PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Joseph
vs
Rocha

178 cm
24
210 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

186 cm
19
215 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

[MMABR] Winners' Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitchell Joseph!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Joseph wants it to stay on the feet.
Joseph throws a front kick aimed at Rocha's knee but Rocha avoids it well.
Joseph throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Joseph throws a big shot that misses.

Rocha shoots in and bounces Joseph off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Joseph working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rocha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rocha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rocha landing some decent shots from guard.
Rocha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha throws and elbow that misses. Joseph uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rocha's guard. Nice move by Joseph!

Rocha has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Joseph off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha slips a straight right by Joseph.
Rocha tries to clinch up but Joseph circles away and keeps his distance.
Joseph misses with the combination.
Rocha looks for a takedown but Joseph sprawls well.

Rocha closes the distance and clinches.
Joseph managing to block the knees to the body from Rocha.
Joseph prevents the takedown attempt.
Mitchell Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rocha.
Rocha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Joseph.
Joseph takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rocha takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Mauricio Rocha has been cut.
Rocha takes an elbow to the temple.
Rocha throws a knee to the head but misses.
Joseph slowing the pace effectively.
Joseph gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Joseph is trying to maintain a safe position but Rocha gets an underhook and turns Joseph into the cage.
Rocha has had enough of the clinch but Joseph keeps him there for the moment.
Joseph is trying to break the clinch but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Rocha wants a takedown but no success here.
Joseph creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Joseph gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

Rocha shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rocha was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rocha looks gassed!
Joseph wants to hold on but Rocha pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocha misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Joseph suckers Rocha into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Joseph is now in Rocha's guard!
Rocha is looking to stand up but Joseph isn't so interested in that idea.
Joseph controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rocha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joseph gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Joseph takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Joseph with a hook.
Joseph fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rocha manages to avoid it.
Joseph lands a hook that stumbles Rocha back into the cage. Joseph follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Rocha to the canvas! Joseph pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Rocha has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Mitchell Joseph!
Mitchell Joseph is the new light heavyweight champion!