PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tinashe Chukwuma (ranked 5630 p4p, 5299 weight class) and Don Rockmuller (ranked 513 p4p, 486 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Chukwuma
vs
Rockmuller

194 cm
19
219
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
19
205
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

PWNAGEâ„¢
White Gorilla

White Gorilla
Advance Sport Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tinashe Chukwuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Don Rockmuller!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rockmuller closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rockmuller lands in his opponent's guard.
Chukwuma is looking to stand up but Rockmuller isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chukwuma looking to control.
Chukwuma looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chukwuma wants to improve his position but instead Rockmuller has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chukwuma keeping control of the position.
Rockmuller looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rockmuller is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rockmuller wants to control but Chukwuma is keeping him busy.
Chukwuma tries to get to full guard but Rockmuller has control of the leg.
Chukwuma is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rockmuller wants to take a breather but Chukwuma is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tinashe Chukwuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Chukwuma misses.
Chukwuma jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Rockmuller scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rockmuller working the body and head with strikes.
Rockmuller taking a breather here.
Chukwuma is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma is trying to control Rockmuller's posture but Rockmuller avoids it.
Chukwuma definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rockmuller controls the position.
Chukwuma is looking for a sweep.
Chukwuma on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Chukwuma tries to get out of the position.
Rockmuller in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Chukwuma is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Chukwuma struggling a bit here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chukwuma tries to improve position but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Chukwuma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Chukwuma misses the shot to the body.
Rockmuller drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Chukwuma defends it well.
Chukwuma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rockmuller lands a jab to Chukwuma's midsection.
Chukwuma lands with an overhand left.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chukwuma lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rockmuller shoots in looking for a takedown but Chukwuma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rockmuller's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rockmuller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chukwuma.
Rockmuller misses with a lunging right hand
and Chukwuma cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Don Rockmuller will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rockmuller slips under a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rockmuller.
Rockmuller slips under a jab from Chukwuma.
A jab from Rockmuller misses.
It looked like Chukwuma was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rockmuller.
Chukwuma throws a hook to the side of Rockmuller's head but Rockmuller sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rockmuller drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Chukwuma defends it well.
Rockmuller tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Chukwuma counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rockmuller defending well as Chukwuma loads up on a big left hand.
Chukwuma misses with a looping right.
Rockmuller connects with the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockmuller moves in looking to clinch but Chukwuma pushes him off.
An attempted straight right counter from Chukwuma misses the target.
Chukwuma takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Chukwuma misses with a hook.
Chukwuma misses with a looping left.

Chukwuma clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chukwuma manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Chukwuma trying to control the position but instead, Rockmuller has worked for underhooks and has pushed Chukwuma into the cage.
Rockmuller lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Chukwuma.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rockmuller.

Rockmuller gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Don Rockmuller has got the better of the ground game so far.
Chukwuma tries to get to full guard but Rockmuller has control of the leg.
Chukwuma tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rockmuller has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Chukwuma is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Chukwuma tries to roll over but Rockmuller keeps him under control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chukwuma is trying to control but can't.
Rockmuller wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chukwuma keeps working.
Rockmuller wants to pass to mount but Chukwuma is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma is doing well to control the position and prevent Rockmuller from advancing to side control.
Well, if Rockmuller is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Chukwuma wants to improve his position but Rockmuller is controlling well.
Rockmuller is trying to control the action in half guard but Chukwuma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rockmuller content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chukwuma is trying to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rockmuller takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Chukwuma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chukwuma is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nice defenses there by Rockmuller.
Rockmuller lunges at Chukwuma with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Chukwuma's hand.
Rockmuller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chukwuma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chukwuma connects with a body shot.
Chukwuma catches Rockmuller with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Chukwuma throws a hook but Rockmuller avoids it easily.
Rockmuller looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tinashe Chukwuma will probably get the nod.
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!

Rockmuller cracks Chukwuma with an open hand slap.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rockmuller. Chukwuma does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Chukwuma misses.
Chukwuma fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rockmuller looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tinashe Chukwuma is winning the standup battle so far.
Rockmuller cracks Chukwuma with a good jab.
A shot to the body from Chukwuma misses

and Rockmuller decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Chukwuma's guard.
Rockmuller 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.
Chukwuma managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chukwuma is trying to keep Rockmuller in close.
Rockmuller stopping the sweep attempt from Chukwuma.
Rockmuller pushes down on Chukwuma's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Chukwuma has his hands clasped together around Rockmuller's back. He's all about the action.
Rockmuller content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chukwuma is trying to maintain the position but Rockmuller is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Chukwuma throws an overhand right that lands on Rockmuller's shoulder, as Rockmuller tries to avoid the shot.
Rockmuller slips under a jab from Chukwuma.
Rockmuller with the counter takedown but Chukwuma avoids it easily.

Chukwuma drives through and clinches with Rockmuller against the cage.
Rockmuller misses with a body punch.
Rockmuller misses with the head strike.
Chukwuma's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rockmuller lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Chukwuma.
Rockmuller pushes Chukwuma back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Chukwuma tries to break the clinch but Rockmuller is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockmuller lands a left hand that snaps the head of Chukwuma backwards.
Chukwuma working hard to break the clinch.
Rockmuller gets through Chukwuma's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rockmuller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chukwuma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rockmuller lands a right hand.
Chukwuma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chukwuma makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rockmuller tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chukwuma scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rockmuller blocks an uppercut.

Rockmuller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Chukwuma misses with a two punch combination.
Rockmuller lands with an uppercut that bounces Chukwuma off the cage and back into range.
Chukwuma misses with a looping right.
Chukwuma is looking to clinch but Rockmuller is avoiding it.
Chukwuma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rockmuller manages to avoid it.
Rockmuller just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chukwuma throws a right and a left that Rockmuller avoids nicely.
Rockmuller lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Chukwuma jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rockmuller avoids the body shot from Chukwuma.
Rockmuller keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chukwuma.
Rockmuller scores with a body shot.
Rockmuller scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Chukwuma throws an overhand right that lands on Rockmuller's shoulder, as Rockmuller tries to avoid the shot.
Chukwuma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chukwuma misses with a right hand

and Rockmuller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rockmuller.

Chukwuma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rockmuller ducks under a wild hook from Chukwuma.
Rockmuller feints the counter takedown.

Rockmuller shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Chukwuma is trying to defend but Rockmuller finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rockmuller looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Rockmuller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rockmuller has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

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