PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Titus Wilder (ranked 5528 p4p, 2997 weight class) and Tiago Gomes Da Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 406 weight class). Wilder's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Method Man & Redman - Da Rockwilder. 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?

Wilder
vs
Da Rocha

185 cm
20
197
2 - 2 - 1

188 cm
36
195
21 - 16 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Titus Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tiago Gomes Da Rocha!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder throws a poor cross that misses
and Da Rocha counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wilder misses with a straight right.
Da Rocha shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Da Rocha lands a two punch combo.

Da Rocha closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wilder to the mat! Wilder manages to get full guard.
Da Rocha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wilder swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Da Rocha works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Da Rocha is trying to control the action in half guard but Wilder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Wilder is defending against the submission attempts here by Da Rocha.
Wilder is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Cause & Effect that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Da Rocha is trying to work for a kimura but Wilder is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Rocha trying to mount his opponent but Wilder defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Da Rocha 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.

Wilder is defending against the submission attempts here by Da Rocha.
Da Rocha looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Da Rocha 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.
Da Rocha wants to take a breather but Wilder is having none of it.

Da Rocha is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Da Rocha is looking to stall here but Wilder recovers full guard.
Da Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet but Da Rocha is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Da Rocha trying to control but Wilder is working from the bottom.
Da Rocha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wilder swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Da Rocha wants to control from the top but Wilder keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Da Rocha shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wilder's guard.
Da Rocha controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Da Rocha pushes down on Wilder's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Da Rocha is trying to work for a kimura but Wilder is defending well.

Da Rocha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wilder sees it coming and defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Da Rocha is looking for submissions but instead, Wilder has regained full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Gomes Da Rocha dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Da Rocha moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Da Rocha has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wilder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wilder prevents a takedown attempt there.

Da Rocha gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Da Rocha is trying to control. Wilder wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Da Rocha is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wilder is defending against the submission attempts here by Da Rocha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder is trying to stand up here but Da Rocha is controlling him well.
Tiago Gomes Da Rocha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Da Rocha not doing much here.
Wilder is not content to let Da Rocha control the position.

Da Rocha is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wilder has managed to free his arm - good work.
Da Rocha is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Da Rocha prevents Wilder from standing back up.
Da Rocha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Da Rocha trying to mount his opponent but Wilder defends it.

Da Rocha is working for a submission of some sort.

Da Rocha is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wilder has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Rocha is working for a kimura but Wilder is defending it quite comfortably.
Da Rocha is keen to just control but Wilder is a slippery customer.
Wilder tries to kick Da Rocha off but Da Rocha keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Da Rocha is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wilder has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wilder is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

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

Da Rocha is looking for a kimura here.

Da Rocha is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Da Rocha is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wilder is staying active underneath Da Rocha, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Gomes Da Rocha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Da Rocha wants to clinch.
Da Rocha displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Da Rocha fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Rocha fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wilder is looking to counter punch.
Da Rocha with a poor takedown
and Wilder counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Titus Wilder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Gomes Da Rocha.
Da Rocha with a hook.
Da Rocha misses with a takedown
and Wilder counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Rocha gets a clinch.
Wilder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wilder struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Rocha controls his hands.
Wilder gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Da Rocha.
Da Rocha tries for a takedown. No joy.
A nice right hand lands inside from Da Rocha.
Wilder is trying to push Da Rocha away but Da Rocha has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Wilder is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Da Rocha goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wilder prevents it.
Wilder prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Wilder.
Wilder misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Wilder is fighting off a takedown attempt but Da Rocha is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wilder to the mat. Wilder regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Titus Wilder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Rocha tries to free his leg and advance position but Wilder is retaining full guard.
Da Rocha trying to control but Wilder is working from the bottom.
Da Rocha stops Wilder from standing up.
Da Rocha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilder is keeping the position for now.
Da Rocha slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Da Rocha swings around for an armbar but Wilder sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Da Rocha's guard.
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!

Wilder avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Rocha is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Da Rocha wants to sweep here but Wilder controlling him for the moment.
Wilder knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Da Rocha on the ground.
Wilder wants to stand but Da Rocha is controlling his posture from full guard.
Wilder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Da Rocha trying to keep a closed guard but Wilder is proving a slippery customer.

Da Rocha is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Da Rocha looking for a guillotine here but Wilder defends easily.
Da Rocha is looking to sweep but instead, Wilder has passed into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Da Rocha is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Wilder jumps into side control!
Da Rocha looks to move to half guard but instead Wilder has passed into mount! Damn!

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 Titus Wilder.
Well Da Rocha 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Gomes Da Rocha!
Our winner, Tiago Gomes Da Rocha, 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.