PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Tocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Paulo Tocha has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tocha
vs
Monroe

170 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

MMADNESS clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulo Tocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tocha misses with a body kick.
Tocha throws a jab when Monroe was well out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tocha.
Monroe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tocha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Monroe manages to avoid it.
Paulo Tocha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Monroe moves into the clinch.
Monroe tries to score a body lock takedown but Tocha shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Monroe breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Tocha does no damage.
Tocha just misses with a punch to the body.
Tocha misses with a combination
and Monroe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tocha throws a left and a right that both miss

and Monroe counters by moving into the clinch.
Tocha wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tocha tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Monroe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tocha tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Monroe just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Tocha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tocha has had enough of the clinch but Monroe keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tocha wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Tocha wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Tocha is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tocha wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Monroe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tocha is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Monroe wants a takedown but no success here.
Tocha swings wildly with an uppercut but Monroe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monroe has Tocha pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tocha manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Monroe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tocha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Monroe's elbow.
Monroe tries to score a body lock takedown but Tocha shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tocha wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Monroe has Tocha pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tocha manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Monroe is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tocha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Monroe tries for a takedown but Tocha manages to get underhooks.
Monroe looks gassed!
Tocha is trying to break the clinch but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.

Monroe pulls Tocha into guard.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Tocha from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tocha throwing strikes from guard but Monroe blocks nicely.
Tocha passes into half guard.
Monroe is not content to let Tocha control the position.

Tocha is trying to work for a kimura but Monroe is defending well.
Tocha has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Monroe won't allow Tocha to pass to mount.
Tocha wants to control but Monroe is keeping him busy.
Tocha tries to pass to full mount but Monroe defends it.
Tocha is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Monroe is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monroe tries to hold on but Tocha postures up.
Monroe is desperately trying to improve his position but Tocha has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tocha trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tocha prevents Monroe from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tocha throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tocha wants to take his opponent's back but Monroe doesn't allow it.
Monroe tries to hold on but Tocha pushes him away.
Monroe slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Monroe is not content to let Tocha control the position.
Monroe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tocha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tocha's back!
Monroe scores with punches to the body.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monroe thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Tocha tries to roll but Monroe sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Monroe will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tocha has his takedown stuffed

and Monroe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tocha keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.

Monroe has gone for a leg lock! Tocha slips out almost immediately though and dives into Monroe's guard.
Monroe looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Monroe can do anything to dispel that myth.

Monroe had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tocha is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Monroe Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tocha's back instead.
Tocha rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Monroe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Monroe is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe trying to mount his opponent but Tocha defends it.
Tocha works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tocha controls Monroe momentarily but Monroe frees himself.
Tocha bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Monroe's guard.
Tocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Monroe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tocha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Monroe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Monroe is on top in guard.
Monroe is looking to work some ground and pound but Tocha has wrist control.

Tocha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tocha trying to strike off his back.
Monroe postures up in Tocha's guard and throws a big left but Tocha blocks it.
Monroe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Monroe throws a big right hand that misses.
Monroe throwing strikes from guard but Tocha blocks nicely.
Monroe postures up.
Tocha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Monroe manages to get himself to full guard.
Tocha wants to control from the top but Monroe keeps moving.

Monroe looking for a guillotine here but Tocha defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monroe throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tocha escapes and throws Monroe's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Tocha gets to mount! Monroe was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Tocha wants to control the pace but Monroe is squirming around nicely.

Tocha working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tocha prevents Monroe from getting the reversal.

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.
Tocha tries to control but Monroe wriggling away.
Monroe is looking to get to half guard.
Monroe flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Monroe bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tocha wants to sweep here but Monroe controlling him for the moment.
Monroe postures up.

Tocha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Monroe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Monroe 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!

Tocha darts in trying to clinch

and Monroe counters with a single leg into guard. Tocha didn't expect that.
Tocha wants to stand but Monroe is controlling the position.
Monroe trying to control the position from guard on top but Tocha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tocha is trying to keep Monroe in close.
Monroe postures up and lands a big shot to Tocha's brow.
Monroe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Monroe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tocha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tocha wants to improve his position but instead Monroe has moved into half guard.
Monroe lands with a punch from half guard.
Monroe with the ground and pound but Tocha uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Monroe trying to control but Tocha is working from the bottom.
Monroe throws a big right hand that misses.
Monroe trying to control but Tocha is working from the bottom.
Monroe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Monroe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tocha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tocha keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.
Monroe trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tocha manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Monroe is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Tocha is trying to break the clinch but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Tocha is trying to break the clinch but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.

Monroe decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monroe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tocha thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Monroe throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Monroe working a defensive guard but Tocha manages to pass into side control anyway.
Tocha tries to advance to mount but Monroe denies him.
Monroe manages to get back to half guard.
Tocha is pressing down on Monroe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Monroe is holding on for now.
Tocha is thwarting Monroe's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Monroe is trying to get back to full guard.
Tocha is looking to stall here but Monroe recovers full guard.
Tocha wants to control from the top but Monroe keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tocha postures up.

Monroe working for submissions but it's allowed Tocha to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Monroe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Monroe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Dan Monroe!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Dan Monroe!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Dan Monroe!

Dan Monroe wins by unanimous decision!