PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Merk Roop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Flagg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flagg has chosen Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Roop
vs
Flagg

175 cm
26
166 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

172 cm
24
150 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HERITAGE Threads
VIRAL COMBAT

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Merk Roop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randall Flagg!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jonathan Paton and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roop just misses with a punch to the body.
Roop avoids a kick to the body.
Roop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Flagg throws a hook but Roop avoids it easily.
Roop on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Flagg ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Roop crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Flagg - the referee stops the clock and Roop gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Flagg. Roop manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Roop throws a hook but Flagg blocks it.
Roop moves out of range of the leg kick from Flagg.
Roop fails with the takedown.
Flagg digs a good hook to Roop's body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Flagg.
Flagg lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flagg is looking to land body kicks.
A big left from Roop misses.
Roop scores with a jab to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Flagg. No joy for Roop on that attempt.
Flagg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flagg throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Roop sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Flagg slips under a jab from Roop.
Roop fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merk Roop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flagg.
Randall Flagg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flagg throws out a loose jab but Roop uses good head movement to avoid it.
Flagg connects with a body shot that sends Roop's belly button to the back.
Roop shoots in and drives through. Flagg sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flagg throws a body kick that misses.
Flagg fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Roop looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A nice inside leg kick there by Flagg. That's going to slow Roop down.
Flagg avoids the body shot from Roop.
Flagg connects with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flagg connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Roop takes one on the button.
Roop throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Flagg sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Flagg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick lands from Flagg.
Flagg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Flagg pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Flagg motions for Roop to come forward. Flagg throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flagg throws an off balance right hand

and Roop counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Flagg's guard now.
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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Flagg has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Roop has passed into side control.
Roop cracks Flagg with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The strikes coming from Roop are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Flagg tries to improve position but can't.
Roop 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.
Flagg manages to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Roop connects with a nice short shot to Flagg's temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roop wants to free his trapped foot but Flagg is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roop prevents Flagg from improving his position.
Flagg has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Roop seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Roop missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Flagg manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roop working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roop is looking to work some ground and pound but Flagg has wrist control.
Roop throws a strike but Flagg rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Flagg 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.

Randall Flagg dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Flagg throws a push kick but Roop slaps the foot to one side.
Roop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Randall Flagg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flagg moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Roop walks into a stiff left hand from Flagg.
Randall Flagg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Flagg's jab looks to have found its range, popping Roop under the eye.
Roop looks to score with a jab to the body but Flagg is just out of range.
Flagg misses with a low kick.
Flagg cracks the inside of Roop's front leg.
Flagg connects with a body shot.
Donk. Flagg catches Roop right on the button with a cross.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roop is defended easily by Flagg.
A head kick by Flagg misses

and Roop counters with a shoot takedown. Flagg fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Roop postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Flagg is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Roop, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flagg slips nicely into half guard.
Roop trying to hold on to Flagg's head to control him but Flagg postures up.
Flagg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roop keeps working.
Flagg might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Roop haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flagg wants to get back to his feet.

Flagg is looking for a kimura but Roop is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Flagg to get the leverage.
Roop trying to control from the bottom.
Roop manages to get to full guard.
Flagg's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Flagg has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roop is proving hard to escape from.
Flagg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roop has his hands on Flagg's head, controlling the position.
Flagg trying to control but Roop is working from the bottom.
Roop wants to sweep but no luck.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Randall Flagg hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Roop shoots in for a double leg but Flagg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Flagg throws a leg kick which misses Roop's front leg but catches the back leg as Roop tries to avoid it.
Flagg moves away from the strike by Roop.
Roop fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merk Roop. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roop needs to keep his hands up - Flagg had a free shot at his head there.
Flagg darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Roop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Roop throws a lazy right hand but Flagg sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Flagg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Roop.
Flagg lands a nice looking body kick.
Nice straight punches there by Flagg. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Flagg.
Roop ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Flagg moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flagg keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Flagg with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Flagg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Flagg 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!

Flagg's corner calls for a 1-2. Flagg obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Flagg throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Roop on the side of the head.
Roop is looking to wear down Flagg with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Flagg connects with a looping right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Flagg as he connects with a hook.
Roop looks to land a left hand but Flagg moved out of range nicely.
Roop fails with the takedown.
Flagg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roop uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Flagg.
Flagg with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Roop misses the shot to the body.
Roop shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Flagg sprawls well. Flagg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roop gets slowly back to his feet.
Flagg chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flagg scores with a nice right hand.
Roop walks forward, straight into a front kick from Flagg.
Roop avoids the body shot from Flagg.
Roop closes the distance and clinches up with Flagg, looking for a takedown. Roop pushes Flagg against the cage but Flagg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merk Roop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flagg lands a glancing blow to the side of Roop's head.
Roop takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Good shot there by Flagg.
Roop gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Flagg.
Flagg lands a front kick.
Roop cracks Flagg with a right hand to the side of the head.
Merk Roop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flagg uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Roop.
Flagg lands a glancing blow to the side of Roop's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flagg connects with a body shot that sends Roop's belly button to the back.
Roop misses with a body punch
and Flagg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Flagg thows a body kick. Roop tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Roop takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Roop misses the body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Flagg scores with a hook to the body. Roop takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Flagg scores with a spinning back kick!
Flagg turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body punch from Flagg.
Randall Flagg is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flagg lands a nice hook to Roop's body. Roop takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Flagg lands with a thumping leg kick.
Roop looks to land a left hand but Flagg moved out of range nicely.
Roop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roop looks to score with a jab to the body but Flagg is just out of range.
Roop misses with a right hand
and Flagg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roop looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Roop shoots for a takedown but Flagg saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Flagg listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Flagg scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Flagg connects with a leg kick. Roop looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nice uppercut lands for Flagg. That snapped Roop's head back.
Roop will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flagg ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Roop on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Roop walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
No luck for Roop with that takedown attempt.
Flagg throws a head kick that half lands.
Flagg thumps Roop with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flagg avoids the body shot from Roop.
Flagg scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flagg connects with a nice looking jab.
Roop throws out a powerful jab.
Flagg fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Roop.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Flagg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Flagg 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Flagg!
In his post fight interview, Randall Flagg started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.