PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson comes to the cage accompanied by System Of A Down - Science. Rocha has chosen Refuse/Resist by Sepultura as his entrance music. Antonio Rocha acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Stevenson
vs
Rocha

180 cm
25
170 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
27
182 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy!
Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy!

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevenson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rocha somewhat.

Rocha scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rocha throwing shots but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Rocha crashes against the mat.
Stevenson sneaks back into half guard.
Stevenson wants to improve his position but Rocha is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stevenson taking some punishment here, with Rocha in his half guard.
Rocha prevents Stevenson from improving his position.
Stevenson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Rocha stands up out of the half guard.
A lazy left from Stevenson finds it's target.
Rocha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stevenson's head.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevenson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Stevenson.
Rocha swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stevenson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rocha sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stevenson lands a nice shot that snaps Rocha's head back.
Rocha misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rocha.
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a wild combination.
Stevenson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rocha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stevenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rocha circles away quickly and effectively.
Antonio Rocha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stevenson but Stevenson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nick Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rocha.
Stevenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rocha circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson misses with a series of wild punches.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rocha at a distance.
Stevenson throws a right and a left that Rocha avoids nicely.
Rocha throws a low kick but Stevenson avoids it.

Rocha shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rocha was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rocha looks gassed!
Stevenson is desperately trying to improve his position but Rocha has a good base and remains in mount.
Rocha with good strikes from the mount here!
Rocha with a couple of short strikes.
Stevenson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stevenson is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson regains half guard.
Rocha landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Rocha decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rocha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Stevenson throws a one two combo.
Stevenson misses with the combination.

Rocha rushes Stevenson and presses him up against the cage.

Rocha turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rocha landing a few strikes.
Rocha in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Stevenson tries to bench press Rocha off him but Rocha keeps the position.

Rocha tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rocha has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson regains half guard.
Stevenson has hold of Rocha's hands but Rocha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Stevenson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rocha pulls his head out easily.
Rocha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ground and pound from Rocha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rocha gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Stevenson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rocha.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rocha, right into the meat.
Rocha plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nick Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rocha lands a head kick!
Rocha fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson throws a lazy right hand but Rocha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stevenson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rocha moves away.
Rocha lands with a slapping head kick.
Stevenson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevenson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rocha.
Stevenson misses the shot to the body.
Stevenson lands a jab-cross combination.
Rocha thumps Stevenson with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rocha darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevenson is defending well for now.
Rocha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stevenson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nick Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rocha.
Stevenson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rocha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rocha scoring well with a low kick there.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rocha manages to avoid it.
Stevenson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rocha moves away.
Rocha shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stevenson sprawls well. Stevenson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rocha gets slowly back to his feet.
Rocha moves away from the strike by Stevenson.
Rocha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevenson's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevenson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rocha closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stevenson did well to prevent Rocha getting side control.
Stevenson wants to get back to full guard.
Rocha working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep. Rocha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rocha scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rocha scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson wants to get back to full guard.
Stevenson is staying active underneath Rocha, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rocha trying to pass the guard but Stevenson defending well.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep. Rocha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rocha.
Rocha throws the left hand but Stevenson avoids the punch easily.

Rocha changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stevenson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rocha has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rocha is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stevenson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rocha looking to finish Stevenson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stevenson!
Rocha lands a big elbow.
Rocha punching from mount but Stevenson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Stevenson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rocha connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson taking shots to the head.
Antonio Rocha has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rocha jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Stevenson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Stevenson and Rocha has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rocha working the strikes but Stevenson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rocha not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Rocha is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stevenson defends it well.
Rocha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rocha not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stevenson wants to control but Rocha is keeping busy.

Rocha seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rocha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rocha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevenson.
Rocha misses with a head kick.
Stevenson lands with a good body shot.
Stevenson lands a slapping body shot.
Stevenson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rocha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rocha closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stevenson did well to prevent Rocha getting side control.
Stevenson gets back to full guard.
Rocha trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Stevenson wants to stand and escape but Rocha is having none of it.
Rocha chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rocha stopping the sweep attempt from Stevenson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rocha lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rocha decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stevenson misses with the combination.
Rocha works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stevenson misses with a two punch combination.
Rocha shoots in but Stevenson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rocha fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson avoids it really well and circles away.
Nick Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rocha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha misses with an uppercut. Stevenson saw that one coming.
Stevenson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rocha.
Stevenson looks to land a combination but Rocha avoids it well.
Stevenson thuds a left hand into Rocha's body.
Rocha goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Stevenson fails to land with a series of punches.
Rocha misses with a body shot.
Rocha goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Stevenson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rocha - the referee stops the clock and Stevenson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rocha. Stevenson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rocha scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stevenson in his tracks.
Rocha shoots for a takedown but Stevenson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Stevenson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nick Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rocha connects with a single shot there.
Rocha doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stevenson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rocha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stevenson.
Stevenson is looking to wear down Rocha with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rocha throws a nice outside leg kick.
Stevenson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevenson wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevenson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rocha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stevenson tries to avoid it but Rocha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stevenson to the ground. Stevenson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rocha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stevenson tries to avoid it but Rocha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stevenson to the ground. Stevenson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rocha.
Rocha connects with a high kick.
Stevenson scores with a nice right hand.
Nick Stevenson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Rocha takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rocha manages to avoid it.
Rocha avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevenson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nick Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rocha.
Rocha dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rocha throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Rocha fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson throws a series of strikes that have Rocha backpedaling.
Rocha throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Stevenson throws a series of punches but Rocha moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antonio Rocha.
I've got Rocha winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

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