PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Deleon (ranked 6715 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam McKnight (ranked 2934 p4p, 336 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Liam McKnight was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Deleon
vs
McKnight

160 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Likes musicals

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocco Deleon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam McKnight!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Deleon takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Rocco Deleon has been cut.

McKnight shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Deleon pulls McKnight in to control the position.
McKnight tries to free his leg and advance position but Deleon is retaining full guard.
McKnight must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Deleon has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Deleon is trying to keep McKnight in close.

Deleon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McKnight defends it easily.
McKnight's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deleon has control of McKnight's left arm, preventing McKnight from doing any damage.
Deleon looking for a sweep. Not yet Deleon, not yet.
Deleon pulls McKnight in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deleon wants to sweep here but McKnight controlling him for the moment.
Deleon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McKnight controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Deleon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Deleon tries to clinch there but McKnight circles away.

McKnight forces Deleon back against the cage and clinches.

McKnight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

McKnight looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Deleon!
The ground and pound from McKnight seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
McKnight in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McKnight tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McKnight has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Deleon is trying to improve his position.
McKnight fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Deleon is working to avoid the ground and pound but McKnight connects with a decent elbow.
Deleon tries to buck McKnight off but McKnight is having none of it.
Deleon is trying to control McKnight's posture but McKnight avoids it.
Deleon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McKnight wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deleon wants to control but McKnight postures up.
Deleon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McKnight wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Deleon is not content to let McKnight control the position.
Deleon regains half guard.
Deleon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McKnight is working away from the top position though.
Deleon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Deleon tries to roll over but McKnight keeps him under control.
McKnight takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McKnight slips a nice elbow through Deleon's hands, connecting with Deleon's forehead.
McKnight is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deleon is looking to improve his position.
Deleon is doing well to control the position and prevent McKnight from advancing to side control.

McKnight decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
McKnight looks to land a combination but Deleon avoids it well.

McKnight closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McKnight lands in his opponent's guard.
Deleon is breathing heavily.
McKnight advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McKnight stands up and beckons Deleon to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam McKnight dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocco Deleon's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McKnight closes the distance and clinches.

McKnight manages to break the clinch.

McKnight shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Deleon manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McKnight trying to control but Deleon is working from the bottom.
Deleon wants to stand up but McKnight is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKnight postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Deleon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Deleon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McKnight cracks Deleon with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKnight pushing down on Deleon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McKnight looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Deleon blocking the ground and pound attempt from McKnight.
Deleon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Deleon wants to control but McKnight is keeping busy.
Deleon is trying to get back to full guard.
McKnight is pressing down on Deleon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Deleon is holding on for now.
Deleon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deleon holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
McKnight frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Deleon working to try and regain half guard.
Deleon is squirming around, avoiding McKnight's attempts to control the action.
Deleon manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Deleon wants to control but McKnight is keeping busy.
McKnight stops Deleon from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKnight prevents Deleon from improving his position.
McKnight takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Deleon trying to control but McKnight postures up.
McKnight is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
McKnight wants to lay and pray for a moment but Deleon keeps working.
McKnight landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McKnight keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Deleon punching from the bottom.
McKnight is thwarting Deleon's attempts to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McKnight wants to control but Deleon is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McKnight is looking to advance position but Deleon won't allow it.
Deleon manages to get to full guard.
McKnight postures up in Deleon's guard and throws a big left but Deleon blocks it.
McKnight won't allow Deleon to sweep him here.
McKnight trying to control but Deleon is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

McKnight closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Deleon's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Deleon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Deleon wants to stand and escape but McKnight is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam McKnight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rocco Deleon's cut.
That's time! Deleon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McKnight shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McKnight scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Deleon is staying active underneath McKnight, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Deleon is controlling McKnight's trapped leg to prevent McKnight from advancing to side control.
Deleon is trying to get back to full guard.
Deleon is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deleon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McKnight's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McKnight's back!
McKnight looking very determined here, making life difficult for Deleon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I really don't envy McKnight right now.
Liam McKnight has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKnight is trying to get back to his feet but Deleon has full control of the position and if anything, McKnight has just worked his way into a worse spot.
McKnight manages to reverse the position and now he's in Deleon's guard. Nice work there by McKnight.

McKnight stands up from Deleon's guard - McKnight perhaps looking for a knockout.
Deleon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

McKnight gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McKnight working away.
Deleon is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
McKnight prevents Deleon from improving his position.
McKnight missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deleon wants to control but McKnight is keeping busy.
McKnight passes to side control.
Deleon is looking to regain half guard here but McKnight keeps moving and retains side control.
Deleon can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKnight is chipping away with strikes.
Deleon is trying to work for a sweep but McKnight has mounted him!
McKnight cracks Deleon with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
McKnight controlling his opponent.
McKnight trying to control but Deleon is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deleon holds on for dear life, controlling McKnight's posture momentarily.

McKnight is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

McKnight moves into the clinch.
McKnight utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
McKnight stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McKnight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McKnight darts in and clinches Deleon up against the cage.

McKnight's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McKnight drives through and clinches with Deleon against the cage.
Deleon tries to pull guard but McKnight forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

McKnight gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Deleon regains guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam McKnight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McKnight has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam McKnight!