fernando has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Rogan is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Rogan is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Fernando couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Manny Fernando!
An out of breath Manny Fernando thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.