PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ludwig Rockhold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rockhold comes to the cage accompanied by Savatage - Silk and Steel. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rockhold
vs
Lesner

198 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludwig Rockhold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brock Lesner!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lesner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rockhold is fending him off so far but Lesner persists. Nope, Rockhold circles away and we're back to standing.
Rockhold avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rockhold looks to land a combination. Lesner sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Brock Lesner has been cut.
Rockhold misses with a straight left.
Rockhold moves in looking to clinch but Lesner pushes him off.
Rockhold is looking to clinch but Lesner is avoiding it.
A jab from Rockhold misses.

Lesner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rockhold's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rockhold is trying to get back to full guard.
Lesner trying to mount his opponent but Rockhold defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold is trying to maintain the position but Lesner is very close to passing his half guard.
Rockhold slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lesner controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lesner won't allow Rockhold to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brock Lesner was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rockhold tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lesner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rockhold somewhat.
Rockhold lands with a straight right. Lesner didn't see that one coming.
A swing and a miss from Rockhold.
Lesner shoots in for a takedown but Rockhold shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rockhold misses with an uppercut. Lesner saw that one coming.

Lesner decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lesner misses with a head shot. Rockhold uses the momentum to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rockhold trying to control the position.
Lesner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rockhold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner wants to control from the top but Rockhold keeps moving.
Rockhold preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rockhold lands an upkick as Lesner stands over him.
Lesner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rockhold is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lesner stands up and waves to Rockhold to follow him.

Lesner gets caught napping as Rockhold dives in and scores a takedown. Lesner manages to retain guard.

Rockhold drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lesner dives on top into guard.
Rockhold keeping moving, preventing Lesner from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lesneris looking to pass into half guard but Rockhold pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rockhold is in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ludwig Rockhold will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Brock Lesner's cut.
That's time! Rockhold's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lesner shoots in looking for a takedown but Rockhold manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lesner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rockhold dives in and grabs Lesner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lesner pushes down on Rockhold's head and hops out.
Rockhold throws a lazy right hand but Lesner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rockhold misses the jab.
Rockhold is looking to clinch.
Rockhold scores with a hook.
Rockhold throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lesner throws a leg kick which misses Rockhold's front leg but catches the back leg as Rockhold tries to avoid it.
Rockhold fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lesner takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lesner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rockhold catches Lesner with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lesner misses with a double jab.
Rockhold shoots in looking for a takedown but Lesner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rockhold's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lesner takes one to the side of the head.
Rockhold throws a lazy right hand but Lesner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rockhold is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rockhold lands a glancing blow to the side of Lesner's head.
Lesner is looking to land body kicks.
Some wild striking there from Lesner.
Lesner shoots for a double leg takedown but Rockhold sprawls well. He's pushed Lesner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lesner is breathing heavily.

Rockhold instigates a clinch.
Rockhold is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lesner is trying to break the clinch but Rockhold has him pressed against the cage.
Lesner tries for a takedown but Rockhold manages to get underhooks.
Ludwig Rockhold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brock Lesner.
Rockhold gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lesner.

Lesner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rockhold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rockhold working hard to break the clinch.
Rockhold has Lesner pressed against the cage, preventing Lesner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Lesner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lesner is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rockhold tries to clinch but Lesner moves out of range.
Rockhold connects with a nice looking jab.
Lesner walks into a stiff left hand from Rockhold.

Lesner gets a double leg takedown into Rockhold's guard.
Rockhold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lesner's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold pushes down on Lesner's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Rockhold is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rockhold not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rockhold is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lesner sees it coming and defends easily.
Rockhold thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lesner's head.

Rockhold is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rockhold is thwarting Lesner's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Rockhold is trying to work for a kimura but Lesner is defending well.

Rockhold 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.
Rockhold is thwarting Lesner's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Rockhold dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brock Lesner's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lesner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lesner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rockhold is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lesner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rockhold?
Rockhold working to try and regain half guard.
Rockhold wants to control but Lesner is having none of it.

Lesner working for a guillotine from mount but Rockhold is in no mood to give up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner wants to control the pace but Rockhold is squirming around nicely.

Lesner looking to secure an arm triangle but Rockhold defends it well.
Rockhold tries to lock up and control but Lesner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rockhold has given up his back here.
Rockhold staying busy and making it hard for Lesner to control.
Lesner struggling to land strikes to the head as Rockhold covers up.
Rockhold can't escape the position.
Rockhold trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Rockhold staying busy and making it hard for Lesner to control.
Rockhold wants to escape the position.
Will Lesner go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rockhold wants to control his opponent's hands but Lesner gets his hands free.
Lesner looking to hold on to the position here but Rockhold rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Rockhold is working an open guard so Lesner takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ludwig Rockhold is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lesner looking to score a takedown here. Rockhold is defending well but Lesner drives through and ends up in Rockhold's guard.
Lesner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lesner postures up.
Rockhold can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lesner controls the pace.

Rockhold throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rockhold working a defensive guard here.
Brock Lesner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brock Lesner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rockhold 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludwig Rockhold!
Ludwig Rockhold decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.