PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butch Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williams has chosen Sunshine of Your Love as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Butch Williams was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rocha
vs
Williams

183 cm
25
196 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Demian Rocha!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Butch Williams!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Williams rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rocha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rocha scores with a push kick.
Williams fails with the takedown.
Williams fails to land with a series of punches.
Rocha moves out of range as Williams strikes.

Williams shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rocha is trying to control the position but Williams postures up.
Rocha wants to improve his position but instead Williams has moved into half guard.
Rocha is looking for a sweep. Williams is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Williams working Rocha over with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Williams not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Williams throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Williams sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rocha defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha wants to control but Williams is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Williams thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rocha wants to get back to full guard.
Rocha wants to sweep but Williams has passed to side control!
Williams scoring with punches and elbows.
Rocha is pushing Williams's head away, looking to escape. Williams manages to hold on to the position though.
Williams misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rocha controls the position for a moment.
Rocha struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rocha tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Williams wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Williams tries to advance to mount but Rocha denies him.
Rocha can't do much from the bottom here.
Williams misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams with the ground and pound but Rocha regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rocha wants to get back to his feet.

Williams is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rocha is just riding it out for now. Williams eventually gives up the hold.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Williams throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Williams is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Williams is looking for a kimura here.
Rocha wants to improve his position but Williams is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha won't allow Williams to pass to mount.
Williams working Rocha over with strikes.
Williams throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rocha trying to hold on to Williams's head to control him but Williams postures up.

Williams wants to work for an arm triangle but Rocha is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rocha defending well though.
Williams working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Williams checks a leg kick.
Williams shoots for a takedown but Rocha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rocha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Williams circles away.
Rocha connects with the punch.
Williams lands a nice looking body kick.
Rocha leaves Williams with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Williams swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rocha makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rocha fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Williams has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rocha.
Williams moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Williams lands a leg kick that knocks Rocha off balance momentarily.
Williams getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Williams checks a leg kick.
Williams lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Butch Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams misses with a body kick.
Williams walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rocha checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Williams doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rocha counters with a thumping low kick.
Demian Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Butch Williams.
Williams is breathing heavily.

Rocha gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rocha manages to break the clinch.
Williams avoids the body shot from Rocha.
Rocha throws a head kick that half lands.
Rocha stuffs the takedown attempt from Williams. Williams gets slowly back to his feet.
Williams scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rocha throws out a leg kick but Williams moves out of range and Rocha only half commits.
Rocha misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Williams.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Williams tries to keep at a distance but Rocha has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rocha misses with the head strike.
Rocha has Williams pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Williams manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Williams is trying to stall.
Rocha gets through Williams's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Rocha.
Williams tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Rocha fails to land.
Williams lands a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rocha.
Nice elbow from Williams.
Rocha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams stops a takedown attempt from Rocha.
Rocha tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Williams doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rocha with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Williams tries to throw a body punch but Rocha avoids it by throwing Williams back against the cage.
Rocha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Williams prevents a takedown attempt there.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Williams misses with a series of wild punches.
Williams scores with a jab.
Rocha walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rocha takes a swing at Williams's ribcage but misses.
Williams throws a jab but it's blocked by Rocha.

