PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Macheta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raphael Fernandez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Fernandez
vs
Macheta

211 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocco Macheta!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez tries a head kick but it misses.
Macheta lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fernandez circles away quickly and effectively.
Macheta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Macheta lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Macheta misses with a head kick.
Macheta fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fernandez avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Macheta tries for a takedown but Fernandez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fernandez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Macheta tries to avoid it but Fernandez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Macheta to the ground. Macheta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Macheta misses with a takedown

and Fernandez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Macheta won't be happy with that.
Raphael Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Macheta.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macheta is looking for a sweep.
Macheta is still trying to improve position.
Macheta struggling a bit here.

Fernandez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Macheta has escaped the position, nice work there.
The strikes coming from Fernandez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Fernandez decides to stand back up. Fernandez steps back and let's Macheta get back to his feet.
Fernandez fails with a takedown attempt.

Fernandez dives in and scores a takedown into Macheta's guard.
Macheta trying to keep a closed guard but Fernandez is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macheta pulls Fernandez in close to prevent any damage.
Fernandez is in close to Macheta's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fernandez scoring with some ground and pound.
Fernandez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fernandez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Macheta wants to sweep but no luck.
Macheta striking off his back but it's not causing Fernandez any problems.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Macheta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Macheta wants it to stay on the feet.
Macheta is looking to land body kicks.
Macheta dives in and grabs Fernandez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fernandez pushes down on Macheta's head and hops out.
Macheta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fernandez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Macheta somewhat.
As Macheta tries to get set, Fernandez tries to push him back and clinch up but Macheta manages to avoid the attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Macheta!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Macheta closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Macheta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Fernandez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Macheta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fernandez pinned against the cage. Fernandez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fernandez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rocco Macheta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macheta fails with the takedown.
Fernandez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Raphael Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Macheta.
Fernandez tries to land a front kick but Macheta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Fernandez throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fernandez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Macheta is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Macheta seems a little lost for a moment, as Fernandez dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Macheta can't do much from the bottom here.
Fernandez scores with punches from side control.
Fernandez cracks Macheta with a big right hand but Macheta just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fernandez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fernandez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macheta manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Fernandez is defending against the submission attempts here by Macheta.
Macheta wants to take a breather but Fernandez is having none of it.
Fernandez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Fernandez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Macheta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez manages to get to full guard.

Macheta stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck for Fernandez with that takedown attempt.
Fernandez shoots in for a double leg but Macheta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Macheta swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandez.
Macheta thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Fernandez if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macheta shoots in but no luck this time.
Fernandez throws a counter high kick but Macheta was just alert enough to avoid it.
Macheta throws a head kick that misses.
Fernandez throws a quick counter head kick but Macheta was just out of range.
Macheta is breathing heavily.
Macheta lands a head kick!

Fernandez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Fernandez seems to be looking for submissions.
Fernandez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Macheta is trying to control but Fernandez passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Fernandez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Fernandez moves into range and clinches up with Macheta.
Fernandez wants to break free but Macheta has control.

Macheta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Macheta jabs at Fernandez's body.
Fernandez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Macheta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Macheta defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Macheta throws a one two combo.

It looks like Raphael Fernandez has been cut.
Rocco Macheta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Macheta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fernandez, pushing him back against the cage.
Fernandez can't find room to land a body shot as Macheta controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fernandez taking a breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Macheta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Fernandez as Macheta shoots in.
Fernandez shoots in looking for a takedown. Macheta tries to sprawl out of it but Fernandez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Macheta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Macheta lands a brutal head kick. Fernandez looks out on his feet and Macheta throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Rocco Macheta!