PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Inclan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Inclan has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Inclan
vs
Rocha

225 cm
26
165 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

150 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Inclan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renan Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Inclan.

Rocha throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Inclan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rocha is in Inclan's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Inclan trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Inclan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Inclan keeping full guard, as Rocha tries to pass.
Inclan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocha is one step ahead there.
Inclan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rocha scoring with some ground and pound.
Inclan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rocha has eaten all the pies!
Rocha with a nice head shot there.
Rocha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Inclan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rocha's guard.
Rocha keeping moving, preventing Inclan from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Inclan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rocha dives on top into guard.
Rocha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rocha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rocha tries to free his leg and advance position but Inclan is retaining full guard.
Rocha sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Inclan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Inclan looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha works over Inclan with some ground and pound from guard.
Rocha postures up in Inclan's guard and throws a big left but Inclan blocks it.
Inclan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rocha controlling from the top position.
Rocha preventing the sweep.
Inclan trying to keep a closed guard but Rocha is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rocha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rocha tries to free his leg and advance position but Inclan is retaining full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rocha 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Inclan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rocha swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inclan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rocha closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Inclan to the mat! Inclan manages to get full guard.
Rocha postures up in Inclan's guard and throws a big left but Inclan blocks it.
Inclan being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Rocha has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rocha trying to control but Inclan is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Renan Rocha was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Inclan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rocha avoids it really well and circles away.

Rocha shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Inclan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rocha content just to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rocha raining down hammerfists from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Inclan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Inclan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Inclan shoots in looking for a takedown but Rocha manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Inclan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Inclan shoots in but no luck this time.
Inclan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rocha drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rocha lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rocha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Inclan keeps moving.
Inclan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Inclan has momentary wrist control but Rocha slips an elbow through the middle.
Inclan keeping moving, preventing Rocha from controlling successfully.
Rocha showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Renan Rocha was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rocha dives in and scores a takedown into Inclan's guard.

Inclan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rocha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rocha lands a couple of digs.
Rocha trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Inclan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rocha wants to sweep here but Inclan controlling him for the moment.
Rocha has Inclan pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inclan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rocha is proving hard to escape from.
Inclan wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
Rocha wants to sweep but no luck.
Rocha wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rocha can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Inclan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Inclan lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Renan Rocha has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocha drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rocha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Inclan is keeping the position for now.
Inclan looking to control.

Inclan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rocha defends it easily.

Inclan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rocha keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Inclan's head.
Rocha working some strikes from top position.
Rocha stands up over Inclan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rocha throwing strikes from guard but Inclan blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Inclan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rocha looking to pass the guard.
Renan Rocha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Inclan keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rocha controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rocha distracts Inclan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Rocha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Renan Rocha's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Inclan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rocha counters with a shoot takedown. Inclan fights it but they end up in guard.
Inclan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rocha tries to free his leg and advance position but Inclan is retaining full guard.
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.
Rocha's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rocha lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rocha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rocha is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rocha is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Inclan wants to stand and escape but Rocha is having none of it.
Rocha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rocha cracks Inclan with a solid left hand.
Rocha won't allow Inclan to get back to his feet.
Inclan keeping full guard, as Rocha tries to pass.
Inclan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inclan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rocha controls the pace.

Rocha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Inclan working a defensive guard here.
Rocha's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Inclan has momentary wrist control but Rocha slips an elbow through the middle.
Rocha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rocha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rocha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha works over Inclan with some ground and pound from guard.
Rocha preventing the sweep.
Rocha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Inclan is keeping the position for now.
Rocha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Inclan 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.
Rocha looking to pass the guard.
Rocha chips away with some ground and pound.
Rocha tries to free his leg and advance position but Inclan is retaining full guard.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Inclan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inclan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Rocha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Inclan keeps moving.
Inclan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rocha!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rocha tries to improve his position but instead Inclan has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Renan Rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renan Rocha!
Post fight, Renan Rocha took to the microphone: '"I dun speak to english well but I am here, finally! Rio Smasher! Who next? Who next weeooooo!'.