PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abel Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Whitney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocha's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Roots Blood Roots. Abel Rocha has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rocha
vs
Whitney

202 cm
20
282 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Amsterdam, Abel Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Whitney!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitney is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rocha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Whitney looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Whitney is looking to clinch but Rocha is avoiding it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Whitney enables Rocha to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Whitney manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rocha is looking to stand up but Whitney won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rocha drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Whitney dives on top into guard.
Rocha wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rocha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rocha trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Rocha wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney works over Rocha with some ground and pound from guard.

Whitney drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whitney jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rocha wants to stand up but Whitney is controlling him.
Whitney throws a big right hand that misses.
Rocha controls Whitney momentarily but Whitney frees himself.
Rocha is really struggling to control Whitney but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Whitney has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Whitney is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Whitney stopping the sweep attempt from Rocha.
Whitney makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Whitney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Whitney thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rocha has control of Whitney's left arm, preventing Whitney from doing any damage.
Rocha wants to stand and escape but Whitney is having none of it.
Whitney keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rocha's head.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rocha pulls Whitney in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whitney throwing strikes from guard but Rocha blocks nicely.
Rocha is trying to control the position but Whitney postures up.
Rocha is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Whitney is controlling him.
Rocha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Abel Rocha.
Whitney is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha dives in and grabs Whitney's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whitney pushes down on Rocha's head and hops out.

Whitney manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rocha on his heels. He'll look to pass Rocha's guard now, I'm sure.
Rocha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whitney works over Rocha with some ground and pound from guard.

Rocha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Whitney is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rocha wants to stand up but Whitney is controlling him.
Rocha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitney working some strikes from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whitney prevents Rocha from getting back to his feet.

Whitney thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Whitney will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rocha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rocha scores with a hook to the body. Whitney takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Rocha scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Joe Whitney has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rocha throws an elbow but Whitney slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rocha trying to control the action but Whitney is working from the bottom.
Rocha is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Whitney is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whitney is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Rocha tries for a kimura but Whitney is defending well.
Rocha throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rocha wants to stand but Whitney has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha working the ground and pound but Whitney is defending the strikes.
Rocha wants to control but Whitney is keeping him busy.
Rocha misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Whitney manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rocha's best efforts.
Whitney is not content to let Rocha control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rocha trying to work for an americana but Whitney has managed to regain full guard.
Rochais looking to pass into half guard but Whitney pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Whitney is in guard.
Rocha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet but Whitney is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Whitney scoring with punches to the head and body.
Whitney is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rocha pulls Whitney in close to his closed guard and prevents Whitney from doing any damage or advancing position.
Whitney lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitney drops back looking for a leg! Rocha is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rocha manages to kick Whitney off! Whitney jumps back into Rocha's guard.

Rocha has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whitney can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Whitney drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rocha looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rocha looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rocha!
Rocha creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Whitney sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Rocha dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Whitney takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rocha lands with a nice body punch.
Rocha lands a jab-cross combination.
Rocha looks for a takedown but Whitney sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Whitney as Rocha shoots in.

Rocha moves into range and clinches up with Whitney.

Whitney successfully pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Whitney is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rocha defends well.
Rocha wants to stand and escape but instead Whitney has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Rocha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rocha 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.
Whitney scoring with punches to the head and body.
Whitney postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Whitney drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whitney jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to stand but Whitney is controlling the position.
Whitney working some strikes from top position.
Rocha trying to keep a closed guard but Whitney is proving a slippery customer.

Whitney drops back looking for a leg! Rocha is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rocha manages to kick Whitney off! Whitney jumps back into Rocha's guard.
Rocha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Whitney on the ground.
Whitney content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whitney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Whitney throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rocha's head.
Whitney stopping the sweep attempt from Rocha.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rocha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whitney landing some decent shots from guard.
Whitney throws an elbow that misses. Rocha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Whitney's guard. Nice move by Rocha!
Rocha is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitney looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Rocha is defending well. Whitney quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Rocha has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Whitney celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joe Whitney!