PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Rockhold (ranked 6177 p4p, 4763 weight class) and Zoe Jab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zoe Jab is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rockhold
vs
Jab

185 cm
18
178
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
21
175
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luke Rockhold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zoe Jab!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ben Watson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockhold tries to clinch up.
Rockhold tries to clinch up.
Rockhold moves to clinch but Jab breaks away

so Jab counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rockhold knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jab on the ground.
Rockhold wants to stand up but Jab is controlling him.

Jab gets to his feet - Rockhold follows without any prompting.
Jab misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold tries to clinch up.
Rockhold tries to clinch but Jab is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rockhold looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rockhold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jab manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rockhold is looking to clinch but Jab is avoiding it.
Jab is looking for the big counter here.
Jab walks into a left hand.
Rockhold is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rockhold wants to clinch up but Jab keeps it at a distance.
Jab lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Danga de danga de dang - Jab scores with a four punch combination!
Rockhold looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rockhold showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jab.
Rockhold wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rockhold moves in looking to clinch but Jab pushes him off.
Jab takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rockhold gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Jab counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rockhold trying to control from the bottom.
Jab wants to pass to mount but Rockhold is defending the position.
Jab is taking a breather. Rockhold says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like Jab might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Donk. Rockhold catches Jab right on the button with a cross.
Rockhold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jab.
Luke Rockhold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rockhold wants to clinch.
Jab looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

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.

Jab closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rockhold to the mat! Rockhold manages to get full guard.
Jab is standing up over Rockhold. Rockhold looks to escape but Jab dives into side control.

Jab grinds an elbow into Rockhold's temple.

Jab stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rockhold scores with a jab to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Jab dominated that round.
That's time! Rockhold's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rockhold dips to his left and cracks Jab with an uppercut!
Jab fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It appears Rockhold was looking to counter with a kick there.
Rockhold wants to clinch up but Jab keeps it at a distance.
Jab from Rockhold.
Rockhold is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Jab circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jab has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rockhold looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rockhold slips a straight right by Jab.
Rockhold is looking to clinch but Jab is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold tries to close the distance and clinch but Jab swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rockhold is looking to clinch but Jab is avoiding it.
Jab fails to land with a series of punches.
Rockhold fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold closes the distance but Jab moves to the side
and Jab connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rockhold tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jab swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jab tries to counter with a clinch but Rockhold shakes him off and moves away.

Rockhold drives through and clinches with Jab against the cage.
Rockhold with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rockhold is trying to maintain a safe position but Jab gets an underhook and turns Rockhold into the cage.
Jab is looking for a takedown.
Rockhold is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Jab takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jab tries to pull guard but Rockhold forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jab is trying to push Rockhold away but Rockhold has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rockhold tries to land a knee to the head but Jab blocks with his arms.

Jab ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jab no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jab has control of Rockhold's left arm, preventing Rockhold from doing any damage.
Rockhold trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jab's guard.
Zoe Jab has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jab wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jab throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jab is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jab has his hands on Rockhold's head, controlling the position.

Jab is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jab is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rockhold has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rockhold is one step ahead there.
Jab is controlling Rockhold's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jab has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rockhold off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Jab showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rockhold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jab manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rockhold tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Jab to counter with a crisp jab.
Rockhold darts in trying to clinch

and Jab counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jab.
Jab controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rockhold looking to control but Jab passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab controlling the pace.

Jab decides to return to a standing position.
Jab keeps the fight on the outside.

Jab darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rockhold is looking to get back to is feet but Jab passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Jab has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
It looks like Rockhold has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Rockhold lands a lovely overhand right.

Jab instigates a clinch.
Jab jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rockhold walks away with a smile on his face. Jab gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jab misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jab counters with a shoot takedown. Rockhold fights it but they end up in guard.
Rockhold wants to get back to his feet but Jab passes into half guard.

Jab seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Rockhold is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Zoe Jab!