PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Judson Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MoMo ElSahla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MoMo ElSahla has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rocha
vs
ElSahla

199 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Judson Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, MoMo ElSahla!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ElSahla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rocha defends it nicely.
Rocha appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rocha gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and ElSahla counters with a three punch combo that has Rocha backing up. Rocha nods at ElSahla to acknowledge the strikes.
ElSahla shoots in for a takedown but Rocha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
ElSahla throws a shot to the body.
ElSahla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rocha is fending him off so far but ElSahla persists. Nope, Rocha circles away and we're back to standing.
Rocha seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Judson Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of MoMo ElSahla.
Rocha connects with an inside leg kick.
Rocha really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
ElSahla misses with a double jab.

ElSahla rushes Rocha and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ElSahla is trying to break the clinch but Rocha is controlling him.
Rocha effectively controlling the action here.
ElSahla looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rocha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
ElSahla throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
ElSahla ducks under a wild hook from Rocha.
Rocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.

ElSahla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
ElSahla tries to pull guard but Rocha won't allow it.
ElSahla has Rocha pushed against the cage.
ElSahla goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rocha prevents ElSahla from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Rocha tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
ElSahla is trying to break the clinch but Rocha is controlling him.
ElSahla wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rocha keeps control of ElSahla as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rocha throws an elbow but it's blocked.
ElSahla is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
ElSahla blocks an uppercut.
Rocha wants a takedown but no success here.
ElSahla is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rocha.
ElSahla prevents a body shot from Rocha.

ElSahla jumps into guard, dragging Rocha to the mat.
Rocha is stalling in the full guard.

Rocha stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rocha fails with the takedown.
ElSahla throws a counter combo.
ElSahla swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla fails to land the takedown.
Rocha throws an ugly left hook that misses
and ElSahla counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
ElSahla blocks a low kick nicely.
ElSahla connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rocha with a lazy takedown attempt
and ElSahla cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rocha slips a jab and a cross from ElSahla.
ElSahla looks winded!
Rocha dives in for a single leg takedown but ElSahla sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
MoMo ElSahla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocha throws a hook but ElSahla avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from ElSahla.

ElSahla moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MoMo ElSahla dominated that round.
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.

ElSahla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rocha, pushing him back against the cage.
ElSahla is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocha has double underhooks.
Rocha goes for a takedown attempt but ElSahla pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
ElSahla blocks a head kick by Rocha.
ElSahla lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Rocha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
ElSahla falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rocha counters by moving into the clinch.
ElSahla is struggling to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rocha breaks from the clinch.
A jab from ElSahla finds it's way through Rocha's defenses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rocha is defended easily by ElSahla.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ElSahla will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
ElSahla dives in and grabs Rocha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rocha pushes down on ElSahla's head and hops out.
ElSahla is breathing heavily.
ElSahla throws a head kick but Rocha moves out of range.
It looked like Rocha wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
ElSahla has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
ElSahla throws a sloppy head kick and Rocha moves out of range easily.
Rocha keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rocha shoots for a takedown but ElSahla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Judson Rocha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rocha shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. ElSahla manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rocha wants to stand but ElSahla has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rocha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla wants to get back to his feet but Rocha passes into half guard.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet.
Rocha thows a huge punch but ElSahla dodges it nicely.

ElSahla makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla stuffs the takedown attempt from Rocha. Rocha gets slowly back to his feet.
Rocha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
ElSahla shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rocha but Rocha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
ElSahla misses with a few strikes there.
Rocha is looking to counter punch.
ElSahla blocks a jab.
ElSahla throws a counter combo.
ElSahla will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
MoMo ElSahla seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rocha lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rocha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract ElSahla.
ElSahla is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
ElSahla shoots in for a takedown but Rocha shows good takedown defense.
Rocha changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Rocha tries to keep at a distance but ElSahla has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha tries to score a body lock takedown but ElSahla shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rocha avoiding damage as ElSahla throws knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by ElSahla.
ElSahla is looking for a takedown.
Rocha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. ElSahla smiles and moves away.

ElSahla gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rocha to score an easy takedown into full guard.

ElSahla is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rocha presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but MoMo ElSahla will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
MoMo ElSahla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ElSahla displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
ElSahla displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rocha.
ElSahla lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Judson Rocha has been cut.
ElSahla takes a swing at Rocha's ribcage but misses.
Rocha seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
ElSahla moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rocha shoots in and drives through. ElSahla sprawls well.
ElSahla swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rocha.
ElSahla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
ElSahla throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rocha.
Rocha swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rocha lands with a kick to the temple. ElSahla shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from ElSahla.
Rocha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to ElSahla's calf.
ElSahla checks a leg kick.

ElSahla gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rocha is working for takedown but ElSahla is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Judson Rocha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ElSahla tries to break free but Rocha pushes him back against the cage.
ElSahla is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
ElSahla has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rocha avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rocha drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

ElSahla pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rocha shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and ElSahla counters with a three punch combo that has Rocha backing up. Rocha nods at ElSahla to acknowledge the strikes.
ElSahla tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rocha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten ElSahla somewhat.
Rocha pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rocha fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and ElSahla has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla avoids the head kick by Rocha.
Rocha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but ElSahla defends well and Rocha ends up having to push ElSahla into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck for ElSahla with that takedown attempt.
Rocha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rocha shoots for a takedown but ElSahla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A punch combination from ElSahla misses.
ElSahla looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rocha fails to land with a series of punches.
Rocha looks to land a right hand but ElSahla moved out of range.
ElSahla avoids the head kick by Rocha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ElSahla throws a head kick that misses.
Rocha dodges the punch combination from ElSahla.
Rocha throws an overhand right that lands on ElSahla's shoulder, as ElSahla tries to avoid the shot.
ElSahla throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as ElSahla sprawls well. ElSahla wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rocha gets slowly back to his feet.
ElSahla tries a head kick but it misses.
Rocha tries to counter by clinching up but ElSahla breaks away and moves out of range.
Rocha goes for a double leg but ElSahla avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as ElSahla continues to drive forward.
Judson Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
MoMo ElSahla is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
ElSahla shoots in looking for a takedown. Rocha tries to sprawl out of it but ElSahla keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rocha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
MoMo ElSahla comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well ElSahla 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... MoMo ElSahla!