PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darth Vader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocha Freire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freire has chosen Fuel - Won't Back Down as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vader
vs
Freire

193 cm
22
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
29
187 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Instinct
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Darth Vader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rocha Freire!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vader tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Freire defends well and Vader ends up having to push Freire into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Freire fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vader is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Vader will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vader shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freire but Freire pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darth Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freire throws a head kick but Vader moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Vader misses its target.
Freire looks to land a combination but Vader avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Freire. No joy for Vader on that attempt.
Vader looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader fails to land the takedown.
A head kick misses from Freire.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Vader misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Freire.
Vader is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Vader.
Vader swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vader shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freire but Freire pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Freire gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Vader to score an easy takedown into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vader accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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.
Freire is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Freire manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Freire tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vader avoids it.

Freire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Freire gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vader throws a big elbow that misses.
Vader loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vader is looking to work some ground and pound but Freire has wrist control.
Vader won't allow Freire to get back to his feet.
Freire told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vader won't allow Freire to get back to his feet.
Vader postures up in Freire's guard and throws a big left but Freire blocks it.
Freire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vader.
Vader postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vader won't allow Freire to get back to his feet.
Vader throws a big right hand that misses.
Vader stops Freire from standing up.
Vader distracts Freire with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Freire wants to stand up but Vader is controlling him.

Freire uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vader lands a body shot.
Vader has a takedown stuffed.
Freire looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Darth Vader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vader shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Freire sprawls well. Freire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vader gets slowly back to his feet.
Freire lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Freire throws a nice looking combination but Vader bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vader shoots in for a double leg but Freire sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocha Freire dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Freire throws a nice head kick!
Vader stuns Freire with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Vader with a poor takedown
and Freire counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vader lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Freire at a distance.
Vader changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Freire tries to avoid it but Vader manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Freire to the ground. Freire escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vader tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freire was well out of range. Poor timing from Vader.
Freire throws a right hand that Vader ducks under and follows up with a left that Vader also avoids with ease.
Rocha Freire seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nice combo by Vader! Oh, that's hurt him - Freire falls to the canvas and Vader follows him into side control.

It looks like Rocha Freire has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Freire takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Vader working the body and head with strikes.
Freire wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Vader are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Vader is looking to take a break and control but Freire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Freire wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Darth Vader overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Freire bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Vader closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Freire to the mat! Freire manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freire is looking to stand back up but Vader counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Freire.
Freire is refusing to be controlled, as Vader sits in half guard.
Vader throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vader prevents Freire from standing back up.
Vader wants to take a breather but Freire is having none of it.
Freire wants to get back to his feet.
Vader is nestled in close to Freire, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Freire is trying to stand.
Vader takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vader will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vader trying to mount his opponent but Freire defends it.
Vader stops Freire from getting back to his feet.
Vader not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Freire wants to get back to his feet.

Freire makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Freire connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Freire scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Vader shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Freire to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darth Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vader shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Freire as he jumps to the side.
Freire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader is trying hard to land a takedown here. Freire sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Freire is looking for the big counter here.

Vader fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Freire to the ground. Vader is now in Freire's guard.

Freire manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vader ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freire moves away.
Freire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vader swings for the body but Freire moves out of range.
Freire keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vader gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Freire connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Darth Vader will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rocha Freire's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vader throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Freire throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vader counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rocha Freire is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Freire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vader.
Freire looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Vader walks into a left hand.
Freire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vader.
Vader fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Freire defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freire moves away.
Freire misses with a two punch combination.
Vader gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Freire counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darth Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Freire stuffs the takedown attempt from Vader. Vader gets slowly back to his feet.
Vader dives in and grabs Freire's left leg, looking for a takedown. Freire pushes down on Vader's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vader tries for a takedown but Freire circles away easily
and Freire counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Freire.
Vader scores with a jab.
Freire goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Freire throws a nice looking combination but Vader bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Freire displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vader.
Freire looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Vader fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freire leaves Vader with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Freire misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vader was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vader uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Freire.
Freire lands a really nice looking cross but Vader seems unphased.
Freire throws a head kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Vader misses its target.
Vader avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vader misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vader ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Freire misses with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freire leaves Vader with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocha Freire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Freire 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocha Freire!
Rocha Freire decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.