PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reese Rockhold (ranked 2691 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willie Garth (ranked 4874 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rockhold
vs
Garth

181 cm
25
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

155 cm
19
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 The Island, Reese Rockhold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Willie Garth!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockhold pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rockhold swinging wildly here.
Rockhold plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rockhold throws a poor cross that misses
and Garth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Garth moves out of range as Rockhold strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold scores with a hook.
Rockhold throws a nice head kick!
Rockhold lands a high kick!
Rockhold clobbers Garth with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Garth is rocked!
Reese Rockhold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rockhold misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garth is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Garth is still on wobbly legs! Can Rockhold finish him?
Garth takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A head kick by Rockhold misses
and Garth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rockhold misses with an uppercut
and Garth counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rockhold throws a combination that misses
and Garth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rockhold throws a sloppy head kick and Garth moves out of range easily.
Garth tries to counter by closing the distance.
Garth slips under a jab from Rockhold.
Garth seems to have recovered his senses.
Rockhold misses with a hook
and Garth counters with a stiff right hand.
Rockhold throws a combination that misses
and Garth counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rockhold throws an off balance right hand
enabling Garth to counter with a crisp jab.
Sloppy strikes from Rockhold. Those never looked like landing.
Garth is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rockhold throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Garth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses.
Rockhold throws a series of punches but Garth avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Rockhold.
Garth tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rockhold misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Rockhold misses.
Garth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rockhold.
A head kick by Rockhold misses
and Garth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Garth checks a leg kick nicely.
Rockhold swings widly with a right hand
and Garth counters with a nice uppercut.
Garth blocks a head kick by Rockhold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Garth tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rockhold is looking to clinch.
Garth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rockhold.
Rockhold throws a shot from downtown. Garth moves away and avoids it.
Rockhold fails to land with a series of punches.
Rockhold tries a low kick but Garth avoids it.
Rockhold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rockhold throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rockhold tries to bum rush Garth with a series of wild strikes but Garth uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garth tries to counter with a clinch but Rockhold shakes him off and moves away.
Rockhold bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Garth's head.
Rockhold throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Garth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold tries a head kick but it misses.
Rockhold throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Garth's head.
Rockhold throws a sloppy head kick and Garth moves out of range easily.
Garth tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rockhold lands with a slapping head kick.
Rockhold throws a left and a right that both miss
and Garth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rockhold is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rockhold.
A shot to the body from Rockhold misses
and Rockhold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rockhold throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Garth might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rockhold throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rockhold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reese Rockhold dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rockhold misses with a wild combination.
Garth has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rockhold finds it's way round the side to connect with Garth's head.
Reese Rockhold is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rockhold lands with a kick to the temple. Garth shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garth tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rockhold swings widly with a right hand
and Garth counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold scores with a head kick. Garth tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rockhold tries a head kick but it misses.
Garth tries to counter with a clinch but Rockhold shakes him off and moves away.
Rockhold throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Garth's head.
A slow jab from Rockhold misses its intended target.
Garth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rockhold.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses
enabling Garth to counter with a crisp jab.
Rockhold thows a leg kick but Garth checks it
and Garth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rockhold throws out a loose jab but Garth uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rockhold sets himself, and Garth steps forward looking for the clinch! Rockhold avoids it this time.
Rockhold throws a sloppy head kick
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rockhold misses with a left hand
and Garth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rockhold is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garth can do to turn this around?
Rockhold misses with a hook
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rockhold throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Garth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rockhold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Garth on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Garth might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Rockhold has got the better of the exchanges.
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!
Garth avoids the head kick by Rockhold.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garth wants to counter the offense by Rockhold and move into the clinch position.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rockhold - that will leave a mark!
Rockhold tries a head kick but it misses.
Rockhold throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Garth to counter with a crisp jab.
Garth avoids the head kick by Rockhold.
Rockhold throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rockhold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rockhold misses with an uppercut. Garth saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold doesn't manage to clinch there - Garth circles away.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garth looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rockhold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rockhold pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rockhold.
Rockhold throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garth is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A combination from Rockhold does no damage.
Rockhold sets himself, and Garth steps forward looking for the clinch! Rockhold avoids it this time.
Rockhold throws a hook but Garth avoids it easily.
Rockhold rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Garth moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Garth blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a sloppy head kick and Garth moves out of range easily.
Rockhold throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Garth sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rockhold looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rockhold pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rockhold throws a lazy head kick
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick by Rockhold misses
and Garth counters with a stiff right hand.
Rockhold throws a leg kick that is checked
and Garth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rockhold throws a poor cross that misses
and Garth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
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!
Rockhold throws a lazy uppercut
and Garth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rockhold misses with a left hand
and Garth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reese Rockhold will probably get the nod.
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!

Rockhold throws a combination that misses
and Garth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rockhold misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garth looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rockhold misses with a head kick.
Garth should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rockhold falls off balance throwing a combination
and Garth counters with a straight right hand.
Rockhold misses with a head kick.
Garth moves out of range as Rockhold throws a body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garth avoids the body shot from Rockhold.
Garth blocks a low kick nicely.
Rockhold swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Garth counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold misses the jab.
Garth is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rockhold swings widly with a right hand
enabling Garth to counter with a crisp jab.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses
and Garth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Garth ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rockhold misses with a two punch combination.
Garth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rockhold.
Garth checks a leg kick.
Rockhold tries to land a body kick
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rockhold misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garth wants to counter with a clinch but Rockhold pushes him away.
Rockhold looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rockhold waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Garth.
Rockhold sets himself, and Garth steps forward looking for the clinch! Rockhold avoids it this time.
Rockhold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throws an off balance right hand
and Rockhold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rockhold swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Garth tries to counter with a clinch but Rockhold shakes him off and moves away.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rockhold.
A jab from Rockhold misses.
Garth tries to counter with a clinch but Rockhold shakes him off and moves away.
Garth ducks under a wild hook from Rockhold.
Garth tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rockhold misses with a hook
and Garth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rockhold throws a poor cross that misses
and Garth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rockhold throws a lazy head kick
and Rockhold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rockhold misses with a right hand
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold closes the distance looking to clinch
and Garth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rockhold misses with a body shot
and Garth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rockhold connects with a solid leg kick.
Garth slips under a jab from Rockhold.
Rockhold sets himself, and Garth steps forward looking for the clinch! Rockhold avoids it this time.
Rockhold throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Garth ducks under a wild hook from Rockhold.
Garth is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Rockhold.
Garth is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rockhold throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Garth to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold throws a head kick that misses
and Garth counters with a straight right hand.
Rockhold misses with a left hand
and Garth counters with a stiff right hand.
Reese Rockhold is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rockhold misses with a looping right.
Rockhold will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rockhold shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Garth eats them both and turns towards Rockhold to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
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!
Rockhold scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Willie Garth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rockhold swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Garth counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie Garth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rockhold 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reese Rockhold!