PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory Keenan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keenan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Warriors Code. This should be fireworks!

Keenan
vs
Rocha

178 cm
21
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rory Keenan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Julio Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha wants to clinch.

Keenan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rocha tries to strike but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocha is trying to control Keenan's posture but Keenan avoids it.
Rocha misses with a strike from the bottom.

Keenan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Keenan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rocha keeps working.
Rocha is looking to reverse the position.
Rocha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rocha doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Keenan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rocha's guard now.

Keenan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Keenan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rocha is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Keenan, into his guard.

Rocha thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Keenan controlling Rocha's posture.

Rocha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Keenan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocha won't allow Keenan to sweep him here.
Rocha postures up in Keenan's guard and throws a big left but Keenan blocks it.
Keenan keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Rocha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rocha has gone for a leg lock! Keenan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rocha's guard.
Rocha keeping full guard, as Keenan tries to pass.
Keenan pushes down on Rocha's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan working over Rocha with some ground and pound. Rocha looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rocha wants to improve his position but Keenan is controlling well.
Rocha looks gassed!
Rocha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rocha is trying to maintain the position but Keenan is very close to passing his half guard.
Keenan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Keenan seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rocha for as long as he can get away with.
Rocha works his way to full guard. Good work.
Keenan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocha throws his legs up looking for a submission but Keenan uses it to pass to side control.
Keenan lands some shots froms side control.
Keenan controlling the position from side mount.
Keenan is working Rocha over with some ground and pound from side control.
Keenan just content to control the position.
Keenan in side control lands a decent elbow.
Keenan lands an elbow.
Rocha is trying to control Keenan's posture but Keenan avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Keenan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rocha ducks under a wild hook from Keenan.
Keenan misses with a body kick.
Nice body punch from Keenan.
Rocha fails with the takedown

and Keenan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rocha won't be happy with that.
Rocha tries to buck Keenan off but Keenan is having none of it.
Rocha taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rocha is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as Keenan stalls from top position.

Keenan is trying to get an arm triangle but Rocha is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha is being controlled here.
Keenan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Keenan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rocha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Keenan 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rocha is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Keenan is trying to get an arm triangle but Rocha is defending well.
Keenan wants to control but Rocha is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rocha can't do much from the bottom here.
Keenan is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A low kick from Rocha is predictable there
and Rocha takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rocha misses with a takedown attempt

and Keenan counters with a single leg into guard. Rocha didn't expect that.
Keenan trying to control but Rocha is working from the bottom.

Rocha is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rocha controls Keenan momentarily but Keenan frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Keenan seems content to control.
Rocha tries to roll over but Keenan keeps him under control.
Keenan slips a nice elbow through Rocha's hands, connecting with Rocha's forehead.
Keenan prevents Rocha from improving his position.
Rocha is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Keenan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Keenan prevents Rocha from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Keenan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rocha is trying to control but can't.
Keenan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Keenan winds up and cracks Rocha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Keenan is looking for a kimura but Rocha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Keenan to get the leverage.

Keenan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rocha landing a few short strikes.
Rocha is not content to let Keenan control the position.
Rocha missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Keenan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rocha fails with the takedown

and Keenan counters with a shoot takedown. Rocha fights it but they end up in guard.
Keenan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rocha's head.

Rocha working for submissions but it's allowed Keenan to get to half guard.
Keenan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Rocha looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keenan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha trying to control from the bottom.
Keenan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rory Keenan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rocha is defending against the submission attempts here by Keenan.
Still in half guard, Keenan seems content to control.
Rocha is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Keenan scores with a couple of nice shots.

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.
Rocha is trying to control but can't.

Rocha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rocha gets back to full guard.
Rocha trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Keenan manages to pass to side control.
Rocha wants to control but Keenan passes into side.
Keenan content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Keenan working the head and body with strikes.
Keenan blocks the strikes from Rocha.
Rocha is working to avoid the ground and pound but Keenan connects with a decent elbow.

Keenan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rocha is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan trying to control the position but Rocha is working away.
Rocha tries to buck Keenan off but Keenan is having none of it.
Rocha trying to remain calm as Keenan controls from the top position.
Keenan is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Keenan has control of an arm but Rocha manages to advance to Keenan's back!
Rocha has the hooks in. Keenan is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rocha scores with punches to the body.
Julio Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rory Keenan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rocha lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Keenan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Keenan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Keenan!