PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nayo Humphrey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Rockhold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demian Rockhold will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Humphrey
vs
Rockhold

178 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nayo Humphrey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Demian Rockhold!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Humphrey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rockhold manages to avoid it.

Humphrey changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rockhold looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Humphrey advances to mount.
Rockhold tries to hold on but Humphrey pushes him away.

Humphrey working for a guillotine from mount but Rockhold is in no mood to give up.

Humphrey jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rockhold is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rockhold and Humphrey has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rockhold sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Humphrey prevents Rockhold from improving his position.
Rockhold trying to control from the bottom.
Humphrey frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rockhold is controlling an arm, preventing Humphrey from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold is squirming around, avoiding Humphrey's attempts to control the action.

Humphrey is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rockhold has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rockhold!
Rockhold won't allow Humphrey to sweep him here.
Rockhold trying to control the position from guard on top but Humphrey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rockhold slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've been hearing good reports from Humphrey's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Humphrey looking for a sweep. Not yet Humphrey, not yet.

Humphrey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rockhold trying to control the position from guard on top but Humphrey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold stopping the sweep attempt from Humphrey.
Rockhold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rockhold wants to control from the top but Humphrey keeps moving.
Humphrey is trying to control the position but Rockhold postures up.
Humphrey keeping moving, preventing Rockhold from controlling successfully.
Humphrey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rockhold passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rockhold trying to control the action but Humphrey is working from the bottom.
Rockhold might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Humphrey haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Rockhold tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rockhold trying to control the action but Humphrey is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Humphrey tries to improve position but can't.
Rockhold trying to control the action but Humphrey is working from the bottom.
Humphrey tries to improve position but can't.
Rockhold throws an elbow but Humphrey slips to the side and avoids it well.
Humphrey is looking for a sweep.
Humphrey is working hard here to advance position.
Rockhold misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Humphrey tries to bench press Rockhold off him but Rockhold keeps the position.
Humphrey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rockhold is looking to take a break and control but Humphrey is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Humphrey is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold trying to control the position but Humphrey is working away.
Humphrey manages to get back to half guard.
Rockhold looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rockhold working over Humphrey with some ground and pound. Humphrey looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Humphrey is looking to improve his position.
Rockhold is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Humphrey!
Humphrey working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rockhold tries to control but Humphrey wriggling away.
Humphrey is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nayo Humphrey will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rockhold looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Humphrey shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rockhold's guard.
Rockhold trying to control the position.
Rockhold lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rockhold sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Humphrey isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rockhold stacks Humphrey on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rockhold!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Humphrey tries to improve position but can't.
Rockhold taking a breather here.
Rockhold postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Humphrey sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rockhold sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Humphrey defending well though.
My spies in Ultimate MMA Training Center inform me that Rockhold has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rockhold looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Humphrey is trying to get back to full guard.
Humphrey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rockhold.

Humphrey looking for submissions off his back.
Humphrey is in trouble now - Rockhold has advanced to mount!
Rockhold postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Humphrey looks a forlorn figure.
Humphrey is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rockhold unloads with some shots from mount but Humphrey bucks and avoids them well.
Humphrey is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold misses with a head shot.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Humphrey manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Humphrey won't allow Rockhold to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Humphrey manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Humphrey wants to sweep here but Rockhold controlling him for the moment.
Rockhold trying to control the position from guard on top but Humphrey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Humphrey escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rockhold gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rockhold wants to control from the top but Humphrey keeps moving.
Rockhold is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rockhold throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Humphrey looking to control.

Humphrey working for a triangle but Rockhold defends it easily.
Rockhold trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rockhold trying to control but Humphrey is working from the bottom.
Rockhold loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rockhold throws a big right hand that misses.
Rockhold trying to control the position from guard on top but Humphrey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rockhold preventing the sweep.

Humphrey has his foot on Rockhold's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rockhold works his way back into a safe position though.
Rockhold is in close to Humphrey's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Humphrey is trying to control the position but Rockhold postures up.
Humphrey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rockhold controls the pace.
Rockhold connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Humphrey working for a triangle but Rockhold defends it easily.
Rockhold passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rockhold wants to lay and pray for a moment but Humphrey keeps working.
Rockhold controlling the position.
Humphrey is not content to let Rockhold control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Humphrey tries to buck Rockhold off but Rockhold is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Rockhold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Rockhold shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Humphrey pinned against the ropes. Humphrey gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rockhold is trying hard to land a takedown here. Humphrey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Humphrey comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Good exchange - Humphrey coming out on top.
Rockhold tries for a takedown but Humphrey sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nayo Humphrey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Rockhold.

Humphrey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Humphrey lands in his opponent's guard.
Rockhold keeping full guard, as Humphrey tries to pass.
Demian Rockhold has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Humphrey trying to control but Rockhold is working from the bottom.
Humphrey advances position into side control!

Humphrey is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rockhold knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Humphrey working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Humphrey working away.
Rockhold manages to get back to half guard.

Humphrey is working for a kimura here but Rockhold manages to reverse the position and he's now in Humphrey's guard.

Humphrey throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold passes into half guard.

Humphrey looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rockhold controlling the action here.
Rockhold trying to control the action but Humphrey is working from the bottom.
Rockhold works his way into full mount!
Humphrey working to try and regain half guard.

Rockhold working for a guillotine from mount but Humphrey is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Humphrey keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rockhold looking to finish with strikes here!
Rockhold avoids the attempt from Humphrey to control.
Rockhold prevents Humphrey from getting the reversal.
Rockhold looking to control but Humphrey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Humphrey holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rockhold tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Humphrey is desperately trying to improve his position but Rockhold has a good base and remains in mount.
Humphrey gets back to half guard.
Humphrey is trying to get back to full guard.
Rockhold missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Humphrey is looking for a sweep. Rockhold is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rockhold is working for a kimura but Humphrey is defending it quite comfortably.

Humphrey actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Humphrey is looking to improve his position.
Rockhold is keen to just control but Humphrey is a slippery customer.
Humphrey on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rockhold moves nicely into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rockhold looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Humphrey is avoiding damage well.
Rockhold throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rockhold throwing shots but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Demian Rockhold.
I think Rockhold has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Demian Rockhold!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Demian Rockhold!

Demian Rockhold wins by majority decision!