PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phil DaBaller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kanaka Roots (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

DaBaller
vs
Roots

188 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Master Lee's One Stop

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phil DaBaller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kanaka Roots!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DaBaller looks to land a body kick but Roots moved away.
Roots looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Roots fails in his attempt to clinch.

DaBaller shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. DaBaller showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
DaBaller moves into full mount! Roots won't be happy about that!
DaBaller looking to control and managing it successfully.
Roots is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DaBaller controlling the position easily from mount.

Roots bucks up and throws DaBaller to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Roots gets a clinch.
Roots will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning DaBaller up against the cage.
DaBaller looking for a takedown.

Roots breaks the clinch.

Roots drops DaBaller with a beautiful combination! DaBaller stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Roots is looking for the KO!

DaBaller is rocked!

It looks like Phil DaBaller has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
DaBaller fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Roots is out of range.
Oh DaBaller is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Roots has managed to clinch.
DaBaller tries to score a body lock takedown but Roots shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roots escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
DaBaller circles away from the clinch attempt.
DaBaller seems to have got his legs back now.
Roots throws a head kick that misses.
DaBaller looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Roots clinches up against the cage.
Roots lands with a right to the head.
Roots landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Roots slows down the pace here.

Roots pulls guard successfully.
DaBaller trying to control but Roots is working from the bottom.
DaBaller slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Roots working a defensive guard but DaBaller passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DaBaller content to control rather than advance.
DaBaller throwing shots but Roots is blocking nicely.
Still in half guard, DaBaller seems content to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

DaBaller is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roots is just riding it out for now. DaBaller eventually gives up the hold.
DaBaller is looking to advance position but Roots won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DaBaller controlling the action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Roots manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
DaBaller's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

We're going to have a standup here because Phil DaBaller wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Roots throws a sloppy head kick and DaBaller moves out of range easily.
Kanaka Roots seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping body kick lands there for Roots.
Roots stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanaka Roots dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phil DaBaller's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

DaBaller avoids the head kick by Roots.
Roots tries to close the distance and clinch up but DaBaller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roots looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Roots tries to close the distance and clinch but DaBaller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roots tries to clinch up.
A head kick by DaBaller misses
and Roots counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. DaBaller is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Roots shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches DaBaller napping and manages to drive through into side control!
DaBaller is looking to regain half guard here but Roots keeps moving and retains side control.
Phil DaBaller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roots wants to stand but DaBaller has his arm trapped.
DaBaller is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DaBaller struggling a bit here.

Roots swings around for an armbar but DaBaller sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Roots's guard.
DaBaller postures up.

DaBaller is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
DaBaller looking to pass the guard.
DaBaller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roots tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Roots misses.
Roots throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roots thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on DaBaller if he has to take too many more of those.
Kanaka Roots seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Roots.
Roots connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed DaBaller momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roots tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. DaBaller manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Roots tries to clinch up but DaBaller circles away and keeps his distance.
Roots staying out of range there.
Roots doesn't manage to clinch there - DaBaller circles away.
DaBaller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
DaBaller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Roots.
A head kick from Roots lands but DaBaller takes it in his stride.
DaBaller keeps the fight on the outside.
Roots stuffs the takedown.
DaBaller fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roots manages to avoid it.

Roots lands a big head kick that sends DaBaller tumbling to the mat! Roots takes a step backwards and waves DaBaller back to his feet - he wants the finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roots is pawing at DaBaller, trying to feel the distance before throwing out a cross that crashes into DaBaller's nose. DaBaller is badly hurt! Roots pounces, throwing wild strikes as both fighters end up on the ground! DaBaller tries desperately to hold on but Roots is relentless in his assault! As DaBaller receives an ever increasing number of unanswered strikes the referee pulls Roots away and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kanaka Roots!