PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Rocksteady (ranked 6010 p4p, 23725 weight class) and Dmitry Rodichkin (ranked 517 p4p, 553 weight class). Rocksteady kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Red Right Hand. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rocksteady
vs
Rodichkin

170 cm
27
190
10 - 10 - 0

180 cm
24
200
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Rocksteady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Rodichkin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodichkin drops his hands momentarily and Rocksteady takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A jab from Rocksteady misses.
Rodichkin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rodichkin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rocksteady manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodichkin takes a swing at Rocksteady's ribcage but misses.
Rocksteady half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rodichkin throws an off balance right hand

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rocksteady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rocksteady working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rodichkin's head.
Rocksteady is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocksteady has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodichkin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rocksteady has passed into side control.
Rodichkin wants to control but Rocksteady postures up.
Rocksteady is working Rodichkin over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rodichkin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rocksteady working the ground and pound.
Rodichkin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodichkin wants to control but Rocksteady postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady cracks Rodichkin with a big right hand but Rodichkin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rocksteady grinds an elbow into Rodichkin's temple.
Rocksteady scoring with punches from side control.
Rodichkin is trying to get back to half guard.
Rodichkin wants to control but Rocksteady postures up.
Rodichkin is looking for a sweep.
Rocksteady controls the position from side control.
Rocksteady wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodichkin keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocksteady tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rocksteady has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rocksteady landing a few strikes.
Rodichkin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rocksteady working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rodichkin is pressing down on Rocksteady's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rodichkin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocksteady is one step ahead there.
Rodichkin is still trying to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodichkin is looking to sweep but instead, Rocksteady has passed into half guard.
Rodichkin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodichkin moves into full guard.
Rocksteady cracks Rodichkin with a solid left hand.
Rocksteady works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rodichkin wants to sweep but Rocksteady has passed to side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocksteady landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rodichkin is letting Rocksteady control him for a moment.
Rocksteady working the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Rocksteady dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rocksteady doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rocksteady defending well as Rodichkin loads up on a big left hand.
Rocksteady feinted with a counter takedown.
Rodichkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodichkin misses with a double jab

and Rocksteady counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rodichkin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rocksteady passes into half guard.
Rodichkin is staying active underneath Rocksteady, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodichkin trying to get back to full guard but Rocksteady takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rocksteady sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rodichkin tries to lock up and control but Rocksteady gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodichkin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rodichkin is trapped and Rocksteady is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Rocksteady is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Rocksteady controlling well, preventing Rodichkin from escaping the position.
Rocksteady controls the action.
Rodichkin is really stuck here.
Rocksteady lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Rocksteady 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, Rodichkin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rocksteady is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Rodichkin up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady trying to control.
Rocksteady is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodichkin can do to turn this around?

Rodichkin fending off the submission attempt from Rocksteady.

Rodichkin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Rodichkin trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodichkin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rocksteady.
Rodichkin is trying to remain composed but Rocksteady is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Rodichkin tries to escape the position.

Rodichkin showing good submission defense here.
Rodichkin trying to control but not successfully.
Rocksteady keeps control of the position easily here as Rodichkin tries to buck him off.
Rodichkin breaks Rocksteady's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocksteady is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rodichkin defends well.
James Rocksteady overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rocksteady is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rocksteady keeping moving, preventing Rodichkin from controlling successfully.
Rocksteady looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rodichkin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodichkin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rocksteady's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rocksteady is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rocksteady working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Rocksteady dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rodichkin throws a hook to the side of Rocksteady's head but Rocksteady sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rocksteady throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rodichkin throws a body punch but Rocksteady moves out of range.
Rocksteady shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodichkin sprawls well. He's pushed Rocksteady's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rocksteady shoots in for a double leg but Rodichkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rocksteady clinches up with Rodichkin and pushes him back against the cage.
Rocksteady lands a left hand.
Rodichkin trying to stall but Rocksteady improves his position.
Rocksteady scores with a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodichkin goes for a takedown attempt but Rocksteady pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodichkin looks to land a left hand but Rocksteady moved out of range nicely.
Rodichkin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rocksteady under the eye.
Rodichkin needs to keep his hands up - Rocksteady had a free shot at his head there.
Rodichkin throws a jab when Rocksteady was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodichkin shoots in but no luck this time.
Rocksteady fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Rocksteady. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodichkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rocksteady throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rodichkin tries to clinch but Rocksteady is having none of it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rodichkin.
Rocksteady misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodichkin.
Rodichkin throws a sloppy body shot

and Rocksteady counters with a takedown into side control.
Rodichkin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rocksteady is pressing down on Rodichkin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rodichkin is holding on for now.
James Rocksteady is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rodichkin wants to improve his position but Rocksteady is controlling well.
Rodichkin keeps trying to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rocksteady is keen to just control but Rodichkin is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady controlling the action here.
Rocksteady is trying to control. Rodichkin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rocksteady content to control rather than advance.
Rodichkin tries to get to full guard but Rocksteady has control of the leg.
Dmitry Rodichkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocksteady wants to control but Rodichkin is keeping him busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rocksteady takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A slow jab from Rodichkin misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Rocksteady moves into the clinch successfully.
Rodichkin lands a body punch.
Rodichkin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rocksteady is defending well.
Rodichkin is looking to control Rocksteady's arms but Rocksteady gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodichkin has his back to the cage.
Rocksteady goes for a takedown attempt but Rodichkin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodichkin tests Rocksteady's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rodichkin digs a good hook to Rocksteady's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodichkin throws an off balance right hand

so Rocksteady counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rodichkin striking off his back but it's not causing Rocksteady any problems.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Rocksteady showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rocksteady, 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Rocksteady!
A relieved looking James Rocksteady thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.