PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gilberto Mofirga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and NICOLAS ROCHA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Mofirga
vs
ROCHA

182 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
176 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gilberto Mofirga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, NICOLAS ROCHA!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ROCHA throws a one two combo.

Mofirga closes the distance and clinches.

ROCHA jumps guard and drags Mofirga to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

ROCHA is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mofirga wants to pass the guard but ROCHA is keeping the position.

ROCHA has his foot on Mofirga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mofirga works his way back into a safe position though.
Mofirga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mofirga got a little sloppy there for a moment and ROCHA has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mofirga has managed to get both his arms back between ROCHA's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mofirga trying to control the position from guard on top but ROCHA is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

ROCHA looking for a guillotine here but Mofirga defends easily.

ROCHA is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
ROCHA looks gassed!

That's two 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.
Mofirga won't allow ROCHA to get back to his feet.
Mofirga 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 guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mofirga defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mofirga wants to control from the top but ROCHA keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mofirga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mofirga is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mofirga would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
ROCHA keeping moving, preventing Mofirga from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mofirga wants to stand but ROCHA has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mofirga forces ROCHA back against the cage and clinches.
Mofirga is pushing ROCHA up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Mofirga unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Mofirga breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Mofirga.
Mofirga throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mofirga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mofirga closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

NICOLAS ROCHA dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mofirga has managed to clinch.
Mofirga lands an elbow that stopped ROCHA in his tracks for a moment.

Mofirga manages to break the clinch.

ROCHA has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mofirga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mofirga darts in trying to clinch

and ROCHA counters by clinching up.
Mofirga pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mofirga prevents ROCHA from breaking the clinch.
Mofirga has ROCHA pushed against the cage.
ROCHA takes an elbow to the temple.
Mofirga working ROCHA over with knees to the body.
Mofirga holding his opponent close, against the cage.
ROCHA is breathing heavily.

Mofirga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mofirga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mofirga throws a lazy head kick
and ROCHA connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mofirga avoiding damage.
Mofirga utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mofirga stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gilberto Mofirga.
Mofirga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mofirga tries to clinch but ROCHA is having none of it.
ROCHA circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mofirga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mofirga fails to land with a series of punches.
ROCHA avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mofirga is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Mofirga rushes ROCHA and presses him up against the cage.
Mofirga lands an elbow inside that ROCHA shrugs off.
Mofirga landing some nice looking knees to the body.
ROCHA being controlled against the cage.

Mofirga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mofirga throws a sloppy head kick and ROCHA moves out of range easily.
Mofirga is looking to clinch but ROCHA is avoiding it.

Mofirga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mofirga lands a knee to the head.
Mofirga creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through ROCHA's defenses.
Mofirga scores with a knee to the head.
Mofirga with a knee to the head.
ROCHA takes a knee right on the jaw!

Mofirga breaks the clinch.
Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but ROCHA paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mofirga breaks from the clinch.
Mofirga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mofirga moves in looking to clinch but ROCHA pushes him off.
Gilberto Mofirga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mofirga fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with ROCHA, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Mofirga.

Mofirga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mofirga doesn't manage to clinch there - ROCHA circles away.
Mofirga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but ROCHA paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Mofirga.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mofirga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
ROCHA keeps the fight on the outside.

Mofirga moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mofirga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mofirga clinches up against the cage.
Mofirga unloads a knee to the mid-section. ROCHA lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mofirga lands a nice elbow.
Mofirga unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Mofirga gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mofirga lands a damaging elbow.
Mofirga lands an elbow that stopped ROCHA in his tracks for a moment.
Mofirga is pushing ROCHA up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mofirga.
The referee calls for Mofirga to work.
Mofirga lands an elbow inside that ROCHA shrugs off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mofirga comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mofirga dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mofirga gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mofirga lands a nice elbow.
Mofirga is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilberto Mofirga dominated that second round.
That's time! Mofirga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Mofirga tries to clinch up.
Mofirga is looking to clinch but ROCHA is avoiding it.
Mofirga tries to clinch but ROCHA moves out of range.
Mofirga fails in his attempt to clinch.
ROCHA circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mofirga throws a sloppy head kick and ROCHA moves out of range easily.
Mofirga wants to clinch up but ROCHA keeps it at a distance.
Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but ROCHA paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mofirga swats away the attempt to clinch by ROCHA.
Mofirga tries to clinch

and ROCHA holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Knees to the body from Mofirga.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mofirga stalling in the clinch.
ROCHA tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gilberto Mofirga has scored more points in the clinch so far.
ROCHA takes a knee right on the jaw!
ROCHA is looking to control Mofirga's arms but Mofirga gets an underhook and turns him. Now ROCHA has his back to the cage.
Mofirga stalling in the clinch but ROCHA improves position.
ROCHA takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mofirga seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but ROCHA is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

Mofirga manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mofirga clinches but ROCHA breaks the clinch

and ROCHA counters with a nice double leg into guard.
ROCHA working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
ROCHA trying to control the position from guard on top but Mofirga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mofirga seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mofirga is trying to control the position but ROCHA postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mofirga closes the distance looking to clinch

and ROCHA holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Mofirga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
ROCHA circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mofirga tries to clinch but ROCHA is having none of it.

Mofirga has ROCHA up against the cage in a clinch.

Mofirga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch up but ROCHA swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch but ROCHA swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mofirga misses with a head kick.
ROCHA avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

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.
Mofirga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mofirga has managed to clinch.
Mofirga connects with a knee to the head.
Mofirga lands a knee to the head.
ROCHA fails to pull guard.
A knee to the head by Mofirga.

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

Mofirga closes the distance and clinches.

Mofirga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mofirga wants to clinch
and ROCHA counters with an outside leg kick.
Mofirga misses with a leg kick.
Mofirga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gilberto Mofirga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mofirga fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mofirga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch up but ROCHA swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gilberto Mofirga.
I think Mofirga has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilberto Mofirga!