PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fantinaz Del Norte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Norte has chosen La Coka Nostra - Malverde Market as his entrance music. Fantinaz Del Norte has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Roach
vs
Del Norte

175 cm
28
148 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

165 cm
34
138 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bobby Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fantinaz Del Norte!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Del Norte shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roach sprawls well. Roach wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Del Norte gets slowly back to his feet.
Roach uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Del Norte has time to react.
A big right from Roach misses.
Roach seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Del Norte just misses with a punch to the body.

Roach gets caught napping as Del Norte dives in and scores a takedown. Roach manages to retain guard.
Roach working a defensive guard but Del Norte manages to pass into side control anyway.
Del Norte trying to control the position but Roach is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Roach tries to buck Del Norte off but Del Norte is having none of it.

Del Norte is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Roach is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach tries to improve position but can't.

Del Norte is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Roach has escaped the position, nice work there.
Del Norte trying to control the action but Roach is working from the bottom.
Roach looking for a sweep but Del Norte has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Del Norte is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Roach to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Roach shrugs it off.
Roach is looking to improve his position but Del Norte isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach is squirming around, avoiding Del Norte's attempts to control the action.
Del Norte avoids the attempt from Roach to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Del Norte is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Roach has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Del Norte looking to control but Roach is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Del Norte jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Roach is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Roach and Del Norte has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Roach regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte controlling the action here.

Roach looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Del Norte is looking for a kimura but Roach is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Del Norte to get the leverage.
Roach has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Del Norte is working away from the top position though.
Del Norte is keen to just control but Roach is a slippery customer.
Del Norte is thwarting Roach's attempts to control the position.
Del Norte is looking to take a break and control but Roach is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Del Norte wants to pass to mount but Roach is defending the position.
Del Norte blocks the strikes from Roach.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Del Norte checks the leg kick.
Del Norte moves out of range as Roach strikes.
Del Norte defending well as Roach loads up on a big left hand.
Roach throws a lazy right hand but Del Norte sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Del Norte darts in looking for a takedown but Roach gets double underhooks and turns Del Norte into the cage.
Del Norte listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Roach shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Del Norte has his foot on Roach's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roach works his way back into a safe position though.
Roach stopping the sweep attempt from Del Norte.
Roach 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.

Fantinaz Del Norte 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.

Del Norte misses with a body shot.

Roach manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Del Norte on his heels. He'll look to pass Del Norte's guard now, I'm sure.
Roach is stalling in the full guard.
Roach working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Del Norte is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roach is aware though and is defending well.
Roach trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Norte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roach is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Del Norte is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Del Norte is looking for a triangle but Roach pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Norte is retaining full guard.
Roach postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Norte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roach slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Del Norte working for a triangle but Roach defends it easily.
Del Norte not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Roach won't allow Del Norte to sweep him here.
Roach is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Del Norte connects with a body shot that sends Roach's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roach throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roach misses the shot to the body.
Del Norte waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Roach.
Del Norte throws a body punch but Roach moves out of range.
Del Norte dives in and grabs Roach's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roach pushes down on Del Norte's head and hops out.

Roach shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Del Norte's guard.

Del Norte is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roach is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Del Norte can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Roach controls the pace.
Del Norte is trying to control the position but Roach postures up.
Del Norte wants to sweep but no luck.
Del Norte keeping moving, preventing Roach from controlling successfully.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Roach working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach is stalling in the full guard.
Roach trying to control but Del Norte is working from the bottom.
Roach controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roach wants to pass the guard but Del Norte is keeping the position.
Bobby Roach overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Del Norte bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Roach's guard.

Del Norte wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
Del Norte won't allow Roach to sweep him here.
Del Norte pushing down on Roach's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Del Norte looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roach flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Roach is pressing down on Del Norte's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Del Norte slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Del Norte trying to control the action but Roach is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Del Norte tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Del Norte has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bobby Roach will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Del Norte slips a straight right by Roach.

Del Norte drives through with a takedown into guard.
Roach can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Del Norte controls the pace.
Roach seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Del Norte wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
Del Norte preventing the sweep.
Del Norte wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach tries to strike from the bottom.
Del Norte sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Roach's guard.
Roach moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roach looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Del Norte controlling from the top position.
Del Norte wants to pass the guard but Roach is keeping the position.
Roach looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roach is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Del Norte trying to control the position from guard on top but Roach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roach wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roach misses the shot to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Roach. No joy for Del Norte on that attempt.
Roach attempts a counter takedown but Del Norte avoids it well and moves away.
Roach misses with a body shot.
Del Norte moves away from the strike by Roach.
Del Norte throws a big shot that misses.

Roach drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Roach throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Del Norte is trying to control the position but Roach postures up.

Del Norte looking for a triangle here. Roach is fighting it but it looks tight! Del Norte pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Roach is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Fantinaz Del Norte!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Fantinaz Del Norte waved his t-shirt featuring Dynamo Clothing's logo in front of the cameras.