PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itshak Rabinovitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojas comes to the cage accompanied by Apaga Mas Não Bate. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rojas
vs
Rabinovitch

195 cm
28
200 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

182 cm
28
194 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Rojas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Itshak Rabinovitch!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rabinovitch sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab, jab by Rabinovitch - just one landing.
Rojas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rabinovitch is out of range.
Rojas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rabinovitch can pounce on him.
Rojas has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Rabinovitch cracks the inside of Rojas's front leg.
Rabinovitch has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rojas is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Rabinovitch moves out of range of the leg kick from Rojas.
Rabinovitch lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rojas misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rojas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rojas showed some decent athleticism there.
Rabinovitch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rojas wants to take a breather but Rabinovitch is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rabinovitch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rabinovitch trying to control from the bottom.
Rabinovitch is pressing down on Rojas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rabinovitch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rabinovitch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rojas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rojas stops Rabinovitch from standing up.
Rabinovitch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rabinovitch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rojas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rojas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rojas won't allow Rabinovitch to sweep him here.

Rabinovitch has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rojas has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Rojas jumps guard but Rabinovitch stands there with Rojas around his waist. Rojas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rabinovitch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rojas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rabinovitch is trying to defend but Rojas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rojas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rojas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rabinovitch's head.
Rabinovitch gets back to full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Rabinovitch controls Rojas momentarily but Rojas frees himself.
Rabinovitch wants to stand up but Rojas is controlling him.
Rabinovitch keeping moving, preventing Rojas from controlling successfully.
Rabinovitch has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch keeping full guard, as Rojas tries to pass.
Rabinovitch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rojas is one step ahead there.
Rabinovitch wants to stand but Rojas is controlling the position.
Rabinovitch is trying to keep Rojas in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rabinovitch keeping moving, preventing Rojas from controlling successfully.

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

Rojas moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rabinovitch trying to land knees to the body.

Rabinovitch breaks the clinch.
Rabinovitch misses with a straight right.
Rojas tries to clinch but Rabinovitch is having none of it.
That kick from Rabinovitch tenderised Rojas's leg. Rojas is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rojas shoots in but Rabinovitch avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rabinovitch tries a quick counter leg kick but Rojas is wise to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Rojas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from Rojas misses
and Rabinovitch counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rojas's knee momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rojas tries to clinch but Rabinovitch is having none of it.
Rabinovitch swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rabinovitch throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rojas.
Rojas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rabinovitch as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itshak Rabinovitch 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.

Rabinovitch connects with a leg kick. Rojas looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rabinovitch throws the kick towards the body but Rojas avoids it.
Rabinovitch looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rojas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rabinovitch is fending him off so far but Rojas persists. Nope, Rabinovitch circles away and we're back to standing.
Rabinovitch raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Rojas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rabinovitch is trying to stand back up but Rojas is controlling him
Rojas throwing shots but Rabinovitch is blocking nicely.
Rabinovitch tries to roll over but Rojas keeps him under control.
Rabinovitch trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rabinovitch pushes Rojas off and gets back to his feet.
Rabinovitch stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rojas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rabinovitch trying to hold on to Rojas's head to control him but Rojas postures up.

Rojas is working for a submission of some sort.
Rabinovitch trying to control here.
Rabinovitch works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rabinovitch 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.
Rabinovitch wants to get back to his feet but Rojas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas controlling from the top position.
Rojas wants to control from the top but Rabinovitch keeps moving.
Rojas postures up.
Rojas wants to pass the guard but Rabinovitch is keeping the position.
Rabinovitch pulls Rojas in to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rojas checks a leg kick.
Rojas wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch misses with a body shot.
Rabinovitch tries a head kick but it misses.
Rojas wants to clinch.
Itshak Rabinovitch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rabinovitch misses with a hook. Rojas ducked under it nicely.
Rabinovitch throws a shot from downtown. Rojas moves away and avoids it.
Rojas throws a low kick, looking for Rabinovitch's leg but Rabinovitch calmly moves out of range.
Rabinovitch throws out a counter right but Rojas avoids it with no problem.
Rabinovitch lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rabinovitch.
Rojas tries to clinch but Rabinovitch is having none of it.
Rabinovitch throws a fast counter high kick but Rojas manages to duck under it in time.
Rabinovitch with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rojas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Rojas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rojas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rabinovitch can pounce on him.
Rojas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rojas wants to clinch up but Rabinovitch keeps it at a distance.
Rabinovitch swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rabinovitch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rabinovitch throws a low kick but Rojas moves out of range easily.
A leg kick checked by Rojas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itshak Rabinovitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rabinovitch swats away the attempt to clinch by Rojas.
Rojas backing away here, and Rabinovitch unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rabinovitch feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rojas's calf.
Rabinovitch thumps Rojas with a low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rabinovitch, right into the meat.
Rabinovitch misses with an uppercut.
Rojas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Rojas 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rojas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rabinovitch misses with a kick to the body.
Rojas is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rabinovitch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas throws a lazy uppercut
and Rabinovitch counters with a low kick, right behind Rojas 's knee.
Rojas misses with a leg kick
and Rabinovitch counters with a good, hard body kick but Rojas shrugs it off.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rabinovitch - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rabinovitch buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rojas tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rojas crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rabinovitch - the referee stops the clock and Rojas gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rabinovitch. Rojas manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rabinovitch throws a sloppy head kick and Rojas moves out of range easily.
Rabinovitch loads up on a big right hand but Rojas slips the punch.
A bone on bone clash there as Rojas blocks the leg kick.
Rojas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rabinovitch avoids it really well and circles away.
Rojas backing away here, and Rabinovitch unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rojas.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rojas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rabinovitch gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rojas to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rojas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabinovitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rabinovitch working a defensive guard here.
Itshak Rabinovitch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas prevents Rabinovitch from getting back to his feet.
Rabinovitch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rojas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rabinovitch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rabinovitch wants to stand and escape but Rojas is having none of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rabinovitch is trying to keep Rojas in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rojas throws a shot to the body.
Rabinovitch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rojas tries for a takedown but Rabinovitch circles away easily
and Rabinovitch counters with a slapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Rojas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rojas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rabinovitch connects with a solid leg kick.
Rojas fails with the takedown
and Rabinovitch counters with a straight right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rojas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rabinovitch with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rabinovitch.
Nice takedown defense from Rabinovitch. No joy for Rojas on that attempt.
Rodrigo Rojas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rojas throws a leg kick but Rabinovitch moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Itshak Rabinovitch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rabinovitch 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Itshak Rabinovitch!