PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Graig Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Irland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as John Irland enters the cage!

Roach
vs
Irland

157 cm
25
346 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

205 cm
19
300 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Graig Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Irland!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roach looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.
Roach really is a fat lump.
Roach slips a nice elbow through Irland's hands, connecting with Irland's forehead.

Irland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roach pulls his head out easily.

Roach is looking for a kimura but Irland is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Roach to get the leverage.
Roach working over Irland with some ground and pound. Irland looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Roach is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Irland is just riding it out for now. Roach eventually gives up the hold.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Irland taking some punishment here, with Roach in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Irland is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roach scores with a couple of nice shots.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Irland wants to get back to full guard.

Roach is looking for a kimura here.

Irland looking for submissions off his back.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.

Irland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roach pulls his head out easily.

Roach is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Irland with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Roach 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.

Irland looking for submissions off his back.
Roach is nestled in close to Irland, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roach lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Roach is working for a kimura but Irland is defending it quite comfortably.

Roach is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Irland doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Roach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Irland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roach tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Irland.
Irland tries to get to full guard but Roach has control of the leg.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.
Roach lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Roach landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Roach lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Roach is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Irland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roach pulls his head out easily.
Irland has hold of Roach's hands but Roach slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Irland tries to get to full guard but Roach has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Roach is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Roach is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Irland sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graig Roach dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Irland looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Irland seems to be working for a kimura but Roach defends the submission attempt.
Roach gets full guard.

Roach looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Irland drops back, looking for a kneebar! Roach looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Roach looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Roach!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irland is not content to let Roach control the position.
Irland is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roach thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Roach wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Irland, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Irland is trying to improve his position.
Irland is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Roach working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Irland looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Roach wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Irland, who protects the arm well.
Irland manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Irland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Roach is working for a kimura but Irland is defending it quite comfortably.

Roach is working for a submission of some sort.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Roach working Irland over with strikes.

Roach is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Irland wants to get back to full guard.

Roach gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Irland shoots in and bounces Roach off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Irland postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Roach is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Irland, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roach postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Roach got a little sloppy there for a moment and Irland has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roach has managed to get both his arms back between Irland's legs - danger averted.

Irland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Roach might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Roach wants to get up but he can't break Irland's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Roach landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roach avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Roach makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
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 Graig Roach will probably get the nod.
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!

Irland looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Roach decides to stand back up. Roach steps back and let's Irland get back to his feet.

Irland scores with a takedown into Roach's guard.
Roach is looking to stand up but Irland isn't so interested in that idea.

Irland is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Roach is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Roach has escaped and now he's on top!

Irland working for a triangle but Roach defends it easily.
Irland takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Roach avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach is looking to stand up but Irland won't let him.
Roach with a nice head shot there.

Roach stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Roach drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Irland is looking to regain half guard here but Roach keeps moving and retains side control.
Irland sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Roach wants to get back to his feet.

Irland is defending against the submission attempts here by Roach.

Roach is looking for a kimura but Irland is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Roach to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Irland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roach pulls his head out easily.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.
Roach is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Irland can do to turn this around?
Irland has hold of Roach's hands but Roach slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Irland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Irland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.
Irland taking some punishment here, with Roach in his half guard.

Irland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Roach wants to work for an arm triangle but Irland is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach lands strikes from half guard.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.
Roach tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Irland looking for submissions off his back.

Irland actively working from the bottom here.

Roach decides to stand up.

Irland manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Roach on his heels. He'll look to pass Roach's guard now, I'm sure.
Irland prevents Roach from getting back to his feet.
Irland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roach swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Irland drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Roach dives on top into guard.

Irland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Roach is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Irland is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Roach has his hands clasped together but Irland extends and breaks Roach's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Irland.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Irland!
Our winner, John Irland, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.