PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Joaquin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Briggs Lovejoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Briggs Lovejoy is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Joaquin
vs
Lovejoy

188 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rocky Joaquin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Briggs Lovejoy!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joaquin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lovejoy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lovejoy looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Joaquin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lovejoy tries to pull guard but Joaquin holds him up against the cage and eventually Lovejoy drops back down to his feet.
Joaquin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Joaquin misses with a punch on the inside.
Joaquin working hard to break the clinch.
Lovejoy prevents Joaquin from breaking the clinch.
Lovejoy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Joaquin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Joaquin wants to break free but Lovejoy has control.
Joaquin tries to throw a body punch but Lovejoy avoids it by throwing Joaquin back against the cage.

Joaquin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joaquin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lovejoy circles away quickly and effectively.
Joaquin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lovejoy circles away quickly and effectively.
Lovejoy keeps the fight on the outside.

Joaquin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Lovejoy trying to hold on to Joaquin's head to control him but Joaquin postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joaquin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Joaquin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Joaquin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Joaquin seems to be looking for submissions.

Joaquin stands up from half guard.
Joaquin throws a right hand that Lovejoy ducks under and follows up with a left that Lovejoy also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joaquin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lovejoy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Joaquin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Joaquin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Joaquin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lovejoy is trying to defend but Joaquin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Joaquin is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Joaquin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lovejoy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Joaquin.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin throwing shots but Lovejoy is blocking nicely.
Joaquin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Joaquin not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Joaquin is trying to work for a kimura but Lovejoy is defending well.

Joaquin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Joaquin shoots in and bounces Lovejoy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin stays in close to Lovejoy's body and controls the position.
Joaquin throws a big elbow that misses.

Joaquin gets to his feet - Lovejoy follows without any prompting.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joaquin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lovejoy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joaquin tries to clinch but Lovejoy moves out of range.
Joaquin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Joaquin wants to clinch up but Lovejoy keeps it at a distance.
Joaquin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Joaquin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Joaquin moves in looking to clinch but Lovejoy pushes him off.
Lovejoy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Joaquin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lovejoy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Joaquin is in Lovejoy's guard.
Joaquin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lovejoy can do to turn this around?

Joaquin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Joaquin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joaquin misses with a few strikes there.
Joaquin throws a series of punches but Lovejoy avoids them all with ease.
Joaquin doesn't manage to clinch there - Lovejoy circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lovejoy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lovejoy is breathing heavily.
Lovejoy prevents Joaquin from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joaquin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Joaquin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lovejoy wants to get back to striking at distance but Joaquin won't allow it.
Joaquin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Joaquin swings wildly with an uppercut but Lovejoy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joaquin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lovejoy blocks an elbow strike.
Joaquin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lovejoy is trying to force a seperation but Joaquin has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lovejoy as Joaquin tries to tie him up.
Joaquin working aggressively here.
Joaquin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lovejoy dodges an elbow strike from Joaquin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin throws a head punch that misses.
Lovejoy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Joaquin just stands there and leans against the cage.

Joaquin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Joaquin stands up from half guard.
Lovejoy blocks a head kick by Joaquin.
Joaquin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Joaquin tries to clinch but Lovejoy moves out of range.

Joaquin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lovejoy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Joaquin is in Lovejoy's guard.
Joaquin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Joaquin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Joaquin is trying to get an arm triangle but Lovejoy is defending well.
A lull in the action here as Joaquin stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joaquin tries for a kimura but Lovejoy is defending well.
Joaquin controlling the position.

Joaquin tries for a kimura but Lovejoy is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovejoy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Joaquin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Joaquin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Joaquin is trying to get an arm triangle but Lovejoy is defending well.
Joaquin advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joaquin sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Joaquin 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lovejoy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Joaquin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Joaquin advances position into side control!
Joaquin scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rocky Joaquin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Joaquin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Joaquin is trying to get an arm triangle but Lovejoy is defending well.

Joaquin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lovejoy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lovejoy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joaquin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lovejoy, who protects the arm well.

Joaquin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Joaquin controlling the position from side mount.
Joaquin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lovejoy for as long as he can get away with.
Joaquin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lovejoy!
Joaquin content just to control the position here.

Joaquin stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Joaquin tries to clinch up but Lovejoy circles away and keeps his distance.
Joaquin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joaquin throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin misses with the combination.
Joaquin misses with a wild body shot.
Joaquin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lovejoy was well out of range. Poor timing from Joaquin.
Rocky Joaquin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joaquin misses with a head kick.
Joaquin stuffs the takedown.
Joaquin misses with a wild combination.
Joaquin throws a right hand that Lovejoy ducks under and follows up with a left that Lovejoy also avoids with ease.
Rocky Joaquin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joaquin is looking to clinch but Lovejoy is avoiding it.
Joaquin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lovejoy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Joaquin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Joaquin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lovejoy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joaquin swings around for an armbar but Lovejoy sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Joaquin's guard.
Joaquin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Joaquin has his foot on Lovejoy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lovejoy works his way back into a safe position though.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Joaquin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Joaquin closes the distance and pushes Lovejoy back into the cage.
Joaquin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Briggs Lovejoy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Joaquin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Joaquin pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Joaquin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Joaquin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:24
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Joaquin!