PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Axl Rose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Castor Rollins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rose comes into the arena with You Could Be Mine blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rose
vs
Rollins

183 cm
30
171 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

188 cm
33
187 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Axl Rose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Castor Rollins!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rollins loads up on a big right hand but Rose slips the punch.
A swing and a miss from Rose.
Rose on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rose looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rollins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rose throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rollins scores with a push kick.
Rose avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rollins tries to work over Rose's front leg with a kick but Rose checks it.
Rose pushes Rollins away with a front kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rollins misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Rose on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rollins misses with a body shot.
Rollins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rose doesn't seem bothered though.
Rollins throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rollins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rose.
Rollins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollins misses with a looping right.
Rollins ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rollins dives in and grabs Rose's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rose pushes down on Rollins's head and hops out.
Rollins lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rose takes a step back to recover.
A slow jab from Rose misses its intended target.
Rollins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rose.
Rose tries to move into range but Rollins moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rose doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Rollins drives through with a takedown into Rose's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rose isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rollins stacks Rose on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rollins!
Rose tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rollins throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rollins throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose is looking to regain half guard here but Rollins keeps moving and retains side control.
Rollins scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rose to see if he's OK.
Rose wants to control but Rollins postures up.
Rose is looking to reverse the position.
Rollins just content to control the position.
Rose is trying to get back to half guard.
Rose is working hard here to advance position.
Rose is trying to control Rollins's posture but Rollins avoids it.
Rose avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rollins.
Rose manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rollins's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rollins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rose has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rollins is working away from the top position though.
Rose is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Rose moves into full guard.
Rollins cracks Rose with a solid left hand.
Rose avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rose working for a triangle but Rollins defends it easily.

Rose working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rollins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rollins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rose had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rollins defends it easily.
Rose is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rose has his foot on Rollins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rollins works his way back into a safe position though.
Rose pulls Rollins in close to his closed guard and prevents Rollins from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rollins is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rose is trying to control the position but Rollins postures up.
Rollins wants to control from the top but Rose keeps moving.
Rollins chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Castor Rollins dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rose has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rose there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rose throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rollins scores with a one two! Rose had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rose is looking to chop away at Rollins's legs.
Rollins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rose is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Rollins lands a head kick. Rose smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rollins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rollins moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rollins connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rose. Rose circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rollins connects with the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rose steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rollins. That one must have hurt.
Rose doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rose takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Rollins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rose sprawls well initially but Rollins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rose has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rollins is working away from the top position though.
Rollins wants to control but Rose is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rollins.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rose has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rollins is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Rollins there.
Rose is looking for a sweep. Rollins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rollins sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rollins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rollins controlling the pace.

Rose looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rollins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rollins is trying to control. Rose wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rollins prevents Rose from improving his position.
Rollins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rose trying to hold on to Rollins's head to control him but Rollins postures up.
Rose taking some punishment here, with Rollins in his half guard.
Castor Rollins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rollins wants to free his trapped foot but Rose is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rose trying to control but Rollins postures up.
Rose is staying active underneath Rollins, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rollins landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rose makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rose.

Rose escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rollins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rollins trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.
Rollins working some strikes from top position.
Rose keeping moving, preventing Rollins from controlling successfully.
My spies in Thunder MMA inform me that Rollins has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rollins scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rollins is working Rose over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rollins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Rose escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rollins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rose keeping moving, preventing Rollins from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rose throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rollins escapes and throws Rose's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rose sneaks back into half guard.
Rollins drops an elbow to the side of Rose's head.
Rollins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rollins seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rollins wants to pass to mount but Rose is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Rollins.
Rollins works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rollins looking to control but Rose is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Castor Rollins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rollins lands with a kick to the temple. Rose shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Castor Rollins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rollins throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rollins has a takedown stuffed.
A bone on bone clash there as Rollins blocks the leg kick.
Rollins misses with an attempted mid kick.
It looked like Rose was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Castor Rollins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rose blocks a low kick nicely.
Rollins blocks a low kick nicely.
Rollins throws out a leg kick but Rose moves out of range and Rollins only half commits.
A counter left hand to the body from Rose misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rollins avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rollins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rose.
Rollins scores with a nice head shot.
Rose moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollins stuns Rose with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rose throws a body kick that misses.
Rollins doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rose avoids the head kick by Rollins.
Rollins punishes Rose's body with a nice straight punch.
Rose closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rollins jabs at Rose's body.
Rollins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rollins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rose at a distance.
Rose tries to land a front kick but Rollins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rose on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rose throws a lazy right hand but Rollins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rollins. Rose does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Rollins.
Rollins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Axl Rose has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castor Rollins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rollins misses with a looping right.
Rose appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Rose motions for Rollins to come forward. Rose throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Axl Rose is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rollins misses with a wild combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rollins.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rollins. That's going to slow Rose down.
Rollins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rollins throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
It looked like Rose was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rollins wants to land a leg kick but Rose is out of range.
Rollins cracks Rose with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rollins is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rose rather than just go for the knockout.
Rollins misses with a two punch combination.
Rollins feints and then cracks Rose's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rose down.
Rose misses with a low kick.
Rose is looking to score with low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rose takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Some bone on bone action there as Rose checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rose checks a low kick from Rollins.
Rose takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rollins checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rollins looks to land a body kick but Rose moved away.
Rose uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rollins.
Rose swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rollins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rose just misses with a punch to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rose.
A big right from Rollins misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rollins.
Rollins moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rollins fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rose looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rollins throws a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rollins turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rose takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rose slips under a jab from Rollins.
Rollins throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rollins with a hook.
Rose thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rollins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Rollins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rollins controlling the pace.
Rollins blocks the strikes from Rose.
Rollins is trying to control the action in half guard but Rose is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Castor Rollins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rollins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Castor Rollins!
A very excited looking Castor Rollins rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.