PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Rockhold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Testo Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rockhold
vs
Speed

191 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
179 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Demian Rockhold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Testo Speed!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rockhold clinches up against the cage.
Speed looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Rockhold turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rockhold manages to end up in side control.
The ground and pound from Rockhold seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Speed is being controlled here.
Speed looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Rockhold is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Speed knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rockhold creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Speed sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rockhold wants to control but Speed is keeping him busy.
Rockhold working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold 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.
Rockhold controlling from side mount.
Rockhold throws a strike aimed at the side of Speed's head but Speed avoids it well.
Rockhold 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.
Rockhold controls the position from side control.
Rockhold definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rockhold creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Speed sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rockhold is looking to take a break and control but Speed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Speed managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rockhold.
Speed is letting Rockhold control him for a moment.
Speed is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rockhold trying to control the action but Speed is working from the bottom.
Speed is trying to escape the position but Rockhold is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rockhold closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Speed's guard.
Rockhold postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold passes Speed's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rockhold works his way into side control.

Rockhold looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Speed dodges the ground and pound from Rockhold.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rockhold working the ground and pound but Speed is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rockhold tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Speed really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rockhold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rockhold working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rockhold working the head and body with strikes.
Rockhold tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Rockhold has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Speed is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Rockhold yanks on the arm and Speed is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Rockhold.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Demian Rockhold!