PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kraig Joseph (ranked 5481 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Rogers (ranked 7562 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Rogers looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Joseph
vs
Rogers

221 cm
22
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kraig Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Joseph gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Joseph jumps guard.
Joseph utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joseph will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Joseph trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph wants to stand but Rogers is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph seems keen to control Rogers's posture.
Joseph tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Joseph controlling Rogers's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Joseph clinches up against the cage.

Joseph jumps guard and drags Rogers to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Joseph kicks Rogers off and gets to his feet.
Rogers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joseph moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joseph attempts a counter takedown but Rogers avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers closes the distance and clinches up with Joseph, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes Joseph against the cage but Joseph circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rogers darts in looking for a takedown but Joseph gets double underhooks and turns Rogers into the cage.
Rogers looks winded!
Joseph wants to clinch.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Joseph sprawls well. Joseph wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rogers gets slowly back to his feet.
Kraig Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Rogers.

Joseph gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joseph.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph slips a nice elbow through Rogers's hands, connecting with Rogers's forehead.
Joseph winds up and cracks Rogers with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Joseph working over Rogers with some ground and pound. Rogers looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rogers blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joseph.
Joseph lands strikes from half guard.

Joseph decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Joseph checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Joseph appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rogers.

Joseph gets a takedown into half guard.
Joseph 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.
Joseph wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogers keeps working.
Joseph lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Joseph decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kraig Joseph dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rogers falls off balance throwing a combination
and Joseph counters with a series of strikes. Rogers will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rogers tries to close the distance and clinch but Joseph swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Joseph feints and as Rogers raises his hands in defense, Joseph changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rogers wants to stand and escape but Joseph is having none of it.
Joseph throwing strikes from guard but Rogers blocks nicely.
Rogers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joseph decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rogers throws the left hand but Joseph avoids the punch easily.
Rogers throws a leg kick that is checked
and Joseph counters with a series of strikes. Rogers will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers throws a left and a right that both miss
and Joseph counters with a three punch combo that has Rogers backing up. Rogers nods at Joseph to acknowledge the strikes.
Rogers is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Rogers.

Joseph shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rogers is trying to defend but Joseph finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Joseph stops Rogers from getting back to his feet.
Kraig Joseph overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joseph not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joseph lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joseph is trying to work for a kimura but Rogers is defending well.
Joseph working Rogers over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Joseph there.
Joseph throwing shots but Rogers is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Joseph stands up out of the half guard.

Joseph drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Joseph in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joseph working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Rogers is working an open guard so Joseph takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Joseph takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joseph drags the fight down to the ground.
Joseph controls Rogers momentarily but Rogers frees himself.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.

Joseph throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rogers uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogers working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kraig Joseph dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rogers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Joseph on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Joseph is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rogers can do to turn this around?
Rogers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joseph blocks a head kick by Rogers.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rogers enables Joseph to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rogers manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rogers wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Joseph manages to pass to side control.

Joseph is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph slips a nice elbow through Rogers's hands, connecting with Rogers's forehead.
Rogers is looking to escape.
Rogers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joseph stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rogers to get to his feet.

Rogers gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Joseph to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Joseph decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rogers, up you get!

Joseph instigates a clinch.

Joseph drags the fight down to the ground.
Rogers won't allow Joseph to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is adopting a defensive guard.
Joseph's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Joseph wants to stand up but Rogers is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers tries to clinch
and Joseph counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rogers moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rogers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Joseph gets a clinch.

Joseph decides to pull guard.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Joseph lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Joseph wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.
Joseph postures up and lands a big shot to Rogers's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Joseph gets to his feet - Rogers follows without any prompting.

Joseph scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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!
Rogers is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Joseph has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Joseph scoring with punches and elbows.

Joseph has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Steve Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kraig Joseph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rogers tries to keep at a distance but Joseph has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kraig Joseph showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Joseph has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kraig Joseph!