PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ari Ahikaroa (ranked 22218 p4p, 756 weight class) and Adam Bocheck (ranked 24537 p4p, 769 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Ahikaroa
vs
Bocheck

185 cm
30
202 lbs
3 - 12 - 0

180 cm
26
215 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 3 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ari Ahikaroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adam Bocheck!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahikaroa throws a head kick that misses.
Ahikaroa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bocheck avoids the head kick by Ahikaroa.
Bocheck tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahikaroa was well out of range. Poor timing from Bocheck.
Bocheck shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ahikaroa defends it nicely.
Ahikaroa throws a big counter combination but Bocheck scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bocheck.
Ahikaroa shoots for a takedown but Bocheck saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahikaroa fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Ahikaroa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bocheck gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bocheck breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocheck avoids the head kick by Ahikaroa.
Bocheck throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ahikaroa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bocheck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ahikaroa.

Ahikaroa moves into the clinch.
Ahikaroa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bocheck is defending well for now.
Bocheck is looking to break free of the clinch but Ahikaroa has double underhooks.

Bocheck jumps into guard, dragging Ahikaroa to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ahikaroa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bocheck is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ahikaroa stands up and waves to Bocheck to follow him.

Ahikaroa clinches.
Ahikaroa is working Bocheck over against the cage.
Bocheck stalling in the clinch but Ahikaroa improves position.
Bocheck is trying to push Ahikaroa away but Ahikaroa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Bocheck's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bocheck shoots in and drives through. Ahikaroa sprawls well.

Ahikaroa moves into the clinch.
Ahikaroa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bocheck up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahikaroa lands a hook that snaps the head of Bocheck backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bocheck tries to pull guard but Ahikaroa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Ahikaroa jumps guard.
Bocheck wants to control from the top but Ahikaroa keeps moving.
Bocheck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ahikaroa lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bocheck looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ahikaroa has picked Bocheck up and slammed him! Bocheck can't keep hold of the triangle and Ahikaroa manages to pass to side control!
The referee asks Ahikaroa politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ahikaroa prefers to stall for the moment though.
Bocheck manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa has his hands clasped together around Bocheck's back. He's all about the action.
Ahikaroa throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ahikaroa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ahikaroa trying to control but Bocheck postures up.
Ahikaroa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bocheck's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bocheck's back!
Ahikaroa has the hooks in. Bocheck is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Bocheck wants to control his opponent's hands but Ahikaroa gets his hands free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bocheck is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bocheck is looking to clinch.
Bocheck stuffs the takedown attempt from Ahikaroa. Ahikaroa gets slowly back to his feet.
Bocheck tries to counter with a clinch but Ahikaroa shakes him off and moves away.
Bocheck misses with a takedown attempt - Ahikaroa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ahikaroa throws a head kick but Bocheck moves out of range.
Bocheck dives in for a single leg takedown but Ahikaroa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ahikaroa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bocheck.
Ari Ahikaroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Bocheck.
Ahikaroa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bocheck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bocheck shoots in looking for a takedown. Ahikaroa tries to sprawl out of it but Bocheck keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ahikaroa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ahikaroa delivers a nice body kick.
Bocheck is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahikaroa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bocheck pinned against the cage. Bocheck gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bocheck steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ahikaroa.
Bocheck 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.
Bocheck blocks a head kick by Ahikaroa.
Ahikaroa has a takedown stuffed.
Bocheck shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ahikaroa pinned against the cage. Ahikaroa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bocheck fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ahikaroa fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bocheck sprawls well. Bocheck wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ahikaroa gets slowly back to his feet.

Ahikaroa shoots in and bounces Bocheck off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Bocheck manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ahikaroa is trying to break free.
Ahikaroa tries to land a knee to the head but Bocheck blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bocheck as Ahikaroa tries to tie him up.
Bocheck is looking to break free of the clinch but Ahikaroa has double underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ahikaroa.
Ahikaroa is pressed up against the cage. Bocheck has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ahikaroa down to the mat. Ahikaroa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ahikaroa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ahikaroa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bocheck avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Ahikaroa. No joy for Bocheck on that attempt.
As Bocheck tries to get set, Ahikaroa tries to push him back and clinch up but Bocheck manages to avoid the attempt.
Ahikaroa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bocheck's waist but Bocheck gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ahikaroa off to one side.

Bocheck tries to keep at a distance but Ahikaroa has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bocheck tries to pull guard but Ahikaroa holds him up against the cage and eventually Bocheck drops back down to his feet.
Bocheck misses with a punch to the body.

Bocheck jumps into guard, dragging Ahikaroa to the mat.
Ari Ahikaroa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ahikaroa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ahikaroa controlling the action here.
Ahikaroa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ahikaroa is taking a breather. Bocheck 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.
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 Ari Ahikaroa will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bocheck has managed to clinch.
Bocheck tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ahikaroa smiles and moves away.
Ahikaroa stuffs the takedown attempt from Bocheck. Bocheck gets slowly back to his feet.
Ahikaroa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bocheck avoids it really well and circles away.
Bocheck throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ahikaroa's waist but Ahikaroa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bocheck off to one side.
Ari Ahikaroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Bocheck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahikaroa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ahikaroa moves into the clinch.
Ahikaroa is looking to take this one to the mat.

Ahikaroa successfully pulls guard.

Bocheck drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ahikaroa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ahikaroa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ahikaroa!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahikaroa controls the position.
Ahikaroa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bocheck stops Ahikaroa from passing to mount.
Bocheck is trying to get back to half guard.
Bocheck keeps trying to improve his position.
Bocheck is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ahikaroa taking a breather here.
Ahikaroa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bocheck some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ahikaroa stands up.
Ahikaroa shoots in and drives through. Bocheck sprawls well.
Bocheck avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bocheck lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bocheck feints and then cracks Ahikaroa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ahikaroa down.
Bocheck fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ahikaroa moves into the clinch.
Bocheck is looking for a takedown.
Ahikaroa is trying to drag Bocheck to the mat but Bocheck just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ahikaroa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Ahikaroa jumps guard.
Ahikaroa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Ahikaroa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Ahikaroa wriggles free and stands up.
Bocheck pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bocheck looks for a takedown but Ahikaroa sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ahikaroa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bocheck sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bocheck raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Ahikaroa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bocheck as he avoids it easily.
Adam Bocheck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ari Ahikaroa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ahikaroa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bocheck can do to turn this around?
Bocheck lands a front kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Ahikaroa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ahikaroa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Ahikaroa!