PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Micha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paco Tocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paco Tocha looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Micha
vs
Tocha

225 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Micha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paco Tocha!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tocha fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Micha, pushing him back against the cage.
Tocha tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tocha wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Micha manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Micha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Micha is nestled in close to Tocha, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tocha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Micha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tocha defending well though.
Micha is nestled in close to Tocha, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Micha slips a nice elbow through Tocha's hands, connecting with Tocha's forehead.
Tocha looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tocha wants to get back to his feet.
Micha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Micha winds up and cracks Tocha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Micha trying to mount his opponent but Tocha defends it.
Tocha trying to control here.
Tocha tries to kick Micha off but Micha keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Micha stands up from half guard.
Micha throws a leg kick but Tocha sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Tocha as Micha shoots in.

Micha bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Micha wants to control but Tocha is keeping him busy.
Tocha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Micha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Micha tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tocha taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tocha is working to avoid the ground and pound but Micha connects with a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Micha advances to mount.

Micha goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tocha turns into him and now he's in Micha's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Micha throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Micha is on top in guard.
Micha landing with the ground and pound.
Micha 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.
Micha is pushing down on Tocha's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tocha is fighting to maintain full guard but Micha has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Micha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Micha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Micha seems to be working for a kimura but Tocha defends the submission attempt.
Micha scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Micha wants to pass to mount but Tocha is defending the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tocha makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tocha.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Micha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Micha swats away the attempt to clinch by Tocha.
Tocha throws a head kick but Micha moves out of range.
Micha connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice sprawl there from Tocha as Micha shoots in.
Tocha throws a nice outside leg kick.
Micha dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tocha throws a series of punches but Micha moves out of range.
Tocha wants to clinch up but Micha keeps it at a distance.
Tocha avoids the head kick by Micha.
Micha shoots in for a double leg but Tocha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Micha tries to clinch but Tocha moves away
and Tocha finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Micha fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tocha looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Horrible takedown by Micha or perhaps it was just good defense by Tocha which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Micha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Micha fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tocha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Micha throws a sloppy head kick and Tocha moves out of range easily.
Micha shoots for a double leg takedown but Tocha sprawls well. He's pushed Micha's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Micha drives through and clinches with Tocha against the cage.
Micha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Tocha manages to break the clinch.

Micha shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Micha gets to his feet. Tocha looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Tocha gets a clinch.
Micha tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tocha keeps control of Micha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Micha lands with a light punch inside.

Micha jumps guard and drags Tocha to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tocha preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tocha wants to get up but he can't break Micha's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Micha is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Micha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Micha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tocha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Micha stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Micha avoids the head kick by Tocha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tocha tries a head kick but it misses.
Tocha tries to clinch but Micha is having none of it.
Micha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tocha as he avoids it easily.
Tocha looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Micha is fending him off so far but Tocha persists. Nope, Micha circles away and we're back to standing.
Tocha stuffs the takedown.
Micha fails to land the takedown.
Micha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Tocha gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Micha has clasped his hands together around Tocha's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Micha in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Micha tries to advance to mount but can't.
Micha misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Micha throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Micha is working Tocha over with some ground and pound from side control.
John Micha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tocha taking punishment in the form of punches.
Micha throwing strikes but Tocha manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Micha tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Micha sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Micha is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tocha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tocha's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Micha looking to break Tocha's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tocha remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Micha will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Micha dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Micha tries for a takedown but Tocha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Micha tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tocha swivels and escapes.
Tocha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Micha's sensitive parts.

Micha gets caught flat footed, as Tocha shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Micha had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tocha is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Micha Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tocha's back instead.
Micha softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Micha connects with a big shot to the side of Tocha's head.
Micha is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Micha scores with punches and elbows.
Micha scores with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Micha scores with punches from the back.
Micha loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Tocha hold on?
Tocha takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Micha tightening his grip on Tocha, looking for the choke.
Micha is punishing Tocha with strikes - can he finish him?!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Micha lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Micha patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Micha gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Micha scores with punches to the body.
Tocha wants to get back to his feet.
Micha looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Micha lands punches and elbows.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Micha.
Micha softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Micha lands shots from the back.
Micha is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Micha gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Micha gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Micha apologises and we restart here on the feet.
A head kick misses from Micha.
Tocha tries for a takedown but Micha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tocha stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Micha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tocha throws a head kick but Micha moves out of range.
Micha moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Micha shoots for a takedown but Tocha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tocha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Micha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Micha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tocha but Tocha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Micha shoots in but no luck this time.
Micha tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tocha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Tocha breaks the clinch.
Tocha misses with a two punch combination.
Tocha takes a head kick and keeps coming.
John Micha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Micha has taken the fight to the clinch.
Micha keeps control of Tocha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Micha prevents Tocha from breaking the clinch.
Tocha can't break the clinch.
Paco Tocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tocha is pressed up against the cage. Micha has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tocha down to the mat. Tocha avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Tocha. No joy for Micha on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Micha.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Micha, 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Micha!