PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan LaVelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaquille Rockhard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaVelle has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Nathan LaVelle looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

LaVelle
vs
Rockhard

179 cm
22
188 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

183 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nathan LaVelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shaquille Rockhard!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rockhard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
LaVelle is breathing heavily.
Rockhard controls LaVelle momentarily but LaVelle frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rockhard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rockhard looking to control.
Rockhard wants to sweep but no luck.
LaVelle lands a couple of digs.
Rockhard trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rockhard is trying to control the position but LaVelle postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rockhard is looking to clinch.
Rockhard shoots and misses

and LaVelle counters with a single leg into guard. Rockhard didn't expect that.
Rockhard throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhard working a defensive guard here.
LaVelle thows a big elbow that misses.

Rockhard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rockhard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rockhard controls LaVelle momentarily but LaVelle frees himself.
Rockhard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rockhard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and LaVelle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rockhard's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rockhard is trying to control the position but LaVelle postures up.
Rockhard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control LaVelle kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaVelle looking to pass the guard.

LaVelle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and LaVelle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
LaVelle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rockhard shoots in but no luck this time.
Rockhard misses with a takedown attempt

and LaVelle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rockhard's guard now.
Nathan LaVelle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaquille Rockhard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
LaVelle is looking to work some ground and pound but Rockhard has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhard keeping moving, preventing LaVelle from controlling successfully.
LaVelle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rockhard is keeping the position for now.

LaVelle is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rockhard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rockhard has escaped and now he's on top!
LaVelle keeping moving, preventing Rockhard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rockhard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. LaVelle is keeping the position for now.

LaVelle looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rockhard trying to control but LaVelle is working from the bottom.
Rockhard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rockhard wants to stand but LaVelle is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan LaVelle dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rockhard misses with a takedown

and LaVelle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rockhard's guard now.
Rockhard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rockhard wants to sweep here but LaVelle controlling him for the moment.
Rockhard throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rockhard keeping moving, preventing LaVelle from controlling successfully.
Rockhard working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rockhard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from LaVelle.
Rockhard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rockhard pushes LaVelle up against the cage in a clinch.
Rockhard tries a body shot but LaVelle blocks it.
Rockhard goes for a takedown attempt but LaVelle pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rockhard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rockhard lands in his opponent's guard.
Rockhard looking to pass the guard.
Rockhard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rockhard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rockhard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rockhard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rockhard stopping the sweep attempt from LaVelle.
Rockhard thows a big elbow that misses.
Nathan LaVelle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rockhard trying to control the position from guard on top but LaVelle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

LaVelle looking for a guillotine here but Rockhard defends easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rockhard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nathan LaVelle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaquille Rockhard.
Rockhard fails with the takedown

and LaVelle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by LaVelle.

LaVelle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and LaVelle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaVelle stops Rockhard from standing up.
LaVelle lands a couple of elbows.

LaVelle drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rockhard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now LaVelle has Rockhard in his guard.
LaVelle keeping moving, preventing Rockhard from controlling successfully.
Rockhard wanted to stand there but LaVelle had control of the position.
Rockhard advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan LaVelle dominated that second round.
That's time! LaVelle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Rockhard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
LaVelle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rockhard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in LaVelle's guard now.
LaVelle wants to sweep but no luck.
Rockhard wants to pass the guard but LaVelle is keeping the position.
Rockhard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rockhard is working for a kimura but LaVelle is defending it quite comfortably.
LaVelle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rockhard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhard tries to pass the half guard into mount. LaVelle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
LaVelle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rockhard.
LaVelle is trying to get back to full guard.
Rockhard wants to take a breather but LaVelle is having none of it.
Nathan LaVelle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rockhard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. LaVelle defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rockhard misses with a takedown attempt

and LaVelle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rockhard is trying to maintain the position but LaVelle is very close to passing his half guard.
LaVelle trying to control from half guard but Rockhard is working away.
LaVelle prevents Rockhard from improving his position.
LaVelle content to control rather than advance.
Rockhard wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhard trying to control here.
Rockhard is looking for a sweep. LaVelle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

LaVelle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rockhard is pushing LaVelle's head away, looking to escape. LaVelle manages to hold on to the position though.

LaVelle is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rockhard has escaped the position, nice work there.
LaVelle taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhard manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rockhard tries to roll over but LaVelle keeps him under control.

LaVelle is looking for a kimura here.
Rockhard tries to roll over but LaVelle keeps him under control.
LaVelle stops Rockhard from getting back to his feet.
Shaquille Rockhard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
LaVelle with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nathan LaVelle.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for LaVelle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan LaVelle!