PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edwin Lester (ranked 6475 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Rothstien (ranked 5827 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Rothstien will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lester
vs
Rothstien

186 cm
23
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Edwin Lester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Rothstien!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rothstien clinches up with Lester and pushes him back against the cage.

Rothstien jumps into guard, dragging Lester to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lester with a nice head shot there.
Rothstien 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.
Lester postures up.
Lester cracks Rothstien with a solid left hand.
Rothstien 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.
Lester throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester throwing strikes from guard but Rothstien blocks nicely.
Lester loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lester really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstien looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lester is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rothstien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lester with a nice head shot there.
Lester postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lester scoring with some ground and pound.

Rothstien throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lester uses it to pass to side control.
A control attempt from Rothstien but he's now mounted!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lester looking to finish Rothstien with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rothstien!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lester goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rothstien turns into him and now he's in Lester's guard.
Lester 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.
Lester seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lester looking for a sweep. Not yet Lester, not yet.
Lester is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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!
Rothstien trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Rothstien is desperately trying to improve his position but Lester has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lester swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rothstien is now in Lester's guard. A big mistake from Lester there, giving up the dominant position!
Rothstien throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lester works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rothstien stopping the sweep attempt from Lester.
Lester trying to strike off his back.
Lester pulls Rothstien in close to prevent any damage.
Lester continues to stall.
Rothstien preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothstien would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lester trying to control the position here.
Lester looking for a sweep. Not yet Lester, not yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rothstien is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rothstien with a poor takedown

and Lester counters with a takedown into side control.
Rothstien wants to get back to his feet but Lester is dominant here and he's now got Rothstien's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwin Lester dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rothstien doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Lester holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lester blocks an elbow strike.

Lester jumps guard.
Rothstien trying to control but Lester is working from the bottom.
Rothstien won't allow Lester to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lester holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester keeping moving, preventing Rothstien from controlling successfully.
Rothstien sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester 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.
Rothstien throwing strikes but missing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Edwin Lester overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rothstien content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rothstien shoots in but Lester avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd cheers as Rothstien lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lester doesn't seem phased though.

Rothstien instigates a clinch.
Lester is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rothstien pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothstien is looking to break free of the clinch but Lester has double underhooks.
Rothstien fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rothstien misses with a knee to the head.
Rothstien tries to pull guard but Lester holds him up against the cage and eventually Rothstien drops back down to his feet.
Edwin Lester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rothstien.
Rothstien can't get the takedown.

Rothstien manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rothstien has momentary wrist control but Lester slips an elbow through the middle.
Lester won't allow Rothstien to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstien is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rothstien is breathing heavily.
Lester stands up over Rothstien, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lester landing with the ground and pound.
Lester cracks Rothstien with a solid left hand.
Lester works over Rothstien with some ground and pound from guard.
Lester works over Rothstien with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rothstien is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rothstien looking for a sweep. Not yet Rothstien, not yet.
Rothstien working a defensive guard here.
Lester scoring with some ground and pound.
Lester working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rothstien preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lester scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lester is working Rothstien over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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 Edwin Lester will probably get the nod.
That's time! Lester's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rothstien fails with a takedown attempt.
Rothstien tries for a takedown but Lester sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rothstien throws a sloppy head kick and Lester moves out of range easily.

Rothstien darts in and clinches Lester up against the cage.
Rothstien taking a breather.
Rothstien takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester has Rothstien pressed against the cage, preventing Rothstien from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lester is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rothstien can do to turn this around?
Rothstien is pressed up against the cage. Lester has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rothstien down to the mat. Rothstien avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Lester scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A control attempt from Rothstien but he's now mounted!

Lester jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rothstien manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rothstien tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lester is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rothstien knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Check out the look on Lester's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothstien is trying to improve his position.
Lester lands a few punches from side control.
Rothstien is looking to get back to his feet here but Lester is keeping cool and he's managed to take Rothstien's back.

Lester working for a choke but Rothstien is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lester has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rothstien has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rothstien trying to control the hands but Lester won't let him.

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.
Lester scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Rothstien is looking for a way out.

Lester working for the choke.

Lester is persistently looking for the submission but Rothstien is defending it well.
Sam Rothstien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edwin Lester is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lester scores with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edwin Lester showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lester, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edwin Lester!