Rocha has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Rocha - that landed with a thud.
Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Rocha pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rocha misses with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Rocha.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rocha tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Williams scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rocha managing to block the knees to the body from Williams.
Rocha misses with a knee to the head.
Rocha throws a punch but it's blocked by Williams.
Rocha with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Williams looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rocha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Williams.
A frustrated look appears on Williams's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Rocha dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rocha avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rocha throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rocha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Williams has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Williams staying out of range there.
Williams shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rocha but Rocha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Williams throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rocha throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Williams looks for the body kick but Rocha saw that one coming.
Rocha misses with a leg kick
and Williams counters with a three punch combo that has Rocha backing up. Rocha nods at Williams to acknowledge the strikes.
Williams closes the distance and clinches up with Rocha, looking for a takedown. Williams pushes Rocha against the cage but Rocha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Williams misses with a lunging right hand
and Rocha counters with a slapping leg kick.
Williams takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rocha misses with an uppercut. Williams saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rocha.
Rocha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Good leg kick by Williams there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Williams blocks a head kick by Rocha.
A punch lands to the side of Rocha 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rocha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rocha dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Williams. That did some damage!
Demian Rocha is winning the standup battle so far.
Rocha tries a low kick but Williams avoids it.
Williams pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good leg kick by Rocha there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rocha throws a head kick that half lands.
Rocha throws a low kick but it's checked well by Williams.
Williams throws a sloppy head kick and Rocha moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams scores with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rocha throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nice sprawl there from Williams as Rocha shoots in.
Rocha lands a nice looking kick to the body. Williams takes a step back to recover.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown but Williams shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Good leg kick by Rocha there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rocha misses with a body kick.
Rocha throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Rocha has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rocha there as he acknowledges the shot.
Williams bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rocha's head backwards.
A nice combination there by Williams.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams has his takedown stuffed
and Rocha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Demian Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Butch Williams.
Williams looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rocha dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice shot by Williams.
An inside leg kick lands from Rocha.
Rocha shoots in and drives through. Williams sprawls well.
Rocha slips a jab and a cross from Williams.
Williams misses with an uppercut. Rocha saw that one coming.
Williams throws a leg kick but Rocha sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Williams scores with a sloppy right hand. Rocha should have avoided that one.
Rocha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Williams's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha tries to clinch up but Williams circles away and keeps his distance.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Rocha.
Williams avoids the body shot from Rocha.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Rocha.
Williams misses with an uppercut. Rocha saw that one coming.
Rocha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
Rocha fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rocha displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Williams.
Rocha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Williams.
Some wild striking there from Williams.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Rocha clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rocha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Williams throws a right and a left that Rocha avoids nicely.
Rocha throws a head kick that Williams semi-blocks.
Rocha keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Williams pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Williams will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Williams throws a right hand that misses

and Rocha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rocha.
Rocha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rocha won't allow Williams to sweep him here.
Williams is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Rocha is looking to work some ground and pound but Williams has wrist control.
Rocha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams managing to control the position.
Rocha wants to get up but he can't break Williams's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rocha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rocha postures up.
Williams trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rocha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Williams manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Williams working Rocha over with strikes here.
Rocha wants to control but Williams is having none of it.
Rocha is trying desperately to improve position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rocha wants to hold on but Williams pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Williams unloading with bombs!
Williams punishing his opponent with strikes.
Williams trying to control but Rocha is having none of it.
Rocha is trying to escape the mount.
Rocha is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Williams dominating with strikes here.
Williams raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Williams is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rocha has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Williams has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Williams is trying to control here but Rocha has managed to regain half guard.
Williams trying to control the action but Rocha is working from the bottom.
Rocha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rocha defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Butch Williams will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rocha.
Williams throws a right and a left that Rocha avoids nicely.
Williams's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Williams lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Williams.
Rocha throws a sloppy head kick

and Williams holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rocha throws a punch but it's blocked by Williams.
Williams stops a takedown attempt from Rocha.
Rocha with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Williams tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rocha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Williams landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rocha with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Williams breaks the clinch.
Williams fails to land with a series of punches.
Williams tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rocha swivels and escapes.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Williams but Williams pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Danga de danga de dang - Williams scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha slips a jab and a cross from Williams.
Rocha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheers as Williams lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rocha doesn't seem phased though.
Rocha throws out a loose jab but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Rocha.
Williams wants to clinch.
Williams will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Williams throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rocha counters with an outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Williams shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rocha defends it nicely.
Demian Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Butch Williams.
Rocha tries to clinch there but Williams circles away.
Rocha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Williams's sensitive parts.

Williams gets caught flat footed, as Rocha shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rocha thows a big elbow that misses.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rocha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams 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 tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.
Rocha distracts Williams with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Williams trying to control the position.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Williams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocha is one step ahead there.
Rocha slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha lands strikes from half guard.
Williams trying to control from the bottom.
Rocha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Williams actively working from the bottom here.
Williams is trying to maintain the position but Rocha is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rocha works his way into full mount!

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 Demian Rocha.
I think Rocha has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 48:47
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Rocha!
Demian Rocha retains his middleweight title!