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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pocket Rocket (ranked 1993 p4p, 2379 weight class) and Rafael Soto (ranked 120 p4p, 145 weight class). Soto has chosen Parkway Drive - Wild Eyes as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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163 cm 22 140 5 - 2 - 0 |
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160 cm 29 138 9 - 4 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt Excellent boxer Cardio machine |
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BJJ Brown Belt Brawler Fast |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division. Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pocket Rocket! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Soto! The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Steven Brown.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/round1.jpg) The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Soto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so. Rocket moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body. Rocket takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away. Rocket darts in and out, connecting with a jab. Rocket throws a jab but it's blocked by Soto. Rocket has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Jeffery Epstein Suicide Center in the buildup to the fight. Soto tries to close the distance and clinch but Rocket swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away. Rocket avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rocket swinging wildly here.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Soto 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. Soto looks to clinch and Rocket counters with a straight right hand. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Soto is looking to clinch. Rocket lands a head shot. Soto moves out of range as Rocket strikes.
Soto takes the fight into the clinch. Rocket working aggressively here.
Soto jumps into guard, dragging Rocket to the mat.
Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. Rocket wanted to stand there but Soto had control of the position. Rocket has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player. Rocket pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soto is keeping the position for now.
Rocket is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Soto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rocket defends it easily. Rocket stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soto swivels though and keeps the full guard. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Rocket is really struggling to control Soto but he's trying to hold on to the position.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) 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.
Soto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rocket is aware though and is defending well. Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Rocket is stalling in the full guard.
Soto looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rocket passes into half guard.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/sub.jpg) The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult. Rocket is working for a kimura but Soto is defending it quite comfortably.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round. Rocket seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rocket seems to be working for a kimura but Soto defends the submission attempt. Rocket tries to stand and escape but Soto is controlling the position.
Soto looking for submissions off his back.
Soto looking for submissions off his back.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) 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.
Soto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rocket pulls his head out easily. Rocket trying to control the action but Soto is working from the bottom. Rocket performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/refstandup3.gif) The referee decides to stand the fighters back up. Soto staying out of range there. Soto moves to clinch but Rocket breaks away and Rocket counters with a quick right hand to the jaw. The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. Rocket with a hook. Rocket throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab from Rocket. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pocket Rocket dominated that round. The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Rocket circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rocket paws at him with a jab and circles away. Soto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Soto closes the distance and clinches. Soto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rocket misses with a body punch.
Soto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Soto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rocket smiles and moves away.
Rocket avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soto tries to clinch up but Rocket circles away and keeps his distance. Rocket throwing a counter right hand but Soto manages to avoid it. Soto slips a jab from Rocket. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Rocket tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soto was well out of range. Poor timing from Rocket. Rocket throws a jab when Soto was well out of range. Rocket throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Soto wants to counter the offense by Rocket and move into the clinch position. No joy there for Rocket, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Soto tries to clinch but Rocket is having none of it. Soto doesn't manage to clinch there - Rocket circles away.
Rocket was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. A big right from Rocket misses. Rocket sets himself, and Soto steps forward looking for the clinch! Rocket avoids it this time. Rocket cracks Soto with an open hand slap. Rocket throws a right and a left that Soto avoids nicely. Soto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot. Soto is looking to clinch. Soto fails in his attempt to clinch. Soto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rocket manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat. An attempted straight right counter from Rocket misses the target. Soto ducks under a wild hook from Rocket.
Soto gets in close and instigates a clinch. Soto fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pocket Rocket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Soto. Soto is trying to pull guard but Rocket turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch. Rocket tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Soto pulls guard effortlessly.
Soto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rocket doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rocket manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem. Rocket engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) That's two minutes gone in the round. Rocket is looking to stand up but Soto won't let him. Rocket wants to control from the top but Soto keeps moving.
Rocket drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rocket jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position. Rocket tries to stand but Soto is controlling from the bottom.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/refstandup3.gif) The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round. Soto closes the distance looking to clinch letting Rocket counter with a right hand. Rocket misses with a looping right. Rocket is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all. Soto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it. Soto tries to clinch but Rocket moves out of range. Rocket swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. Rocket jabs Soto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Soto pushes Rocket up against the cage in a clinch. Soto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Soto pulls guard.
Soto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rocket doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rocket manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Soto is looking for a triangle but Rocket pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) That's four minutes gone in the round. Rocket controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Soto working for a triangle but Rocket defends it easily.
Rocket sitting in guard, not really doing much. The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocket avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rocket has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soto is proving hard to escape from. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pocket Rocket dominated that second round. OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!
Rocket lands a nice looking body shot.
Soto takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Soto has closed the distance and engaged Rocket in a clinch.
Soto drags the fight down to the ground.
Soto has a closed guard, preventing Rocket from standing up. Rocket is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soto can do to turn this around?
Soto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rocket is aware though and is defending well. Rocket wanted to stand there but Soto had control of the position.
Soto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rocket gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto has an active guard here but Rocket has managed to pass into half guard.
Soto tries to roll over but Rocket keeps him under control.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. Rocket is trying to control. Soto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rocket is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Soto defends it well. Soto wants to improve his position but Rocket is controlling well.
Rocket is looking for a kimura here.
Rocket tries to stand but can't do so whilst Soto controls his leg. Rafael Soto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Pocket Rocket is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) That's two minutes gone in the round. My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer. Soto is trying to maintain the position but Rocket is very close to passing his half guard. Rocket slows the pace down in half guard. Soto is not content to let Rocket control the position. Rocket with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/refstandup3.gif) The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Soto closes the distance and clinches.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back. Rocket wanted to stand there but Soto had control of the position.
Soto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rocket gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance. Rocket wanted to stand there but Soto had control of the position. Rocket not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up. Rafael Soto has got the better of the ground game so far.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) 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. The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Soto is looking for a triangle but Rocket pushes his legs off easily.
Rocket is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rocket defends well.
Soto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle. Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out! Soto can't keep his opponent in guard - Rocket advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that's the end of the fight! I would just about give that final round to Rafael Soto. I think Rocket has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28 Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27 Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pocket Rocket! Pocket Rocket very nearly forgot to thank Urban Fighter amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
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S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
31% |
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