PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diogo Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fox comes to the cage accompanied by Pride Theme. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fox
vs
Rocha

182 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diego Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diogo Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fox fails in his attempt to clinch.

Fox scores a takedown into full mount!
Fox tries to control but Rocha wriggling away.
Rocha bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rocha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Fox throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Fox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rocha is working Fox over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fox manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rocha manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox stays in close to Rocha's body and controls the position.
Fox wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
Rocha trying to control the position.
Rocha is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Rocha has his foot on Fox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fox works his way back into a safe position though.
Rocha wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fox gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rocha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rocha tries for a takedown but Fox circles away easily

and Fox decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rocha's guard.
Fox controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rocha wants to sweep but no luck.
Fox is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox preventing the sweep.
Rocha is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fox won't allow Rocha to sweep him here.
Rocha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fox is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rocha keeping moving, preventing Fox from controlling successfully.
Rocha has a closed guard, preventing Fox from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rocha swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fox gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rocha counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fox working a defensive guard here.
Fox is breathing heavily.
Fox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Fox keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Fox dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Rocha.
Fox doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rocha counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fox won't be happy with that.
Fox can't do much from the bottom here.
Rocha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fox keeps working.
Fox struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rocha trying to control the position but Fox is working away.
Fox throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha is looking to take a break and control but Fox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Fox's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

and Rocha counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fox wants to sweep here but Rocha controlling him for the moment.
Rocha sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fox's guard.
Fox taking some punishment here, with Rocha in his half guard.

Rocha decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Fox tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rocha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rocha.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rocha with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha passes Fox's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rocha wants to control but Fox is keeping him busy.
Fox has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rocha is working away from the top position though.
Rocha passes into side control, despite Fox's attempt to control the position.
Fox is trying to get back to half guard.
Fox on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Fox being controlled for a moment.
Fox is trying to control Rocha's posture but Rocha avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fox with a poor takedown

and Rocha decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fox's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rocha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fox looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocha is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocha stops Fox from standing up.

Rocha gets to his feet - Fox follows without any prompting.

Rocha shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fox is trying to defend but Rocha finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fox wants to control the action here but instead Rocha manages to pass to full mount!

Rocha is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Fox to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Fox shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fox is looking to escape.
Fox tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diogo Rocha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rocha wants to control the pace but Fox is squirming around nicely.
Fox is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rocha won't let Fox get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rocha prevents Fox from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Rocha 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!

Rocha shoots in but Fox avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rocha shoots for a takedown but Fox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Fox drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rocha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fox accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rocha is trying to control the position but Fox postures up.
Fox content to stall in guard here.

Fox decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rocha, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha misses with a takedown
and Fox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diego Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diogo Rocha.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jab from Fox.

Rocha is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fox's half guard.
Fox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rocha controlling from the top position.
Rocha looking to pass the guard.
Rocha preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox trying to strike off his back.
Rocha is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Rocha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fox trying to control the position.
Rocha slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fox trying to control the position.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Fox keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fox has his foot on Rocha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rocha works his way back into a safe position though.
Rocha controlling from the top position.
Rocha pushes down on Fox's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Rocha decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Fox tries to clinch but Rocha moves away

and Rocha counters with a shoot takedown. Fox fights it but they end up in guard.
Fox looking to control.
Rocha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fox is keeping the position for now.
Rocha 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha trying to control but Fox is working from the bottom.
Fox is trying to control the position but Rocha postures up.
Rocha cracks Fox with a solid left hand.
Fox looking for a sweep. Not yet Fox, not yet.

Fox is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rocha bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fox tries to buck Rocha off but Rocha is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diogo Rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rocha 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diogo Rocha!