PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noah Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Kusuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kusuma has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rocha
vs
Kusuma

199 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

195 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Noah Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anthony Kusuma!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kusuma looks winded!
Kusuma shoots for a takedown but Rocha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Kusuma tries to get set, Rocha tries to push him back and clinch up but Kusuma manages to avoid the attempt.
Kusuma takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Rocha closes the distance and clinches.
Kusuma on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Rocha.
Rocha looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rocha wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kusuma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rocha.
Rocha wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kusuma has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kusuma.
Rocha fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rocha tries to break free but Kusuma pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha wants to get back to striking at distance but Kusuma won't allow it.

Kusuma jumps guard and drags Rocha to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rocha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rocha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rocha cracks Kusuma with a solid left hand.
Rocha postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha is looking to work some ground and pound but Kusuma has wrist control.
Kusuma utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rocha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kusuma avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rocha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rocha landing with the ground and pound.
Rocha throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is working Kusuma over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rocha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kusuma avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rocha throws a big elbow that misses.
Rocha stands up over Kusuma, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kusuma utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rocha scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rocha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kusuma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rocha scoring with some ground and pound.
Kusuma is trying to keep Rocha in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rocha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rocha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kusuma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rocha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rocha is working Kusuma over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kusuma preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rocha scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rocha throws a big elbow that misses.
Rocha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kusuma holds on and takes a little breather.

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

Rocha clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha stalling in the clinch.
Rocha working hard to break the clinch.
Rocha tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noah Rocha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Rocha.
Kusuma is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kusuma connects with a knee to the head.
Rocha can't get the takedown.
Rocha is looking for a takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocha stalling in the clinch but Kusuma improves position.
Rocha gets underhooks to prevent Kusuma's takedown attempt.
Kusuma is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Rocha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Kusuma's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rocha forces Kusuma back against the cage and clinches.
Rocha is trying to drag Kusuma to the mat but Kusuma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Kusuma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rocha moves into range and clinches up with Kusuma.

Rocha manages to break the clinch.
Rocha tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kusuma counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rocha rushes Kusuma and presses him up against the cage.
Kusuma is breathing heavily.
Kusuma jumps guard but Rocha stands there with Kusuma around his waist. Kusuma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Rocha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rocha wants to clinch up but Kusuma keeps it at a distance.

Rocha rushes Kusuma and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kusuma gets underhooks to prevent Rocha's takedown attempt.
Rocha tries to score a body lock takedown but Kusuma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noah Rocha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rocha is trying to drag Kusuma to the mat but Kusuma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rocha looking for a takedown.
Rocha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kusuma can do to turn this around?
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kusuma pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rocha moves in looking to clinch but Kusuma pushes him off.

Rocha has managed to clinch.
Rocha is looking to break free of the clinch but Kusuma has double underhooks.
Rocha is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kusuma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rocha.
Rocha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kusuma gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kusuma gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kusuma trying to control but Rocha is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocha isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kusuma stacks Rocha 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 Kusuma!
Kusuma just content to control the position.
Rocha is trying to get back to his feet.
Rocha misses with a strike from the bottom.
Rocha is trying to improve his position.

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

Kusuma is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rocha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kusuma is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Kusuma will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Anthony Kusuma's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rocha tries to clinch there but Kusuma circles away.
Rocha tries to close the distance and clinch but Kusuma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kusuma shoots and misses
and Rocha finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Rocha drives through and clinches with Kusuma against the cage.

Rocha has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kusuma uses from the top position.

Rocha has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kusuma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rocha is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kusuma postures up in Rocha's guard and throws a big left but Rocha blocks it.
Noah Rocha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rocha is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kusuma defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rocha is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rocha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kusuma is aware though and is defending well.
Kusuma slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rocha bucks up and tries to throw Kusuma off but instead Kusuma has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusuma controlling well, preventing Rocha from escaping the position.

Rocha is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kusuma gets his way!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rocha is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Rocha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kusuma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kusuma drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rocha defends it well.

Rocha darts in and clinches Kusuma up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocha pulls guard effortlessly.

Rocha has his feet on Kusuma's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rocha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kusuma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kusuma let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rocha moves in looking to clinch but Kusuma pushes him off.
Rocha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kusuma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kusuma darts in looking for a takedown but Rocha gets double underhooks and turns Kusuma into the cage.

Rocha gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rocha wants a takedown.
Noah Rocha has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Kusuma manages to pull guard.
Rocha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusuma wants to sweep but no luck.

Kusuma had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rocha defends it easily.
Kusuma trying to keep a closed guard but Rocha is proving a slippery customer.
Rocha preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocha working some strikes from top position.
Kusuma managing to control the position.
Rocha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noah Rocha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rocha has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noah Rocha!