PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Groman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jhonny Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Groman
vs
Rock

198 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Groman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jhonny Rock!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Rock or perhaps it was just good defense by Groman which made him look bad.
Rock stuffs the takedown attempt from Groman. Groman gets slowly back to his feet.
Rock swats away the attempt to clinch by Groman.

Groman rushes Rock and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Groman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rock can't break the clinch.

Groman has picked Rock up - he's going for a ride! Groman dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Groman is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Groman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groman throws some wild stikes that Rock manages to avoid easily.
Groman is landing with some decent strikes but Rock is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Groman wants to control the pace but Rock is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groman misses with some ground and pound and Rock recovers position to half guard.
Groman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rock avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Groman.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Groman in particular looking to stall.
Groman misses with a head shot. Rock uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two 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.

Groman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rock misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Groman fails to land with a series of punches.
Rock slips a jab and a cross from Groman.
Groman shoots for a double leg takedown but Rock sprawls well. He's pushed Groman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Groman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Groman postures up in Rock's guard and throws a big left but Rock blocks it.
Groman thows a big elbow that misses.
Rock working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Groman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Groman trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rock looks gassed!
Groman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rock wants to stand up but Groman is controlling him.

Groman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four 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.

Groman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Groman throwing shots but Rock is blocking nicely.
Groman stalling away here and it's allowed Rock to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Groman stands up and waves to Rock to follow him.
Jhonny Rock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Groman lands with a hook. Rock tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rock throws a combination that misses

and Groman counters with a shoot takedown. Rock fights it but they end up in guard.
Groman tries to free his leg and advance position but Rock is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Groman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Groman drives through with a takedown into guard.
Groman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rock really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Groman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Groman scoring with some ground and pound.
Groman lands a couple of digs.
Groman looking to pass the guard.
Rock wants to stand but Groman is controlling the position.

Groman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Groman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rock is keeping the position for now.
Groman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Marcelo Groman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Groman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rock is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Groman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Groman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rock swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Groman stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rock wants to clinch but Groman slips to the side

and Groman counters with a shoot takedown. Rock fights it but they end up in guard.
Groman wants to control from the top but Rock keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groman throws a big right hand that misses.
Groman works over Rock with some ground and pound from guard.

Groman gets to his feet - Rock follows without any prompting.
Groman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rock as he avoids it easily.
A left and a right from Rock both land. Nice combination.
Nice takedown defense from Rock. No joy for Groman on that attempt.
Groman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rock pinned against the cage. Rock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Groman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Groman backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock with a lazy takedown attempt

so Groman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Groman stops Rock from standing up.
Groman trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rock working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Groman.
Groman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Groman dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Groman tries for a takedown but Rock sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rock clinches with his opponent.
Rock gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Groman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Groman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock misses with a knee strike.
Rock scores a nice knee to the body.
Groman keeps control of Rock as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Groman tries for a takedown but Rock manages to get underhooks.
Rock connects with a knee to the head.
Rock looking to throw knees to the head but Groman is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rock breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Groman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rock as he avoids it easily.
Rock lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock with a lazy takedown attempt

and Groman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rock!
Groman lands with some strikes.
Poor strikes thrown by Groman there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Groman looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Groman lands a big shot there that rocks Rock but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Groman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rock hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rock?
Groman punching from mount but Rock doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Groman with a couple of short strikes.

Groman has hold of Rock's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rock manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rock avoids a series of strikes thrown by Groman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groman thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Groman jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rock is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rock and Groman has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Groman wants to control but Rock is keeping him busy.
Rock parries the strikes from Groman easily there. Groman is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rock to escape.

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.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Groman looks up at the clock and then as Rock takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Groman smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Groman working the ground and pound.
Groman fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rock managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Groman.
Jhonny Rock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rock can do anything to dispel that myth.
The strikes coming from Groman are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rock dodges the ground and pound from Groman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelo Groman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Groman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Groman!