PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Perälä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Rocker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocker has chosen Ki:Theory - Stand By Me as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Perälä
vs
Rocker

182 cm
26
175 lbs
20 - 6 - 0

180 cm
35
170 lbs
35 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!
Invictus

Invictus
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taisto Perälä!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricky Rocker!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perälä throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rocker tries a quick counter leg kick but Perälä is wise to it.
Perälä swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Perälä shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rocker keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rocker connects with a crisp jab.
Rocker misses with a low kick as Perälä jumps back.
Rocker digs a good hook to Perälä's body.
Perälä slips a jab from Rocker.
Rocker takes a swing at Perälä's ribcage but misses.
Perälä looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Perälä misses with a hook

and Rocker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Perälä won't be happy with that.
Rocker taking a break here but Perälä is having none of it and regains half guard.
Perälä is trying to get back to full guard.
Rocker is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rocker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocker is keen to just control but Perälä is a slippery customer.
Rocker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Perälä is pressing down on Rocker's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rocker won't allow Perälä to sweep him here.
Rocker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Perälä pulls Rocker in close to his closed guard and prevents Rocker from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rocker trying to control the position from guard on top but Perälä is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rocker preventing the sweep.
Rocker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rocker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Perälä pulls Rocker in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rocker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rocker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perälä.
Perälä wants to slow Rocker down by chopping away at his legs.
Perälä is looking to chop away at Rocker's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perälä uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rocker.
Perälä is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rocker connects with an inside leg kick.
Rocker shoots in for a takedown but Perälä shows good takedown defense.
Taisto Perälä is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A leg kick checked by Rocker.
Rocker throws out a powerful jab.
An inside leg kick from Perälä misses.
Perälä lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rocker's sensitive parts.
Perälä scores with a nice head shot.
Rocker looks to land a body kick but Perälä moved away.
It appears Perälä was looking to counter with a kick there.
Perälä keeps Rocker at a distance using the push kick.
Rocker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Perälä avoids it really well and circles away.
Rocker connects with a leg kick. Perälä looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Decent striking displayed by Perälä there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Perälä swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Perälä misses with a leg kick

and Rocker counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Perälä!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rocker working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Perälä is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocker stalling away here and it's allowed Perälä to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Perälä working for a triangle but Rocker defends it easily.
Rocker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rocker scores with the left hand. Perälä knows he should have avoided that one.
Perälä throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Perälä throws a jab when Rocker was well out of range.
A low kick from Perälä misses

and Rocker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Perälä keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rocker thows a huge punch but Perälä dodges it nicely.
Rocker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rocker slows the pace down in half guard.
Rocker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Perälä does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perälä won't allow Rocker to pass to mount.
Perälä is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rocker misses with a head shot. Perälä uses the momentum to regain guard.
Perälä not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rocker chips away with some ground and pound.
Rocker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Perälä tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rocker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rocker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taisto Perälä is winning the standup battle so far.
A left lands for Perälä.
Perälä connects with a jab.
A jab from Perälä misses.
Rocker throws a looping overhand right but Perälä ducks down to avoid it.
Perälä appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Perälä takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A jab from Rocker finds it's way through Perälä's defenses.
Rocker wants to slow Perälä down by chopping away at his legs.
Perälä keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rocker.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rocker.
Perälä misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perälä connects with a leg kick. Rocker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Perälä missing with a left hand there. Rocker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Perälä misses with the combination.
Rocker cracks Perälä with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rocker throws a body shot but no joy.
Perälä uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rocker.
Perälä blocks the body kick.
Rocker's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rocker duly obliges.
Rocker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rocker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rocker misses with an uppercut. Perälä saw that one coming.
Nice straight punches there by Rocker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rocker.
Perälä misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rocker lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perälä misses with a hook
and Rocker counters with a right hand to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Rocker there.
Rocker on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Perälä throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Perälä throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rocker counters with a nice uppercut.
Rocker scores with a spinning back kick!
Rocker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rocker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Perälä's sensitive parts.
Rocker throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rocker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Perälä takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Perälä. Rocker shrugs it off though.
Perälä looks to throw the jab but Rocker is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Rocker as he connects with a hook.
Rocker swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Rocker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Perälä throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rocker slips a straight right by Perälä.
Rocker blocks a leg kick.
Rocker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Perälä looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Good standup being displayed there by Rocker as he connects with a hook.
Perälä fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rocker manages to avoid it.
Perälä takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Perälä checks a low kick from Rocker.
Perälä listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Perälä misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rocker fails to land with a series of punches.
Perälä was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocker loads up on a big right hand but Perälä slips the punch.
Perälä misses with a leg kick

and Rocker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Perälä's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rocker working some strikes from top position.
Rocker tries to free his leg and advance position but Perälä is retaining full guard.
Ricky Rocker has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocker wants to control from the top but Perälä keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rocker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Perälä keeping moving, preventing Rocker from controlling successfully.
Perälä preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rocker 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.

