PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JP Alcano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Rotoras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rotoras has chosen Remember the Name! as his entrance music. JP Alcano could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ricardo Rotoras's chin.

Alcano
vs
Rotoras

178 cm
26
153 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

172 cm
21
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, JP Alcano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Rotoras!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alcano looks for the body kick but Rotoras saw that one coming.
Rotoras is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alcano sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alcano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rotoras avoids the head kick by Alcano.
Rotoras shoots in looking for a takedown. Alcano tries to sprawl out of it but Rotoras keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alcano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alcano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rotoras's head.
Alcano throws a head kick but Rotoras moves out of range.

Rotoras scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Alcano wants to improve his position but Rotoras is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Rotoras.
Rotoras missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rotoras thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alcano's head.
Alcano taking some punishment here, with Rotoras in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rotoras 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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rotoras connects with a nice short shot to Alcano's temple.
Rotoras sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alcano defending well though.
Alcano is trying to maintain the position but Rotoras is very close to passing his half guard.
Rotoras is looking to advance position but Alcano won't allow it.
Rotoras has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Alcano is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rotoras pulls his head out easily.

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.
Rotoras trying to control from half guard but Alcano is working away.
Rotoras takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alcano is positioning himself well to prevent Rotoras advancing to mount.
Well, if Rotoras 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.
Alcano tries to kick Rotoras off but Rotoras keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rotoras keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Alcano is trying to stand.

Rotoras 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alcano is breathing heavily.
Rotoras is trying to control the action in half guard but Alcano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcano wants to get back to his feet.
Rotoras winds up and cracks Alcano with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rotoras working Alcano over with strikes.

Rotoras is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ground and pound from Rotoras.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rotoras working over Alcano with some ground and pound. Alcano looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Alcano trying to hold on to Rotoras's head to control him but Rotoras postures up.

Rotoras is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Alcano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rotoras.
Alcano is trying to stand.
Rotoras missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rotoras dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alcano cracks the inside of Rotoras's front leg.

Rotoras shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alcano's guard.
Rotoras advances position into side control!
Rotoras throws a strike aimed at the side of Alcano's head but Alcano avoids it well.
Alcano wants to get back to his feet but Rotoras drags him back down.
Alcano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rotoras wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rotoras grinds an elbow into Alcano's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rotoras trying to control the action but Alcano is working from the bottom.
Rotoras working the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rotoras lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Rotoras grinds an elbow into Alcano's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rotoras is trying to get an arm triangle but Alcano is defending well.
Rotoras works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Rotoras tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rotoras is looking to take a break and control but Alcano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rotoras working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcano wants to control but Rotoras postures up.
Rotoras lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Alcano down.
Rotoras working the body and head with strikes.

Rotoras working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rotoras lands a decent elbow from side control.
Alcano sneaks back into half guard.
Alcano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rotoras seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rotoras thows a huge punch but Alcano dodges it nicely.
Rotoras slips a nice elbow through Alcano's hands, connecting with Alcano's forehead.
Alcano is trying to stand.

Rotoras is working for a kimura but Alcano is defending it quite comfortably.
Rotoras lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rotoras is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

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.
Alcano controls Rotoras momentarily but Rotoras frees himself.
Rotoras wants to pass the guard but Alcano is keeping the position.
Rotoras stays in close to Alcano's body and controls the position.
Rotoras trying to control the position from guard on top but Alcano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rotoras throwing strikes from guard but Alcano blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rotoras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Alcano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rotoras.
Rotoras swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rotoras avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rotoras shoots in for a takedown but Alcano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rotoras avoids the head kick by Alcano.
Some wild striking there from Rotoras.
Alcano lands a head kick!

It looks like Ricardo Rotoras has been cut.
A left and a right from Alcano both land. Nice combination.
Alcano throws a lazy right hand but Rotoras sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rotoras avoids the head kick by Alcano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rotoras.
JP Alcano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rotoras.

Rotoras closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Alcano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rotoras.
Alcano wants to improve his position but Rotoras is controlling well.
Alcano is not content to let Rotoras control the position.
Rotoras takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rotoras is keen to just control but Alcano is a slippery customer.
Rotoras controlling the pace.

Rotoras seems to be working for a kimura but Alcano defends the submission attempt.
JP Alcano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras with the ground and pound but Alcano uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Alcano wants to sweep here but Rotoras controlling him for the moment.
Rotoras stands up over Alcano, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Alcano looking for a sweep. Not yet Alcano, not yet.
Rotoras cracks Alcano with a solid left hand.
Alcano is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rotoras chips away with some ground and pound.
Rotoras landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras working some strikes from top position.
Rotoras lands a couple of elbows.
Rotoras passes into half guard.
Alcano is trying to stand up here but Rotoras is controlling him well.

Alcano is defending against the submission attempts here by Rotoras.

Rotoras is working for a kimura but Alcano is defending it quite comfortably.

Alcano makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rotoras shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rotoras showed some decent athleticism there.
Rotoras wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alcano keeps working.
Rotoras missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rotoras lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rotoras lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Rotoras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rotoras 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rotoras!