PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Balrog (ranked 4185 p4p, 5204 weight class) and Lewis Rocha (ranked 406 p4p, 464 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balrog
vs
Rocha

183 cm
18
190
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
193
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johannes Balrog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lewis Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balrog throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rocha's waist but Rocha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balrog off to one side.
Balrog fails with a takedown attempt.
Balrog looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rocha.
Balrog fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Balrog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balrog shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rocha pinned against the cage. Rocha gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rocha looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rocha displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balrog.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balrog was well out of range. Poor timing from Rocha.
Rocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rocha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Balrog takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rocha fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balrog has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Balrog darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Balrog.

Balrog is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rocha has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rocha is doing well to control the position and prevent Balrog from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balrog thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rocha's head.
Balrog sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rocha defending well though.
Rocha is concentrating on defense, preventing Balrog from advancing position.
Balrog wants to take a breather but Rocha is having none of it.
Rocha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Balrog.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Balrog is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Balrog 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.
Balrog missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rocha is looking to improve his position.
Balrog wants to control but Rocha is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balrog wants to work for an arm triangle but Rocha is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Balrog 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.
Balrog throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balrog is keen to just control but Rocha is a slippery customer.
Rocha wants to improve his position but Balrog is controlling well.
Balrog trying to mount his opponent but Rocha defends it.
Balrog throwing shots but Rocha is blocking nicely.
Rocha is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balrog's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balrog's back!
Rocha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Balrog. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rocha is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Balrog has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
I really don't envy Balrog right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balrog looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Balrog tries to escape the position.
Balrog turns into Rocha and is now in his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balrog accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balrog postures up and lands a big shot to Rocha's brow.
Balrog stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Balrog drops back looking for a leg! Rocha is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rocha manages to kick Balrog off! Balrog jumps back into Rocha's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocha wants to stand but Balrog is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lewis Rocha will probably get the nod.
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.

Balrog fails with the takedown
and Rocha counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Balrog thinking.
Balrog closes the distance and clinches up with Rocha, looking for a takedown. Balrog pushes Rocha against the cage but Rocha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Balrog shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rocha sprawls well. Rocha wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balrog gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Balrog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balrog on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rocha. Rocha obviously looking to wear him down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rocha.
Rocha connects with an inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rocha.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha connects with a solid leg kick.
Rocha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Balrog shoots and misses
and Rocha counters with a left to the body.
Rocha comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balrog fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Rocha.
Balrog fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Balrog gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rocha.

It looks like Johannes Balrog has been cut.
Balrog misses with a takedown attempt - Rocha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rocha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rocha is looking to slow Balrog down with leg kicks.

Balrog shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rocha's guard.
Balrog won't allow Rocha to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rocha can do anything to dispel that myth.
Balrog stops Rocha from standing up.
Rocha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Balrog.
Rocha lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rocha stands and steps away. Balrog gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rocha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Balrog gets the takedown into side control.
Rocha prevents Balrog from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Balrog wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rocha, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Rocha's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rocha tries to buck Balrog off but Balrog is having none of it.

Balrog is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rocha knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Balrog tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balrog misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rocha struggling a bit here.

Balrog looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rocha is looking to regain half guard here but Balrog keeps moving and retains side control.
Balrog looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rocha is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rocha is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rocha takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Balrog scores with punches from side control.

Balrog tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Balrog advances to full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lewis Rocha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johannes Balrog's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rocha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rocha slaps away a takedown attempt from Balrog, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rocha with a nice calf kick.
Rocha lands a really nice looking cross but Balrog seems unphased.
Rocha stuffs the takedown.
Rocha ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rocha with a nice calf kick.
Rocha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rocha misses with an uppercut. Balrog saw that one coming.
Balrog closes the distance and clinches up with Rocha, looking for a takedown. Balrog pushes Rocha against the cage but Rocha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Balrog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha lands a body shot.
That kick from Rocha tenderised Balrog's leg. Balrog is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
Balrog looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balrog tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rocha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Balrog somewhat.
Rocha is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Balrog rather than just go for the knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balrog sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rocha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rocha connects with a looping right hand.
Balrog has a takedown stuffed.
Rocha looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Johannes Balrog is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rocha.
Balrog takes one to the side of the head.
Rocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lewis Rocha seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balrog fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha scores with a punch to the head.
Rocha scores with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balrog has a takedown stuffed.
Rocha throws a quick inside leg kick.

Balrog changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rocha looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rocha taking a bit of punishment here - Balrog scoring with strikes.

Balrog is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rocha knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rocha is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to control but Balrog postures up.
Balrog is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rocha's shoulder. That is not cool.
Balrog fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rocha struggling a bit here.

Balrog thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Balrog looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is looking for a sweep.

Balrog tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Balrog wants to control but Rocha is keeping him busy.
Balrog scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rocha to see if he's OK.
Rocha trying to control but Balrog flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Rocha is trying to stand back up.
Johannes Balrog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lewis Rocha is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Balrog gets his hands free as Rocha looks to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lewis Rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rocha winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lewis Rocha!
An out of breath Lewis Rocha thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.