Perälä looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rocker has picked Perälä up and slammed him! Perälä can't keep hold of the triangle and Rocker manages to pass to side control!

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.
You can see the frustration on Perälä's face as Rocker controls the position.
Perälä can't do much from the bottom here.
Rocker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Perälä keeps working.
Perälä tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rocker lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perälä is trying to get back to half guard.
Rocker trying to control the action but Perälä is working from the bottom.
Perälä prevents Rocker from improving position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rocker on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Perälä misses with a kick to the body

so Rocker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Perälä keeping moving, preventing Rocker from controlling successfully.
Rocker looking to sit in guard and control but Perälä gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rocker works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rocker keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rocker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Perälä is looking for a sweep. Rocker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Perälä is trying to maintain the position but Rocker is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Rocker really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rocker moves out of range of the body kick from Perälä.
Rocker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rocker throws out a powerful jab.
A jab from Rocker misses.
Perälä throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Perälä lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rocker throws a looping overhand right but Perälä ducks down to avoid it.
Perälä swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Perälä moves away from the strike by Rocker.
Perälä tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rocker throws out a counter right but Perälä avoids it with no problem.
Rocker scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocker just misses with a punch to the body.
Perälä gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Perälä takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Perälä lands a nice looking body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocker lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Perälä.
Perälä walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rocker checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rocker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rocker is looking to land body kicks.
Perälä half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rocker thumps Perälä with a low kick.
Perälä throws an overhand right that lands on Rocker's shoulder, as Rocker tries to avoid the shot.
Rocker tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ricky Rocker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Perälä misses with a left hand
and Rocker counters with an inside leg kick.
Rocker blocks a leg kick.
Perälä defending well as Rocker loads up on a big left hand.
Rocker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Perälä.
Perälä misses with a hook. Rocker ducked under it nicely.
Rocker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rocker catches Perälä with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perälä misses with an uppercut

and Rocker counters with a shoot takedown. Perälä fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Perälä looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocker is one step ahead there.
Rocker content to stall in guard here.

Perälä working for a triangle but Rocker defends it easily.
Perälä working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocker controlling from the top position.
Rocker trying to control the position from guard on top but Perälä is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Perälä dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Perälä scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Perälä swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rocker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rocker misses with a takedown attempt
and Perälä counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A big right from Perälä misses.
Rocker throws the left hand but Perälä avoids the punch easily.
Perälä swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rocker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Perälä steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rocker.
Perälä blocks a jab.
Rocker looks to score with a jab to the body but Perälä is just out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rocker.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rocker or perhaps it was just good defense by Perälä, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Rocker dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rocker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Perälä counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rocker throws a jab when Perälä was well out of range.
Rocker misses with a wild body shot.
Rocker lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rocker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Perälä loads up on a big right hand but Rocker slips the punch.
Rocker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Perälä. Perälä obviously looking to wear him down.
Rocker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Perälä is looking to chop away at Rocker's legs.
Rocker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rocker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perälä swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rocker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rocker lands a jab to Perälä's midsection.
Perälä pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rocker throws out a leg kick but Perälä moves out of range and Rocker only half commits.
Perälä uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rocker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perälä slips a jab from Rocker.
Rocker misses with a hook. Perälä ducked under it nicely.
Perälä feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Rocker tests Perälä's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rocker misses with a wild combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rocker.
Perälä pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Perälä.
Perälä throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A clash of legs there as Rocker blocks the low kick.
Perälä swings for the body but Rocker moves out of range.
Perälä misses with a looping left.
Rocker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rocker throws a body punch but Perälä moves out of range.
Taisto Perälä has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rocker.
Perälä tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rocker was well out of range. Poor timing from Perälä.
Rocker scoring well with a low kick there.
Rocker keeps Perälä at a distance using the push kick.
Rocker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rocker scoring well with a low kick there.
Rocker misses with a straight right.
Rocker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rocker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Perälä as he avoids it easily.
Perälä gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Rocker counters with a single leg into guard. Perälä didn't expect that.
Perälä preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perälä can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rocker controls the pace.
Perälä trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rocker wants to control from the top but Perälä keeps moving.
Rocker postures up.
Perälä 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Perälä looks to score with a jab to the body but Rocker is just out of range.
Rocker throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Perälä on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rocker lands a slapping body shot.
Perälä walks into a jab.
Rocker cracks the inside of Perälä's front leg.
Rocker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Perälä counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rocker dips to his left and cracks Perälä with an uppercut!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rocker, right into the meat.
Nice shot lands for Rocker.
Rocker shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rocker throws a leg kick
and Perälä connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rocker lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Perälä looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rocker thows a body kick. Perälä tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rocker scoring well with a low kick there.
Rocker darts in looking for a takedown but Perälä gets double underhooks and turns Rocker into the cage.
Taisto Perälä has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Rocker.
Rocker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Perälä. That did some damage!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Rocker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rocker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Rocker!
Ricky Rocker decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.