PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Falco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Werdum has chosen Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodbye as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Falco
vs
Werdum

196 cm
26
270 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

185 cm
29
235 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocco Falco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renato Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Falco changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Werdum looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Falco tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Falco has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Falco is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Werdum knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Falco working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Werdum manages to work his way to half guard, despite Falco's best efforts.

Werdum actively working from the bottom here.

Falco is working for a kimura but Werdum is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum is trying to get back to full guard.
Falco is thwarting Werdum's attempts to control the position.

Falco seems to be looking for submissions.
Werdum wants to get back to full guard.
Falco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Falco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Werdum doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Falco.

Falco is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum is looking to control Falco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Werdum avoid being mounted?

Falco is looking for a kimura but Werdum is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Falco to get the leverage.

Falco is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Werdum defends it well.

Falco looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Werdum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Falco pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Falco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Falco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Falco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Werdum is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Falco, into his guard.

Falco working for a triangle but Werdum defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Falco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Falco is looking for a triangle but Werdum pushes his legs off easily.

Falco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Falco working for a triangle but Werdum defends it easily.
Werdum trying to control but Falco is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Falco dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Werdum misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good leg kick by Werdum there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Werdum tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Werdum scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Werdum winds up and cracks Falco with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Falco is refusing to be controlled, as Werdum sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Falco is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Werdum pulls his head out easily.
Falco tries to get to full guard but Werdum has control of the leg.

Falco is defending against the submission attempts here by Werdum.

Werdum is trying to work for a kimura but Falco is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Falco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Falco looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Werdum pushes past his half guard into mount!
Werdum wants to control the pace but Falco is squirming around nicely.
Werdum wants to control the action but instead Falco gets a body lock and reverses into Werdum's guard! Nice work!

Falco is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Werdum is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Werdum has escaped and now he's on top!
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Falco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum throwing strikes but missing.
Werdum with a flurry of punches that miss.

Falco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Falco looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Werdum has picked Falco up and slammed him! Falco can't keep hold of the triangle and Werdum manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Werdum controls the position.
Werdum in side control lands a decent elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Falco manages to get back to half guard.

Falco is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Werdum pulls his head out easily.

Werdum is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum is keen to just control but Falco is a slippery customer.

Werdum seems to be looking for submissions.
Falco is trying to get back to full guard.

Werdum is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Falco doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Werdum.
Falco is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Falco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Falco looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Werdum pushes past his half guard into mount!
Werdum pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Falco is working to get back to half guard.
Falco is working hard here to advance position.
Werdum scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Falco?
Falco is looking to get to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Falco is squirming around, avoiding Werdum's attempts to control the action.
Falco is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Werdum 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!

Falco has his takedown stuffed

so Werdum counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Falco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Werdum gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Falco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Werdum slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Werdum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falco keeps working.
Werdum cracks Falco with a big right hand but Falco just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Werdum tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum trying to control the action but Falco is working from the bottom.
Falco is looking to reverse the position.

Werdum tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Falco is trying to improve his position.
Werdum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falco keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum advances to mount.
Renato Werdum has got the better of the ground game so far.
Werdum trying to control but Falco is having none of it.
Falco can't escape the position.
Werdum landing shots from mount.
Falco is bucking up trying to escape but Werdum cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Werdum. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Falco is desperately trying to improve his position but Werdum has a good base and remains in mount.
Werdum working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco is squirming around, avoiding Werdum's attempts to control the action.
Falco is trying desperately to improve position.
Werdum landing strikes from the mount.
Falco is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Werdum takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Werdum trying to control but Falco is having none of it.
Falco keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum landing shots from mount.
Werdum looking to control but Falco is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Falco is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Werdum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Werdum 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Werdum!
During a confident post fight interview, Renato Werdum thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.