PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Tihuana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demian Rocha has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rocha
vs
Tihuana

183 cm
22
196 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

192 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Tihuana!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha tries a head kick but it misses.
Rocha tries a head kick but it misses.
Rocha misses with a head kick.
Rocha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rocha throws a hook to the side of Tihuana's head but Tihuana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rocha throws a low kick but Tihuana moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Tihuana as Rocha shoots in.
Rocha tests Tihuana's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha tries to clinch up.
Tihuana takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tihuana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tihuana wants it to stay on the feet.
Rocha throws a looping overhand right but Tihuana ducks down to avoid it.
Rocha misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Rocha.
Demian Rocha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocha misses with an uppercut. Tihuana saw that one coming.
A swing and a miss from Rocha.
Rocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rocha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tihuana with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rocha counters with a big head kick but Tihuana shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Tihuana scores a takedown into full mount!
Rocha gets back to half guard.
Tihuana looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rocha with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Tihuana seems to be working for a kimura but Rocha defends the submission attempt.
Rocha is looking for a sweep. Tihuana is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tihuana is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rocha defends it well.

Tihuana wants to work for an arm triangle but Rocha is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is trying to stand back up but Tihuana is controlling him
Rocha taking some punishment here, with Tihuana in his half guard.
Tihuana is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rocha is trying to stand back up but Tihuana is controlling him
Rocha trying to hold on to Tihuana's head to control him but Tihuana postures up.
Rocha controlling the position well.
Rocha regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rocha is pulling down on Tihuana's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Rocha is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Tihuana with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tihuana preventing the sweep.
Tihuana's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tihuana postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Rocha looking for a guillotine here but Tihuana defends easily.
Tihuana wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Rocha 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.

Rocha tries for a takedown but Tihuana circles away easily

and Tihuana counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tihuana wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tihuana looking to sit in guard and control but Rocha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tihuana keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Rocha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Tihuana had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rocha defends it easily.
Rocha trying to control but Tihuana is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tihuana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rocha throwing strikes but missing.
Rocha distracts Tihuana with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rocha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rocha thows a big elbow that misses.
Tihuana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rocha preventing the sweep.
Rocha postures up in Tihuana's guard and throws a big left but Tihuana blocks it.
Rocha postures up in Tihuana's guard and throws a big left but Tihuana blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rocha drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tihuana looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tihuana looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tihuana!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rocha is looking to regain half guard here but Tihuana keeps moving and retains side control.
Rocha regains half guard there - taking advantage of Tihuana's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Rocha is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tihuana's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tihuana's back!
Tihuana breaks Rocha's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rocha pulls Tihuana in close to prevent any damage.

Tihuana is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Rocha has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Tihuana is looking to defend but Rocha has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Tihuana! Rocha pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Tihuana taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Demian Rocha!