PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Rochelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rochelle
vs
Oliveira

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 St Petersburg, Stevie Rochelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rochelle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Oliveira avoids it really well and circles away.

Oliveira darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Oliveira seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rochelle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Oliveira on the ground.

Rochelle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rochelle is trying to stand back up but Oliveira is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rochelle wants to control but Oliveira is keeping busy.
Oliveira blocks the strikes from Rochelle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rochelle has a hand on Oliveira's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Oliveira takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Rochelle tries to improve his position but instead Oliveira has taken his back!
Rochelle is really stuck here.
Oliveira gets his hands free as Rochelle looks to control.
Oliveira biding his time, looking for the opening.
Rochelle tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Oliveira breaks from Rochelle's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rochelle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rochelle reaches up to try and control the position but Oliveira seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Rochelle rolls and tries to escape and now Oliveira has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira lands a shot to the head.
Oliveira controlling the position well here. Rochelle rolled but Oliveira kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Rochelle covering up well under a series of strikes from Oliveira.
Oliveira is not going to allow Rochelle to sit and survive in this position.
Rochelle breaks Oliveira's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rochelle tries to free his leg and advance position but Oliveira is retaining full guard.

Oliveira wriggles free and stands up.
Rochelle is breathing heavily.
Oliveira tries to clinch there but Rochelle circles away.
Oliveira tries to clinch up but Rochelle circles away and keeps his distance.

Oliveira shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Oliveira controlling the action here.
Rochelle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rochelle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira wants to control from the top but Rochelle keeps moving.
Rochelle trying to strike off his back.
Rochelle wants to sweep but no luck.
Rochelle looking to control.

Oliveira avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Oliveira slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Oliveira fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rochelle avoids it really well and circles away.

Rochelle closes the distance and clinches.
Rochelle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Oliveira tries to circle away but Rochelle has him pinned against the cage.
Oliveira tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rochelle just stands there and leans against the cage.

Rochelle gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rochelle seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Oliveira moves into full guard.
Rochelle postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rochelle wants to pass the guard but Oliveira is keeping the position.
Oliveira wants to sweep here but Rochelle controlling him for the moment.
Oliveira keeping moving, preventing Rochelle from controlling successfully.

Oliveira manages to escape and get back to his feet.
No luck for Oliveira with that takedown attempt.
Stevie Rochelle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Oliveira.
Rochelle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Oliveira counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rochelle's guard now.

Oliveira has gone for a leg lock! Rochelle slips out almost immediately though and dives into Oliveira's guard.
Rochelle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira keeping moving, preventing Rochelle from controlling successfully.
Oliveira is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oliveira wants to stand up but Rochelle is controlling him.
Rochelle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Oliveira is trying to control the position but Rochelle postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rochelle trying to control but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Oliveira is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rochelle is controlling him.
Oliveira tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oliveira with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rochelle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rochelle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Oliveira trying to control the position.
Oliveira wants to stand and escape but Rochelle is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rochelle is one step ahead there.
Rochelle trying to control but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Oliveira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rochelle manages to get himself to full guard.

Rochelle is looking for a triangle but Oliveira pushes his legs off easily.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Oliveira. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Oliveira throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rochelle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
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 Stevie Rochelle will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Oliveira has his takedown stuffed

and Rochelle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rochelle is taking a breather. Oliveira 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.
Rochelle is looking to take a break and control but Oliveira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rochelle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rochelle drops an elbow to the side of Oliveira's head.
Oliveira is looking to improve his position.

Rochelle is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira controlling the position well.
Oliveira wants to control but Rochelle is keeping busy.
Oliveira misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rochelle is looking to clinch but Oliveira is avoiding it.

Oliveira clinches up with Rochelle and pushes him back against the cage.
Rochelle tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rochelle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Oliveira fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Oliveira doesn't manage to clinch there - Rochelle circles away.

Oliveira looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Oliveira sitting in guard here, content to control.
Andre Oliveira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Oliveira postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rochelle's guard.
Rochelle is trying to get back to full guard.

Oliveira stands up from half guard.
Rochelle with a poor takedown
and Oliveira counters with a three punch combo that has Rochelle backing up. Rochelle nods at Oliveira to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Rochelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oliveira pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rochelle has managed to clinch.
Rochelle is trying to stall.

Oliveira has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rochelle is trying to keep an underhook but Oliveira manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira stands up out of the half guard.
Rochelle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Oliveira shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rochelle napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Oliveira working away.
Oliveira in side control lands a decent elbow.
Oliveira cracks Rochelle with a big elbow.
Oliveira in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Rochelle is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Oliveira off and has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Oliveira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Oliveira 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Oliveira!