PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Caetano (ranked 3405 p4p, 3759 weight class) and Pocket Rocket (ranked 225 p4p, 250 weight class). Pocket Rocket will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Caetano
vs
Rocket

167 cm
32
136
8 - 8 - 0

163 cm
25
140
6 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joaquim Caetano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pocket Rocket!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocket just misses with a punch to the body.
Rocket has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Pocket Rocket seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Caetano takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rocket connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Caetano momentarily.
Rocket goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Caetano tries to land a front kick but Rocket steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rocket misses with an uppercut. Caetano saw that one coming.
A jab from Rocket misses.
Caetano definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rocket ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Caetano moves away.
Rocket takes a swing at Caetano's ribcage but misses.

Rocket shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Caetano napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Caetano is looking to regain half guard here but Rocket keeps moving and retains side control.
Rocket tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rocket wants to control but Caetano is keeping him busy.
Caetano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket is trying to control the action in half guard but Caetano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Caetano tries to roll over but Rocket keeps him under control.

Rocket is working for a kimura but Caetano is defending it quite comfortably.
Caetano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rocket is working away from the top position though.
Caetano tries to get to full guard but Rocket has control of the leg.

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.
Rocket controlling the pace.

Caetano is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rocket pulls his head out easily.
Caetano is refusing to be controlled, as Rocket sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rocket misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caetano.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rocket feints and as Caetano raises his hands in defense, Rocket changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket is looking to stand up but Caetano won't let him.

Caetano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rocket is aware though and is defending well.
Rocket wants to control from the top but Caetano keeps moving.
Caetano wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Rocket avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Caetano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Caetano is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocket working for a triangle but Caetano defends it easily.

Rocket has his foot on Caetano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caetano works his way back into a safe position though.

Rocket is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Caetano is aware though and is defending well.
Rocket being controlled here, momentarily.

Rocket had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Caetano defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Caetano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Caetano shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rocket's guard.
Rocket has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Caetano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rocket has his foot on Caetano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caetano works his way back into a safe position though.
Rocket preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Caetano cracks Rocket with a solid left hand.

Caetano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rocket has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Caetano has managed to get both his arms back between Rocket's legs - danger averted.
Caetano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Caetano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocket is looking to sweep but instead, Caetano has passed into half guard.
Joaquim Caetano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rocket is staying active underneath Caetano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Caetano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rocket's head.

Rocket looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caetano seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Rocket actively working from the bottom here.

Rocket looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Caetano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rocket doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Caetano.
Rocket is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rocket looking for submissions off his back.

Caetano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Caetano lands a nice short elbow.
Caetano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rocket with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Caetano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Rocket looking for submissions off his back.
Caetano is looking to take a break and control but Rocket is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocket looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Caetano pushes past his half guard into mount!
Rocket is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rocket is squirming around, avoiding Caetano's attempts to control the action.
Caetano is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rocket can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Caetano scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rocket regains half guard.
Caetano passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rocket!
Caetano lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocket tries to lock up and control but Caetano gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rocket is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Caetano is staying active.
Rocket keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Caetano landing strikes from the mount.
Caetano landing strikes from the mount and Rocket is in trouble!
Caetano tries to control but Rocket wriggling away.
Caetano avoids the attempt from Rocket to control.
Caetano working the ground and pound effectively.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Caetano dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Caetano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Caetano stands and throws Rocket's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rocket can't do much from the bottom here.
Rocket is not content to let Caetano control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caetano works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Caetano tries to advance to mount but Rocket denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket taking a bit of punishment here - Caetano scoring with strikes.
Caetano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rocket keeps working.
Caetano connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rocket some visible discomfort.
Caetano throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rocket is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Caetano's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Rocket looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caetano is thwarting Rocket's attempts to control the position.

Caetano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rocket has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Caetano is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket tries to roll over but Caetano keeps him under control.
Caetano 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.
Caetano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rocket actively working from the bottom here.
Caetano prevents Rocket from improving his position.
Rocket is trying to control but can't.
Caetano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rocket keeps working.
Rocket trying to control but Caetano postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Caetano.
Caetano landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Rocket is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Caetano pulls his head out easily.
Caetano wants to pass to mount but Rocket is defending the position.

Rocket looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Caetano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rocket defends it well.
Rocket wants to improve his position but Caetano is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Caetano 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.

Rocket is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Caetano pulls his head out easily.
Rocket wants to get back to full guard.
Caetano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rocket knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Caetano is working hard here to advance position.
Rocket trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaquim Caetano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Caetano has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaquim Caetano!
Our winner, Joaquim Caetano, 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.