PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Bustamante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and NICOLAS ROCHA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bustamante
vs
ROCHA

200 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Santiago Bustamante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, NICOLAS ROCHA!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

ROCHA changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bustamante looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bustamante tries to get back to half guard but can't.
ROCHA wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bustamante keeps working.

ROCHA looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

ROCHA tries for a kimura but Bustamante is defending well.
ROCHA tries to move to mount but Bustamante blocks the move with his legs.
Bustamante really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bustamante is looking for a sweep.

ROCHA is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bustamante has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bustamante is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on ROCHA's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bustamante is looking to improve his position.

ROCHA decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
ROCHA shoots in for a takedown but Bustamante shows good takedown defense.
ROCHA looks gassed!

ROCHA closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bustamante gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
ROCHA thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bustamante's head.
Bustamante makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bustamante.
ROCHA trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bustamante is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bustamante is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and ROCHA defends it well.
ROCHA keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bustamante passes the guard and advances to mount!
Bustamante punching from mount but ROCHA doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
ROCHA has given up his back.

ROCHA preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Bustamante.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
ROCHA covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. ROCHA is looking for a way out.

Bustamante tightening his grip on ROCHA, looking for the choke.
ROCHA breaks Bustamante's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

ROCHA drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and ROCHA jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
ROCHA won't allow Bustamante to sweep him here.

ROCHA drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bustamante looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bustamante looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bustamante!
ROCHA managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bustamante.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante throws a strike aimed at the side of ROCHA's head but ROCHA avoids it well.
Bustamante creates some space and throws a big elbow, but ROCHA sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Bustamante tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
ROCHA is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bustamante off and has taken his back!
Bustamante manages to reverse the position and now he's in ROCHA's guard. Nice work there by Bustamante.
Bustamante preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bustamante works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bustamante 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. Bustamante eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Bustamante dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bustamante gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
ROCHA throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bustamante works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ROCHA won't allow Bustamante to sweep him here.
Bustamante is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
ROCHA wants to control from the top but Bustamante keeps moving.
ROCHA forces his way into half guard.
ROCHA thows a huge punch but Bustamante dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bustamante punching from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bustamante shoots and misses

and ROCHA counters with a takedown into side control.

ROCHA thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bustamante gets back to half guard.
Bustamante gets full guard.
Bustamante keeping moving, preventing ROCHA from controlling successfully.

ROCHA is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bustamante is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bustamante has escaped and now he's on top!
Bustamante works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bustamante is trying to work for a kimura but ROCHA is defending well.
ROCHA is looking to improve his position.

ROCHA is defending against the submission attempts here by Bustamante.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bustamante thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bustamante trying to pass the guard but ROCHA defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante working ROCHA over with strikes.

ROCHA is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Bustamante pulls his head out easily.
ROCHA wants to improve his position but Bustamante is controlling well.

Bustamante is working for a submission of some sort.
ROCHA is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bustamante's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bustamante's back!
Bustamante manages to reverse the position and now he's in ROCHA's guard. Nice work there by Bustamante.
Bustamante looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
ROCHA tries to strike from the bottom.

Bustamante avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bustamante will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
ROCHA wants to sweep here but Bustamante controlling him for the moment.
Bustamante with a flurry of punches that miss.
ROCHA working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bustamante.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
ROCHA fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bustamante with a poor takedown

and ROCHA counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bustamante won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

ROCHA tries for a kimura but Bustamante is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

NICOLAS ROCHA showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bustamante shoots in but no luck this time.

ROCHA closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bustamante to the mat! Bustamante manages to get full guard.
ROCHA looking to pass the guard.

ROCHA thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
ROCHA chips away with some ground and pound.
Bustamante manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. ROCHA manages to get himself to full guard.
ROCHA can't keep his opponent in guard - Bustamante advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Bustamante is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
NICOLAS ROCHA has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ROCHA is looking for a sweep. Bustamante is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

ROCHA looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Bustamante pushes past his half guard into mount!

Bustamante working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. ROCHA looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Bustamante! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Santiago Bustamante!