PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Hide (ranked 1249 p4p, 159 weight class) and Roy Roach (ranked 2846 p4p, 294 weight class). Hide comes to the cage accompanied by Nightwish. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hide
vs
Roach

178 cm
22
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
23
193 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements
Urban Fighter

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Hide!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roy Roach!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roach throws a series of punches but Hide avoids them all with ease.
Roach takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A lazy left from Hide finds it's target.
Hide slips a jab from Roach.
Roach throws an off balance right hand
and Hide counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roach closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Roy Roach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hide dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've been told by Hide's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A swing and a miss from Roach.
Roach thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hide tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Roach was well out of range. Poor timing from Hide.
It seemed like Roach was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Roach throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hide drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hide scores with a hook.
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!
Hide takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hide wants to land a leg kick but Roach is out of range.
Roach loads up on a big right hand but Hide slips the punch.
A counter left hand to the body from Hide misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Roach throws a big shot that misses.
Roach is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hide.
Roach ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hide uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roach.
Roach takes a swing at Hide's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Hide was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Roach.
Hide throws a hook but Roach blocks it.
Hide tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roach manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hide moves into the clinch.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Roach.
Hide throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roachs head.
Roach is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hide landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hide lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Hide.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hide throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Roach tries to break the clinch but Hide is controlling the position.
Hide lands a left hand that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
Hide stalls.
Hide with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Roach breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roach throws a lazy uppercut
and Hide counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roach swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hide catches Roach with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Roach has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hide finds it's way round the side to connect with Roach's head.

Hide shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Roach napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hide in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
An elbow from Hide crashes against the mat.
Hide throws an elbow but Roach slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hide has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Hide controlling his opponent.
Hide looking to ground and pound but Roach is blocking nicely.
Hide punching from mount but Roach doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Roach sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hide missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hide content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Roach really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hide. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hide throwing shots but Roach is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roach gets back to full guard.
Hide throws an elbow that misses. Roach uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hide's guard. Nice move by Roach!

Roach trying to control but Hide is working from the bottom.
Roach won't allow Hide to sweep him here.
Roach stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hide swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Hide dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hide misses with a jab, cross combination.
Roach stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hide fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Roach is out of range.
Hide looks to clinch
and Roach cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Roach tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hide was well out of range. Poor timing from Roach.
A counter left hand to the body from Hide misses its target.
Hide's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Roach connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hide scrambles back to his feet.
Roach throws a hook to the side of Hide's head but Hide sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hide tries to close the distance and clinch but Roach swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roach. Hide does a little dance to reset his feet.
Roach misses with a body shot
and Hide counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach takes a swing at Hide's ribcage but misses.
Hide scores with a shot to the body.
Hide looks to land a right hand but Roach moved out of range.
Hide uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roach.
Hide is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roach can do to turn this around?
Nice defenses there by Hide.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach throws a jab but it's blocked by Hide.
Roach misses with a hook.
Hide tries to counter by clinching up but Roach breaks away and moves out of range.
Roach misses with a body punch
and Hide cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Roach misses with a body punch
and Hide counters with a stiff right hand.
Roach misses the jab.
Roach keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roach looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Roach throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Hide counter with a right hand.
Nice straight punches there by Hide. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hide.
Hide throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Roach stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hide lands a jab to Roach's midsection.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hide darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hide throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Roach ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roach misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roach swings for the body but Hide moves out of range.
It looked like Hide was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Roach.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roach. Hide does a little dance to reset his feet.

Hide closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Roach takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hide stalling against the cage.
Hide taking a breather.
Roach blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hide lands with a right to the head.
Roach misses with a hook to the ribs.
Roach is trying to force a seperation but Hide has the dominant position.
Hide lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Roach stalling in the clinch but Hide improves position.
Hide scores with a shot to the side of Roach's head.
Hide doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hide.
Roach tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hide prevents a body shot from Roach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hide misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roach.
Roach has a couple of punches blocked by Hide.
Hide manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hide displaying some good clinch control by pressing Roach up against the cage.

Roach breaks the clinch.
Hide misses with a wild combination.
Roach swings widly with a right hand
and Hide counters with a left to the body.
Roach looks to land a right hand but Hide moved out of range.
Roach cracks a nice hook into Hide's ribs.
Roach misses with a body shot.
Hide fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Roy Roach is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hide throws a leg kick
and Roach counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Roach tries to bum rush Hide with a series of wild strikes but Hide uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Roach connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hide. Hide circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Roach doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roach looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hide appears to be looking for a big counter.

Hide clinches up against the cage.
Hide lands a good knee to the midsection. Roach won't want to take too many of those.
Roach is breathing heavily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hide working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Roach misses with some punches.
Roach misses with some punches.
Hide using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Roach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Hide.
Roach blocks a body shot from Hide.
Hide lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Roach fails to land.
Roach has a couple of punches blocked by Hide.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Hide dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Roach misses with a body shot.
Hide closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Roach misses with a hook
and Hide counters with a nice body shot.
Roach fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hide manages to avoid it.
Roach throws a hook but Hide blocks it.
Roach throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hide tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Roach is able to avoid easily.
Roach lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A jab from Roach finds it's way through Hide's defenses.
Roach just misses with a punch to the body.
Roach misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hide counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach misses with a looping left.
Hide drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big right from Roach misses.
Hide tests Roach's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Hide darts in and clinches Roach up against the cage.
Hide lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
Roach looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hide lands a shoulder strike.
Hide holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Roach.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hide.
Knees to the body from Hide.
Roach takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice left hand lands by Hide.
Hide pushes Roach back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hide.
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!
The referee is keeping an eye on Hide - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hide is looking to control Roach's arms but Roach gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hide has his back to the cage.
Hide presses Roach against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hide.
Roach managing to block the knees to the body from Hide.
Roach is trying to break the clinch but Hide has him pressed against the cage.
Hide doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hide prevents a body shot from Roach.
Roach lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hide or not.
Hide keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Roach's efforts to push away.
Roach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hide is struggling to control the position.
Hide just leaning against Roach, taking a breather.
Hide tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raphael Hide has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hide is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hide blocks an uppercut.
Hide tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roach's elbow.
Hide lands a left hand that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
Roach swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hide blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hide crunches a lovely knee into Roach's ribcage.
Roach scores with a shot to the side of Hide's head.
Hide lands a hook that snaps the head of Roach backwards.
Roach tries to work over Hide's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hide digs a right hand underneath Roach's ribcage. Roach let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hide using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hide is struggling to control the position.
Hide lands with a left to the head.
Hide lands a shot to the body.
Roy Roach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hide is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Roach is keeping busy.
Roach tries to work over Hide's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Roach swings wildly with an uppercut but Hide uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hide misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hide lands a nice knee to the body.
Roach letting Hide take a breather here.
A short uppercut from Hide.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hide lands with a light punch inside.
Hide landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hide cracks Roach with a nice body shot.
Hide has Roach pushed against the cage.
Hide tries to land a knee to the head but Roach blocks with his arms.
Stalling in the clinch from Hide.
A short left from Hide.
Roach is trying to push Hide away but Hide has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hide misses with a body punch.
Hide trying to land knees to the body.

Roach's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roach throws a lazy right hand but Hide sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Raphael Hide is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roach waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hide.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Hide showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hide 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Hide!
Raphael Hide was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.