PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Gomes Da Rocha (ranked 1252 p4p, 153 weight class) and Kenny Knight (ranked 2329 p4p, 263 weight class). Tiago Gomes Da Rocha has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gomes Da Rocha
vs
Knight

188 cm
22
195 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
191 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tiago Gomes Da Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenny Knight!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jonathan Paton and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Rocha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knight.
Da Rocha seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A left and a right from Knight both land. Nice combination.

Knight closes the distance and clinches.
Da Rocha lands a right hand.
Da Rocha lands a hook to the side of the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Knight has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Da Rocha prevents a body shot from Knight.
Da Rocha tries to work over Knight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knight tries to pull guard but Da Rocha won't allow it.
A shot in the inside from Da Rocha.
Da Rocha lands with a short shot to the head.
Da Rocha misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knight tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Da Rocha swings wildly with an uppercut but Knight uses good head movement to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knight is trying to pull guard but Da Rocha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Da Rocha tries to throw a body punch but Knight avoids it by throwing Da Rocha back against the cage.
Da Rocha misses with some punches.
Da Rocha misses with a punch on the inside.
Knight blocking some punches.
Da Rocha has a couple of punches blocked by Knight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Rocha takes a shot to the head.
Da Rocha stalling in the clinch.
Da Rocha lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Da Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knight blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Da Rocha lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Da Rocha lands a nice shot to the body.

Knight gets control of Da Rocha's arms and successfully pulls guard. Knight will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Knight looking for a guillotine here but Da Rocha defends easily.

Knight is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Da Rocha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Knight misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knight lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Da Rocha has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Da Rocha misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight is trying to pull guard but Da Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Tiago Gomes Da Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Knight.
Knight tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knight takes a shot to the head.
Da Rocha misses with some punches.
Da Rocha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Knight tries to pull guard but Da Rocha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knight tries to pull guard but Da Rocha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Da Rocha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Da Rocha goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Da Rocha lands a left hand.
Knight doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knight tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knight blocking some punches.
Knight is trying to pull guard but Da Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Da Rocha misses with a punch to the body.
Knight tries to pull guard but Da Rocha holds him up against the cage and eventually Knight drops back down to his feet.
Da Rocha misses with the head strike.
Da Rocha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knight is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Da Rocha to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Rocha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Knight jumps guard but Da Rocha stands there with Knight around his waist. Knight gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Da Rocha scores with a nice short uppercut.
Da Rocha blocks an uppercut.
Knight scores with a shot to the side of Da Rocha's head.

Knight pulls guard effortlessly.

Knight escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Da Rocha gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Knight is working an open guard so Da Rocha takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Knight looks to score with a jab to the body but Da Rocha is just out of range.
Da Rocha is looking to counter punch.

Knight has closed the distance and engaged Da Rocha in a clinch.
Da Rocha throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.
Knight tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Da Rocha smiles and moves away.
Knight lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Da Rocha circles away quickly and effectively.
Knight fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a leg kick that is checked
and Da Rocha counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
Knight tries to close the distance and clinch but Da Rocha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knight lands a body shot.
Knight tries to clinch
and Da Rocha counters with a big right hand! Oh Knight is in trouble here! Da Rocha follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tiago Gomes Da Rocha!