PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Amos Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocha comes to the cage accompanied by You're Going Down. Amos Rocha has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rocha
vs
Balboa

195 cm
23
244 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Amos Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balboa looking to score a takedown here. Rocha is defending well but Balboa drives through and ends up in Rocha's guard.
Balboa scoring with some ground and pound.
Rocha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Balboa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Balboa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Balboa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Balboa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rocha is keeping the position for now.
Balboa passes Rocha's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Well, if Balboa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Balboa slips a nice elbow through Rocha's hands, connecting with Rocha's forehead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balboa not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet.
Balboa throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rocha to regain full guard.
Rocha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Balboa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Balboa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Rocha.
Balboa tries to pull guard but Rocha holds him up against the cage and eventually Balboa drops back down to his feet.
Rocha wants to break free but Balboa has control.
Balboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is trying to force a seperation but Balboa has the dominant position.
Rocha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Balboa.
Rocha looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rocha gets underhooks to prevent Balboa's takedown attempt.
Amos Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Balboa.
Rocha wants to get back to striking at distance but Balboa won't allow it.
Balboa throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rocha has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Rocha's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The referee calls for Balboa to work.
Rocha is looking to break free of the clinch but Balboa has double underhooks.

Rocha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rocha misses with the combination.
Rocha is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rocha.

Balboa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Balboa advances position into side control!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Balboa looking to control but instead Rocha has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balboa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rocha's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Rocha.
Rocha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Balboa shoots in but no luck this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rocha. Balboa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rocha looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rocha throws a sloppy head kick and Balboa moves out of range easily.
Rocha throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rocha misses with a double jab.
Amos Rocha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rocha gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balboa won't allow Rocha to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa tries to free his leg and advance position but Rocha is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Balboa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balboa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balboa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Balboa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet but Balboa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Balboa 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.
Balboa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rocha's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to control but Rocha is working from the bottom.

Balboa stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Balboa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balboa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa landing with the ground and pound.
Balboa connects with a couple of short punches.
Balboa postures up and lands a big shot to Rocha's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa with a nice head shot there.
Balboa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rocha kicks Balboa off and gets to his feet.

Balboa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rocha did well to prevent Balboa getting side control.
Balboa is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rocha tries to kick Balboa off but Balboa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Balboa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rocha with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Balboa working the head and body with strikes.
Balboa sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet.
Rocha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balboa.
Balboa slips a nice elbow through Rocha's hands, connecting with Rocha's forehead.
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!
Balboa is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balboa with the ground and pound but Rocha uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Balboa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rocha.
Rocha misses with a double jab.
Rocha wants to clinch.
Balboa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rocha avoids it really well and circles away.

Balboa moves into the clinch.

Balboa breaks the clinch.
Rocha throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa dodges the punch combination from Rocha.
Rocha tries a head kick but it misses.
Rocha goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balboa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Balboa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Balboa looks for the body kick but Rocha saw that one coming.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
Rocha stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rocha wants it to stay on the feet.
Rocha misses with a head kick.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
Balboa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha looks for the body kick but Balboa saw that one coming.
Rocha throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Rocha gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balboa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rocha is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balboa is controlling him.
Balboa advances to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Balboa is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Rocha still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Rocha has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Balboa is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Rocha is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha manages to capitalize on a mistake by Balboa to take his back!
Balboa is keeping busy.
Rocha slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa prevents Rocha from getting a body triangle.
Rocha is really struggling to control Balboa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Amos Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Balboa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Balboa trying to control the hands but Rocha breaks the grip.
Balboa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rocha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rocha controlling well, preventing Balboa from escaping the position.
Rocha punches the canvas rather than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Amos Rocha.
I think Balboa 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Balboa!