PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Roche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rocha
vs
Roche

177 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
181 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Cage Wars: Rocha Nutrition

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Georges Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger Roche!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha looks for the body kick but Roche saw that one coming.
Rocha is looking to clinch but Roche is avoiding it.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown but Roche shows good takedown defense.
Rocha avoids the head kick by Roche.
Roche misses with a two punch combination.
Rocha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Roche is able to avoid easily.
Roche tries to clinch but Rocha moves out of range.
A jab from Rocha misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha closes the distance looking to clinch

and Roche counters by moving into the clinch.

Roche pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roche rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rocha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Roche throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roche throws a head kick but Rocha moves out of range.
Rocha tries for a takedown but Roche circles away easily
and Roche counters with a two punch combo.
Rocha closes the distance looking to clinch
and Roche counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Roche scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Roche throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rocha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roche is looking to clinch.
Roche lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Roche closes the distance and clinches.
Roche is trying to drag Rocha to the mat but Rocha just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Roche gets through Rocha's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Roche as Rocha tries to tie him up.
Roche scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Roche makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Roche is trying to break the clinch but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Roche throws a punch but it's blocked by Rocha.

Roche breaks the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Roche or perhaps it was just good defense by Rocha which made him look bad.
Rocha throws a leg kick
and Roche counters with a head kick.
Roger Roche seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Roche darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Roche lands a two punch combo.
Roche throws a series of strikes that have Rocha backpedaling.
Roche fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rocha feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Roche is pulling down on Rocha's head. It's preventing any offense from Rocha, at least for the moment.
Rocha landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Roche looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocha is one step ahead there.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Roche keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Roche dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rocha wants to clinch but Roche slips to the side
and Roche counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Roche keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rocha.
Roche with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Roche shoots in for a double leg but Rocha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Roche scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rocha is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Roche is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rocha wants to hold on but Roche pushes him away.
Roche looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roche avoids the attempt from Rocha to control.
Roche controlling from mount.

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.
Rocha is in all sorts of trouble here.
Roche controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rocha tries to hold on but Roche postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rocha is desperately trying to improve his position but Roche has a good base and remains in mount.
Roche controlling his opponent.
Roche's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Roche showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rocha wants to clinch

and Roche counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Roche.
Roche won't allow Rocha to sweep him here.

Rocha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roche gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roche prevents Rocha from getting back to his feet.
Roche makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roche seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rocha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rocha is thwarting Roche's attempts to control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rocha in particular looking to stall.

That's two 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.
Roche is pressing down on Rocha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Roche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocha with a flurry of punches that miss.
Roche manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rocha is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Georges Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roche controlling from mount.
Rocha can't escape the position.
Rocha is working hard here to advance position.
Roche content just to control the position here.
Roger Roche is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rocha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Roche comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Roche 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Roche!