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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erik Thorvaldson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojas has chosen Apaga Mas Não Bate as his entrance music. The key to victory for Erik Thorvaldson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 186 cm
28
189 lbs
13 - 3 - 0 |
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195 cm
30
200 lbs
16 - 10 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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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
13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erik Thorvaldson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Rojas!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and Paul Tew.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thorvaldson scores with a sloppy right hand. Rojas should have avoided that one.
Thorvaldson throws a looping overhand right but Rojas ducks down to avoid it.
Rojas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thorvaldson.
Thorvaldson gets the takedown into side control.
Thorvaldson wants to control but Rojas is keeping him busy.
Rojas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thorvaldson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rojas sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rojas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thorvaldson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rojas keeps working.
Rojas tries to get to full guard but Thorvaldson has control of the leg.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thorvaldson prevents Rojas from improving his position.
Thorvaldson is working for a kimura but Rojas is defending it quite comfortably.
Rojas trying to control here.
Thorvaldson is keen to just control but Rojas is a slippery customer.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thorvaldson stalling away here and it's allowed Rojas to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rojas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thorvaldson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rojas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Thorvaldson trying to control but Rojas is working from the bottom.
Rojas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thorvaldson punishes Rojas's body with a nice straight punch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas shoots in for a double leg but Thorvaldson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rojas darts in looking for a takedown but Thorvaldson gets double underhooks and turns Rojas into the cage.
Rojas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thorvaldson to the ground. Rojas is now in Thorvaldson's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rojas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thorvaldson controls Rojas momentarily but Rojas frees himself.
Rojas trying to control but Thorvaldson is working from the bottom.
Thorvaldson is pulling down on Rojas's head to control his posture.
Rojas trying to control but Thorvaldson is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorvaldson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rojas wants to pass the guard but Thorvaldson is keeping the position.
Thorvaldson is trying to control the position but Rojas postures up.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rojas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thorvaldson.
Thorvaldson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rojas dives in and scores a takedown into Thorvaldson's guard.
Thorvaldson is trying to keep Rojas in close.
Rojas passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Erik Thorvaldson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Thorvaldson misses the jab.
Thorvaldson works the jab nicely.
Rojas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thorvaldson sprawls well initially but Rojas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rojas is looking to take a break and control but Thorvaldson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodrigo Rojas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rojas is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thorvaldson!
Rojas avoids the attempt from Thorvaldson to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thorvaldson has worked his arm free - good work by Thorvaldson!
Thorvaldson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorvaldson is looking to get to half guard.
Thorvaldson tries to hold on but Rojas postures up.
Rojas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thorvaldson is looking to improve his position but Rojas isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorvaldson is squirming around, avoiding Rojas's attempts to control the action.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rojas avoids the attempt from Thorvaldson to control.
Rojas wants to control the action but instead Thorvaldson gets a body lock and reverses into Rojas's guard! Nice work!
Thorvaldson trying to control but Rojas is working from the bottom.
Rojas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thorvaldson defends it easily.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Thorvaldson from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorvaldson being controlled here momentarily.
Rojas working for a triangle but Thorvaldson defends it easily.
Thorvaldson is stalling in the full guard.
Rojas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thorvaldson wants to pass the guard but Rojas is keeping the position.
Rojas looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorvaldson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rojas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thorvaldson has managed to get both his arms back between Rojas's legs - danger averted.
Thorvaldson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rojas is keeping the position for now.
Rojas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thorvaldson is aware though and is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thorvaldson is pushing down on Rojas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rojas is fighting to maintain full guard but Thorvaldson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Thorvaldson is looking to advance position but Rojas won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rodrigo Rojas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Rojas shoots in for a takedown but Thorvaldson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rojas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thorvaldson swings for the body but Rojas moves out of range.
Thorvaldson scores with a shot to the body.
Rojas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thorvaldson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rojas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rojas lands in his opponent's guard.
Rojas is looking to work some ground and pound but Thorvaldson has wrist control.
Rojas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
My spies in The Highland Gym inform me that Rojas has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas looking to sit in guard and control but Thorvaldson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rojas is looking for a triangle but Thorvaldson pushes his legs off easily.
Thorvaldson trying to control but Rojas is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thorvaldson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rojas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thorvaldson defends it easily.
Rojas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thorvaldson defends well.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Thorvaldson from controlling successfully.
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.
Rojas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thorvaldson is aware though and is defending well.
Thorvaldson wants to control from the top but Rojas keeps moving.
Thorvaldson advances to half guard.
Thorvaldson prevents Rojas from improving his position.
Thorvaldson wants to take a breather but Rojas is having none of it.
Rojas has his hands clasped together around Thorvaldson's back. He's all about the action.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorvaldson trying to control the action but Rojas is working from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rojas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Erik Thorvaldson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Rojas.
Rojas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Thorvaldson!
Rojas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thorvaldson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Thorvaldson is thwarting Rojas's attempts to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas is not content to let Thorvaldson control the position.
Rojas is trying to control but can't.
Thorvaldson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rojas tries to hold on but Thorvaldson pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thorvaldson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thorvaldson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Thorvaldson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thorvaldson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Thorvaldson!
Erik Thorvaldson was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
30% |
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