PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kasey Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rocha
vs
Esposito

220 cm
18
214 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

186 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kasey Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito goes for a double leg but Rocha avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rocha continues to drive forward.
Rocha throws a quick counter head kick but Esposito was just out of range.

Esposito 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 looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esposito is one step ahead there.
Esposito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rocha is keeping the position for now.
Rocha controls Esposito momentarily but Esposito frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.

Esposito has gone for a leg lock! Rocha slips out almost immediately though and dives into Esposito's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha tries to free his leg and advance position but Esposito is retaining full guard.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.

Esposito looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rocha has picked Esposito up and slammed him! Esposito can't keep hold of the triangle and Rocha manages to pass to side control!

Rocha working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Esposito can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rocha misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rocha working the head and body with strikes.

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

Rocha wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Esposito, who protects the arm well.
Rocha creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Esposito sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocha misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocha is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Esposito has escaped the position, nice work there.
Esposito wants to control but Rocha postures up.
Esposito throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Rocha thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Rocha wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Esposito, who protects the arm well.
The strikes coming from Rocha are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

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.
Rocha works to advance to full mount. Esposito defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Rocha avoids the attempt from Esposito to control.
Esposito is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rocha really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rocha blocks Esposito's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Rocha moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Esposito has worked his arm free - good work by Esposito!
Esposito is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rocha creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Esposito 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.

Kasey Rocha dominated that 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.

Esposito goes for a double leg but Rocha avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rocha continues to drive forward.

Esposito drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rocha manages to get back to half guard.
Rocha manages to get to full guard.
Rocha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esposito is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha wants to stand but Esposito is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
Kasey Rocha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rocha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Esposito is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Esposito throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rocha's waist but Rocha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Esposito off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Esposito tries for a takedown but Rocha circles away easily

and Rocha counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rocha.
Kasey Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javier Esposito.
Esposito is breathing heavily.
Esposito can't get the takedown.

Rocha jumps into guard, dragging Esposito to the mat.
Rocha looking for a sweep. Not yet Rocha, not yet.
Rocha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esposito can do to turn this around?
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rocha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is working hard here to advance position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rocha gets a double leg takedown into Esposito's guard.
Esposito working a defensive guard but Rocha passes into half guard.

Rocha is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Esposito is just riding it out for now. Rocha eventually gives up the hold.
Esposito avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rocha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rocha is trying to work for a kimura but Esposito is defending well.
Esposito wants to control but Rocha is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Esposito avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rocha.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rocha works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rocha lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasey Rocha dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Esposito with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rocha counters with a left and a right that stings Esposito.

Esposito closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rocha to the mat! Rocha manages to get full guard.
Esposito throws an elbow that misses. Rocha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Esposito's guard. Nice move by Rocha!

Rocha wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Esposito is controlling Rocha's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito wants to stand but Rocha is controlling the position.
Rocha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Rocha scoring with punches to the head and body.
Esposito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rocha trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Rocha throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Esposito stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Esposito shoots in looking for a takedown but Rocha manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Esposito's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Esposito shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Esposito showed some decent athleticism there.
Esposito is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rocha gets back to full guard.

Rocha working for submissions but it's allowed Esposito to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito prevents Rocha from improving his position.

Rocha makes his way to full guard, as Esposito worked for a kimura.
Esposito must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rocha keeping moving, preventing Esposito from controlling successfully.

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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Esposito's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rocha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Esposito trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rocha wants to sweep here but Esposito controlling him for the moment.
Esposito wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rocha closes the distance and clinches up with Esposito, looking for a takedown. Rocha pushes Esposito against the cage but Esposito circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Esposito is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Javier Esposito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kasey Rocha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Esposito looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Javier Esposito.
Well Rocha 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasey Rocha!