PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Avo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adam Avo told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rocha
vs
Avo

186 cm
19
208 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

179 cm
19
208 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rocha!
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, Adam Avo!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rocha has Avo up against the cage in a clinch.
Rocha leaning his opponent against the cage.

Rocha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rocha chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Avo shoots for a takedown but Rocha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Avo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rocha. Rocha obviously looking to wear him down.
Avo looks gassed!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rocha connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Avo momentarily.
Rocha swinging wilding here.
Rocha is looking to slow Avo down with leg kicks.
Avo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rocha.
Rocha fakes the leg kick and cracks Avo in the body.
Rocha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Rocha cracks Avo with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Rocha has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Avo to stand back up!

It looks like Adam Avo has been cut.
Rocha dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Avo. That did some damage!

Rocha drops Avo with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Avo looks back up at him and smiles so Rocha waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Avo is rocked!
Rocha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Avo circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Avo manages to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Rocha.
Rocha delivers a nice body kick.

Rocha closes the distance and pushes Avo back into the cage.

Rocha manages to break the clinch.
Rocha throws a low kick but it's checked well by Avo.
Rocha throws a leg kick which misses Avo's front leg but catches the back leg as Avo tries to avoid it.
Rocha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Avo's sensitive parts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
Rocha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rocha misses with a series of wild punches.
Rocha misses with an uppercut. Avo saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha throws a body kick that misses.
Rocha looks for the body kick but Avo saw that one coming.
Avo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Avo moves away from the strike by Rocha.
Rocha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mauricio Rocha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avo fails to land the takedown.
Mauricio Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Avo.
Rocha throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rocha dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Avo moves out of range of the strikes.
Avo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rocha as he avoids it easily.
Avo takes one to the side of the head.
Rocha lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Rocha.
Rocha misses with a body kick.
Avo is trying desperately to land a takedown but Rocha is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Avo.
Avo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Avo dives in and grabs Rocha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rocha pushes down on Avo's head and hops out.
Crunch! Rocha slams his shin into Avo's torso.
Rocha works over Avo's head and body with a nice combination.
Rocha throws the left hand but Avo avoids the punch easily.
Avo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rocha.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Avo is defended easily by Rocha.
Rocha throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mauricio Rocha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Avo is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha throws a half hearted mid kick.
Avo wants to clinch
and Avo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Avo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Avo misses with a takedown
and Rocha counters with a nice leg kick.
Rocha connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Rocha.
Rocha throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rocha lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Avo.
Avo shoots for a takedown but Rocha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rocha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Adam Avo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A good leg kick by Rocha.
Rocha throws out a powerful jab.
Avo blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Avo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Avo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rocha tries to avoid it but Avo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rocha to the ground. Rocha escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Rocha.
Avo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rocha as he jumps to the side.
Rocha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mauricio Rocha is winning the standup battle so far.
Rocha throws a series of punches but Avo moves out of range.
Mauricio Rocha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Avo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Avo moves out of range of the leg kick from Rocha.
Rocha misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Avo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rocha looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rocha is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rocha manages to work his way to half guard, despite Avo's best efforts.

Avo is looking for a kimura here.

Avo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rocha sees it coming and defends easily.

Avo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Avo is trying to work for a kimura but Rocha is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is holding on to half guard well.
Rocha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Avo can do to turn this around?
Rocha makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rocha.
Rocha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rocha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Avo stands and throws Rocha's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Avo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rocha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rocha tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Avo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rocha wants to control but Avo postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Avo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rocha, who protects the arm well.
Rocha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Avo on the ground.
Avo in the domination position with Rocha hanging on.

Avo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rocha gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha is looking to control Avo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rocha avoid being mounted?
Rocha scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Avo manages to mount him!

Avo wants to finish this one by submission but Rocha is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Avo.
Avo thowing shots but they're missing.
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 Mauricio Rocha will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Adam Avo's cut.
That's time! Rocha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice body kick from Rocha.
Avo fails with a takedown attempt.
Avo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rocha.
Rocha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rocha connects with the punch.
Rocha throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rocha tries to bum rush Avo with a series of wild strikes but Avo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rocha chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Avo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rocha lands a head kick!
Rocha scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rocha looks to land a combination but Avo avoids it well.
Avo defending well as Rocha loads up on a big left hand.
Rocha looks to land a left hand but Avo moved out of range nicely.
Avo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rocha circles away.
A clash of legs there as Avo blocks the low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rocha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rocha leaves Avo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mauricio Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Avo.
Rocha does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rocha waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Avo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Avo has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rocha's corner calls for a 1-2. Rocha obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rocha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Avo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rocha swivels and escapes.

Rocha rushes Avo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Avo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rocha is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knees to the body from Rocha.

Rocha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice defenses there by Avo.
Rocha leaves Avo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rocha is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rocha feints and then cracks Avo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Avo down.
Avo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rocha's waist but Rocha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Avo off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avo walks into a straight right hand from Rocha.
Avo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rocha counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rocha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mauricio Rocha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Avo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Avo wants to work for an arm triangle but Rocha is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rocha controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Avo wants to pass to mount but Rocha is defending the position.
Rocha slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avo won't allow Rocha to get back to his feet.
Rocha manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Avo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rocha controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Avo taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rocha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rocha, 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Mauricio Rocha!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Mauricio Rocha!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Mauricio Rocha!

Mauricio Rocha wins by unanimous decision!