PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between red rocket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tora Ropez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ropez's choice of entrance music: Ambrosia. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

rocket
vs
Ropez

179 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, red rocket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tora Ropez!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
rocket shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ropez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by rocket.
Ropez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ropez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A punch combination from Ropez misses.
Ropez misses with a wild combination.
Ropez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

rocket looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

rocket is working for a kimura but Ropez is defending it quite comfortably.
rocket trying to control from half guard but Ropez is working away.
Ropez pushes rocket off looking to stand but rocket dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rocket is just content to waste time from the top position. Ropez takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ropez keeping moving, preventing rocket from controlling successfully.
rocket seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ropez keeping moving, preventing rocket from controlling successfully.
rocket is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Ropez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. red rocket just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
rocket has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ropez misses with a two punch combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ropez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
rocket doesn't manage to clinch there - Ropez circles away.
Ropez misses with a few strikes there.
Ropez misses with a two punch combination.
Ropez throws a series of punches but rocket avoids them all with ease.
Ropez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Some wild striking there from Ropez.
Ropez lands with a nice combination. rocket backs away looking to recover.
rocket is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rocket looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ropez is fending him off so far but rocket persists. Nope, Ropez circles away and we're back to standing.
Ropez looks to land a combination but rocket avoids it well.
Ropez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Ropez does it's job there.
Ropez stalks rocket and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into rocket's face. rocket staggers backwards, shaken.
Ropez misses with a double jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Ropez scores with a four punch combination!
A combination from Ropez does no damage.
rocket slips a jab and a cross from Ropez.
Ropez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

rocket closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ropez to the mat! Ropez manages to get full guard.
rocket won't allow Ropez to get back to his feet.
rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Ropez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
rocket thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
rocket throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
rocket wants to control from the top but Ropez keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tora Ropez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

rocket closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
rocket trying to control the action but Ropez is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ropez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rocket has knee on belly and moves into mount.
rocket unloads with some shots from mount but Ropez bucks and avoids them well.
rocket trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ropez is trying to stand up.
Ropez is in all sorts of trouble here.
rocket looking to control and managing it successfully.
You get the feeling that Ropez really doesn't like being in this position too much.

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.
rocket looking to control and managing it successfully.
rocket wants to control the pace but Ropez is squirming around nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by rocket there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
rocket looking to control but Ropez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
rocket is really struggling to control Ropez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. red rocket just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ropez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Ropez misses its intended target.
rocket looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ropez is fending him off so far but rocket persists. Nope, Ropez circles away and we're back to standing.
Ropez throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch lands to the side of rocket 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ropez throws a hook to the side of rocket's head but rocket sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice straight punches there by Ropez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ropez.
Ropez lands a glancing blow to the side of rocket's head.

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.
Ropez tries to bum rush rocket with a series of wild strikes but rocket uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ropez misses with an uppercut. rocket saw that one coming.
rocket closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ropez circles away.
Ropez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ropez misses with a two punch combination.
Ropez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tora Ropez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
rocket has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for red rocket. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ropez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
rocket shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ropez pinned against the cage. Ropez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

red rocket dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Ropez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ropez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ropez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
rocket avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
rocket shoots in but no luck this time.
Ropez throws a nice looking combination but rocket bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ropez misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ropez lunges at rocket with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by rocket's hand.
Ropez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ropez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ropez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
rocket shoots for a double leg takedown but Ropez sprawls well. He's pushed rocket's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for red rocket. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ropez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ropez stalks rocket and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into rocket's face. rocket staggers backwards, shaken.
Ropez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but rocket moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
rocket throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ropez's waist but Ropez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing rocket off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Ropez.
Ropez connects with a crisp jab.
Ropez throws a series of punches but rocket moves out of range.
Ropez lands a nice shot that snaps rocket's head back.
Ropez stuffs the takedown attempt from rocket. rocket gets slowly back to his feet.
Ropez stuffs the takedown attempt from rocket. rocket gets slowly back to his feet.
Tora Ropez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ropez throws a series of punches but rocket moves out of range.
Ropez swinging wilding here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ropez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
rocket shoots in looking for a takedown. Ropez tries to sprawl out of it but rocket keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ropez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ropez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ropez lands a slapping body shot.
rocket throws a front kick aimed at Ropez's knee but Ropez avoids it well.
rocket doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ropez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
rocket slips a jab and a cross from Ropez.
Ropez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ropez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ropez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ropez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
rocket fails with a takedown attempt.
Ropez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ropez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tora Ropez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ropez 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tora Ropez!