PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Marcos Rodrigues has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rodrigues
vs
Rocha

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcos Rodrigues!
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, Marcelo Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A right-left combo lands from Rodrigues.

It looks like Marcelo Rocha has been cut.

Rodrigues has managed to clinch.
Rodrigues is trying to break the clinch but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Rocha fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rocha prevents Rodrigues from breaking the clinch.
Rocha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodrigues fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Marcos Rodrigues has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Rocha.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown but Rodrigues shows good takedown defense.
Rodrigues avoids the body shot from Rocha.
A good leg kick by Rodrigues.
Rocha tries to clinch up but Rodrigues circles away and keeps his distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rodrigues.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rodrigues connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rocha. Rocha circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rocha shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodrigues sprawls well. He's pushed Rocha's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rodrigues closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rocha to the mat! Rocha manages to get full guard.
Rocha is trying to control the position but Rodrigues postures up.
Rodrigues won't allow Rocha to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rocha is on top in guard.
Rocha looks gassed!
Rodrigues trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigues is striking off his back. Rocha thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Rodrigues is trying to maintain the position but Rocha is very close to passing his half guard.
Rocha trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues is trying to maintain the position but Rocha is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha stops Rodrigues from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rocha wants to clinch
and Rodrigues counters with a stiff right hand.

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.
Rodrigues cracks Rocha with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rodrigues misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rocha paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rocha gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Rodrigues counters with a thumping low kick.
Rodrigues swinging wilding here.
Rocha tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodrigues swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodrigues scores with a head kick.
Rodrigues stalks Rocha and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rocha's face. Rocha staggers backwards, shaken.

Rodrigues instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rocha misses with a takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rodrigues connects with a high kick.
Rocha misses with a leg kick
and Rodrigues counters with a nice leg kick.
Rodrigues changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Rocha has managed to clinch.

Rodrigues has hold of one of Rocha's legs. Rocha is fighting the takedown attempt but Rodrigues gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rocha is trying to control the position but Rodrigues postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rocha pushes Rodrigues off and scrambles back to his feet.
Rodrigues throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rocha uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rocha throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rodrigues counters with a stiff right hand.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up
and Rodrigues takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rocha moves in looking to clinch but Rodrigues pushes him off.
Rocha gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rodrigues makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rodrigues avoiding damage as Rocha throws knees to the body.
Rodrigues can't break the clinch.
Rodrigues is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rocha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rodrigues is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocha has double underhooks.
Rodrigues can't break the clinch.
Rocha goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodrigues prevents it.
Marcos Rodrigues has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Rocha.
Rodrigues wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rodrigues wants to stall.
Rocha can't break the clinch.
Rodrigues tries to pull guard but Rocha holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodrigues drops back down to his feet.
Rodrigues is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodrigues prevents it.
Rodrigues keeps control of Rocha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rocha is trying to drag Rodrigues to the mat but Rodrigues just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rodrigues wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rodrigues goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rocha prevents it.

Rocha breaks from the clinch.
Marcos Rodrigues is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodrigues connects with a body shot.
Rocha tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rodrigues holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rodrigues has had enough of the clinch but Rocha keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Rocha pulls guard.
Rocha wants to stand up but Rodrigues is controlling him.
Rocha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigues is one step ahead there.

Rocha looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rodrigues gets to his feet. Rocha looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Rodrigues dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcelo Rocha's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rocha has his takedown stuffed
and Rodrigues counters with an outside leg kick.
Rodrigues keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab lands there for Rodrigues.
Rocha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodrigues paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodrigues closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rocha counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rocha.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues wants to break free but Rocha has control.
Rocha throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rodrigues blocks it with crossed arms.
Rodrigues tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodrigues is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rodrigues prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rodrigues slowing the pace effectively.

Rocha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up
and Rocha counters with a one-two to the body.
Rodrigues connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rocha's hands.
Rocha tries to move into range but Rodrigues moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Good leg kick by Rodrigues there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rocha with a poor takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a head kick.
Marcos Rodrigues has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Rocha.

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.
Rocha with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rodrigues counters with a left to the body.
Rocha stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodrigues. Rodrigues gets slowly back to his feet.
Rocha with a poor takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a leg kick.
Rodrigues throws a nice head kick!
Marcos Rodrigues is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rodrigues scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rodrigues lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rodrigues shoots in but Rocha avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rocha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to clinch but Rocha moves away

and Rocha counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodrigues blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rodrigues is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rocha prevents Rodrigues from breaking the clinch.

Rocha manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rocha wriggles free and stands up.
Rodrigues throws a head kick that half lands.
Rodrigues scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rocha tries to clinch up
and Rodrigues cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rodrigues counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rocha.
Rocha shoots and misses
and Rodrigues counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rocha is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocha throws a leg kick
and Rodrigues counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rocha's knee momentarily.
Rocha misses with a takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rocha's knee momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcos Rodrigues.
Well Rodrigues 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcos Rodrigues!