PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Constantin Niculescu (ranked 2258 p4p, 2620 weight class) and James Rocksteady (ranked 301 p4p, 345 weight class). Rocksteady has chosen Red Right Hand as his entrance music. 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.

Niculescu
vs
Rocksteady

183 cm
22
205
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
22
205
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Constantin Niculescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Rocksteady!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niculescu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rocksteady keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Niculescu.
Rocksteady takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A swing and a miss from Niculescu.
Niculescu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rocksteady tries to clinch up but Niculescu circles away and keeps his distance.
Niculescu misses with an uppercut. Rocksteady saw that one coming.
Niculescu misses with an uppercut. Rocksteady saw that one coming.
Niculescu misses with an uppercut. Rocksteady saw that one coming.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Rocksteady 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.

Rocksteady gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Rocksteady scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rocksteady is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rocksteady working aggressively here.
Rocksteady drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niculescu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Niculescu lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Niculescu.
Rocksteady tries a body shot but Niculescu blocks it.
Niculescu is trying to maintain a safe position but Rocksteady gets an underhook and turns Niculescu into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Niculescu.
Niculescu misses with the head strike.
Niculescu is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Constantin Niculescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rocksteady.
Rocksteady goes for a takedown attempt but Niculescu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rocksteady is trying hard to land a takedown here. Niculescu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Niculescu lunges at Rocksteady with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rocksteady's hand.
Niculescu misses with a straight right.
Constantin Niculescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niculescu tries to bum rush Rocksteady with a series of wild strikes but Rocksteady uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Niculescu throws a right hand that misses

and Rocksteady counters with a single leg into guard. Niculescu didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niculescu has momentary wrist control but Rocksteady slips an elbow through the middle.
Niculescu is pulling down on Rocksteady's head. It's preventing any offense from Rocksteady, at least for the moment.
Niculescu continues to stall.
Niculescu looking for a sweep. Not yet Niculescu, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rocksteady has passed into side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Niculescu's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Niculescu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rocksteady wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Niculescu prevents Rocksteady from moving into mount.
Rocksteady wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niculescu keeps working.
Rocksteady tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rocksteady throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Niculescu avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rocksteady.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocksteady thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rocksteady working away.
Niculescu defending against the ground and pound.
Rocksteady working the head and body with strikes.

Rocksteady tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Niculescu is looking to reverse the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Constantin Niculescu will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rocksteady uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niculescu.
Niculescu misses the jab.
Niculescu misses with a hook.
Rocksteady shoots for a takedown but Niculescu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Niculescu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rocksteady.
Niculescu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Niculescu tests Rocksteady's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Niculescu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rocksteady can do to turn this around?
Niculescu tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu misses with a looping right.
Niculescu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rocksteady was well out of range. Poor timing from Niculescu.
Niculescu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Niculescu misses with a hook

and Rocksteady counters with a single leg into guard. Niculescu didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu pulls Rocksteady in to control the position.
Rocksteady controlling from the top position.
Niculescu managing to control the position.
Rocksteady preventing the sweep.
Rocksteady wants to control from the top but Niculescu keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rocksteady loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Niculescu wants to improve his position but instead Rocksteady has moved into half guard.

Rocksteady is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Niculescu is just riding it out for now. Rocksteady eventually gives up the hold.
Niculescu wants to control but Rocksteady is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu won't allow Rocksteady to pass to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rocksteady ducks under a wild hook from Niculescu.
Niculescu throws a lazy uppercut

and Rocksteady counters with a takedown into side control.
Niculescu wants to control but Rocksteady postures up.
Rocksteady in side control, throwing shots but Niculescu defends.
Rocksteady working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rocksteady lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rocksteady wants to pass to mount but Niculescu is defending the position.
Rocksteady trying to control the action but Niculescu is working from the bottom.
Niculescu preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Niculescu wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Rocksteady showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Niculescu slaps away a takedown attempt from Rocksteady, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Niculescu cracks Rocksteady with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Constantin Niculescu is winning the standup battle so far.

Rocksteady closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Niculescu did well to prevent Rocksteady getting side control.
James Rocksteady has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rocksteady sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Niculescu defending well though.
Rocksteady with the ground and pound but Niculescu uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rocksteady advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocksteady looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocksteady working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rocksteady passes into half guard.
Niculescu is staying active underneath Rocksteady, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rocksteady blocks the strikes from Niculescu.
Niculescu is pressing down on Rocksteady's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Niculescu wants to sweep but no luck.
Niculescu working a defensive guard here.

That's two 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.
Niculescu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Niculescu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Niculescu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Niculescu misses the jab.
Niculescu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rocksteady was well out of range. Poor timing from Niculescu.
Rocksteady throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Niculescu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rocksteady walks into a straight right hand from Niculescu.
A swing and a miss from Niculescu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu just misses with a punch to the body.
Niculescu looks to land a right hand but Rocksteady moved out of range.
Niculescu misses with a hook

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Niculescu looking for a sweep. Not yet Niculescu, not yet.
Rocksteady trying to control the position from guard on top but Niculescu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocksteady throwing strikes from guard but Niculescu blocks nicely.
Niculescu can't keep his opponent in guard - Rocksteady advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rocksteady sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Niculescu defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady wants to take a breather but Niculescu is having none of it.
Niculescu has hold of Rocksteady's hands but Rocksteady slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rocksteady landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rocksteady with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Niculescu gets full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocksteady is looking to work some ground and pound but Niculescu has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Rocksteady comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rocksteady has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Rocksteady!
James Rocksteady thanked the fans post fight for their support.