PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Wayne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wayne
vs
Rocha

177 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Wayne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Julio Rocha!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wayne wants to clinch.

Rocha fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wayne sprawls well initially but Rocha persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rocha controlling the pace.
Wayne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rocha wants to pass to mount but Wayne is defending the position.
Rocha is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Wayne reverses the position - he's now on top in Rocha's guard.
Rocha pulls Wayne in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rocha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rocha managing to control the position.
Rocha manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Wayne hang on?
Rocha scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Wayne?
Rocha controlling the pace for now.
Wayne squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wayne is in a horrible position here. Rocha smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rocha raining down shots from the mount!
Rocha landing shots from mount.
Wayne is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rocha sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rocha cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha controlling from the full mount.
Rocha lands a nice shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rocha jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Wayne is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Wayne and Rocha has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rocha looks gassed!
Rocha staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wayne fakes the leg kick and cracks Rocha in the body.
Rocha moves out of range of the body kick.
Rocha doesn't manage to clinch there - Wayne circles away.
Wayne closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rocha counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rocha postures up in Wayne's guard and throws a big left but Wayne blocks it.
Wayne keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Rocha thows a big elbow that misses.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Wayne keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha prevents Wayne from getting back to his feet.

Rocha drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rocha jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rocha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wayne keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wayne fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rocha.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wayne tries to break free but Rocha pushes him back against the cage.

Wayne breaks the clinch.
Rocha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wayne throws a series of strikes that have Rocha backpedaling.
Wayne closes the distance but Rocha moves to the side

and Rocha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rocha.
Wayne wants to stand but Rocha is controlling the position.
Rocha throws a big right hand that misses.
Wayne wants to get back to his feet but Rocha is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rocha seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocha drops back looking for a leg! Wayne is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wayne manages to kick Rocha off! Rocha jumps back into Wayne's guard.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Wayne keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rocha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rocha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wayne clinches up against the cage.
Wayne lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wayne using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wayne lands a nice elbow.
Knees to the body from Wayne.
Wayne lands a knee to the head.
Wayne can't break the clinch.

Wayne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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 John Wayne 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!

Wayne rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rocha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wayne tries to clinch up but Rocha circles away and keeps his distance.
Wayne closes the distance but Rocha moves to the side

and Rocha counters with a single leg into guard. Wayne didn't expect that.
Rocha trying to control but Wayne is working from the bottom.
Rocha looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wayne keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Wayne is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rocha is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wayne keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Rocha might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wayne kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Julio Rocha just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wayne tries to bum rush Rocha with a series of wild strikes but Rocha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rocha shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wayne is looking to escape.
Wayne knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rocha on the ground.

Rocha is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rocha trying to pass the guard but Wayne defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wayne sees it coming and defends easily.
Rocha seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wayne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wayne wants to get back to his feet.
Rocha content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rocha 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Rocha!