PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Skelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skelton has chosen Example - Midnight Run as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rocha
vs
Skelton

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodrigo Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Skelton!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rocha is looking to clinch.

Skelton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rocha to the mat! Rocha manages to get full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Skelton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Skelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha wants to sweep but no luck.
Rocha keeping moving, preventing Skelton from controlling successfully.
Skelton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skelton is looking to work some ground and pound but Rocha has wrist control.
Skelton lands a couple of digs.
Skelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rocha trying to control the position.
Rocha wants to stand and escape but Skelton is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skelton throws a big elbow that misses.
Rocha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Skelton throws an elbow that misses. Rocha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Skelton's guard. Nice move by Rocha!

Skelton uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Skelton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rocha was covering up waiting for the punch and Skelton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Skelton throws a big elbow that misses.
Skelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skelton throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skelton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rocha wants to sweep here but Skelton controlling him for the moment.
Rocha keeping moving, preventing Skelton from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skelton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Skelton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Skelton chips away with some ground and pound.
Skelton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Skelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Skelton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skelton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Skelton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Skelton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Skelton landing with the ground and pound.
Skelton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Skelton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rocha keeping full guard, as Skelton tries to pass.
Skelton 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.
Skelton works over Rocha with some ground and pound from guard.
Skelton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Skelton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Skelton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skelton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skelton with a nice head shot there.
Skelton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Skelton landing with the ground and pound.
Skelton postures up and lands a big shot to Rocha's brow.
Skelton wanted to stand there but Rocha had control of the position.
Skelton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skelton is in close to Rocha's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Skelton wants to pass the guard but Rocha is keeping the position.
Skelton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Skelton dominated that round.
That's time! Rocha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Skelton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Skelton showed some decent athleticism there.
Ground and pound from Skelton.
Skelton is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Skelton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Skelton throwing shots but Rocha is blocking nicely.
Skelton thows a huge punch but Rocha dodges it nicely.
Skelton is taking a breather. Rocha says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Skelton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Skelton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Skelton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rocha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Skelton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Skelton in particular looking to stall.

Rocha looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skelton working the head and body with strikes.
Skelton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Skelton is thwarting Rocha's attempts to control the position.
Rocha is staying active underneath Skelton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Skelton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Skelton seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Skelton is thwarting Rocha's attempts to control the position.
Skelton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Skelton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skelton is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Skelton 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.
Skelton controlling the action here.
Skelton stops Rocha from getting back to his feet.
Skelton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Skelton lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skelton is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Skelton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Skelton is nestled in close to Rocha, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Skelton lands with a punch from half guard.
Skelton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Skelton winds up and cracks Rocha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Skelton is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Skelton trying to control the action but Rocha is working from the bottom.
Well, if Skelton 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skelton slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Skelton lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skelton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Skelton working Rocha over with strikes.
Skelton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Skelton 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! This is the final round!

Skelton throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Skelton shoots in and bounces Rocha off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Skelton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Skelton scoring with some ground and pound.
Skelton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Skelton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Skelton trying to control but Rocha is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skelton with a nice head shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rocha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Skelton working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha being controlled here, momentarily.
Rocha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skelton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rocha's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Skelton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rocha wants to stand and escape but Skelton is having none of it.
Skelton wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
Skelton working some strikes from top position.
Rocha can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skelton controls the pace.
Rocha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Manny Skelton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Skelton scoring with some ground and pound.
Skelton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rocha is keeping the position for now.
Skelton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Skelton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Skelton stands and steps away. Rocha gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Skelton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Skelton clinches.
Skelton lands a right hand.
The referee calls for Skelton to work.
Skelton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skelton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Skelton is stalling in the full guard.
Rocha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Skelton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Skelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skelton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manny Skelton has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Skelton lands a two punch combo.
Manny Skelton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Skelton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Skelton is trying to break the clinch but Rocha is controlling him.
Nice body punch from Skelton - that landed with a thud.

Skelton breaks from the clinch.
Skelton with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skelton stuffs the takedown attempt from Rocha. Rocha gets slowly back to his feet.
Skelton tests Rocha's chin there with a solid looking shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skelton throws a head kick but Rocha moves out of range.
Rodrigo Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Skelton dives in and scores a takedown into Rocha's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Skelton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Skelton 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Skelton!
Manny Skelton seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.