PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zack Dela Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akihiko Sanada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dela Rocha
vs
Sanada

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zack Dela Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akihiko Sanada!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanada circles away from the clinch attempt.
A clash of legs there as Sanada blocks the low kick.

Dela Rocha closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanada to the mat! Sanada manages to get full guard.
Dela Rocha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanada on the ground.
Dela Rocha cracks Sanada with a solid left hand.
Dela Rocha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dela Rocha is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanada has wrist control.
Dela Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dela Rocha wants to pass the guard but Sanada is keeping the position.
Dela Rocha throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dela Rocha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dela Rocha working some strikes from top position.
Sanada preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanada is looking to stand up but Dela Rocha isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Dela Rocha tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dela Rocha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Well, if Dela Rocha is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dela Rocha uses his free foot to push down on Sanada's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sanada.
Dela Rocha in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sanada in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sanada is trying to escape the mount.
Dela Rocha fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Dela Rocha cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanada is bucking up trying to escape but Dela Rocha cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Sanada is rocked!
Sanada is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Dela Rocha.
Sanada is still in real trouble! Can Dela Rocha finish him?
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!
Sanada tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanada seems to have recovered his senses.
Dela Rocha lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The referee warns Sanada that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Dela Rocha working Sanada over with strikes here.
Dela Rocha with good strikes from the mount here!
Dela Rocha punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sanada looks gassed!
Dela Rocha with shots to the head and body - Sanada looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanada can't escape the position.
Sanada in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanada taking shots to the head.
Sanada is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dela Rocha lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Dela Rocha fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dela Rocha with shots to the head and body - Sanada looks very uncomfortable down there.
Dela Rocha lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Dela Rocha with good strikes from the mount here!
Dela Rocha with good strikes from the mount here!
A nice elbow there by Dela Rocha.
Dela Rocha working Sanada over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Rocha landing shots from mount.
Dela Rocha lands a nice shot to the head.
Dela Rocha with the ground and pound from mount.
Sanada is trying desperately to improve position.
Dela Rocha dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanada regains half guard.
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!
Dela Rocha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanada keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Dela Rocha dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanada lands a head kick!

Dela Rocha shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sanada is in a horrible position here. Dela Rocha smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Dela Rocha with the ground and pound from mount.
Sanada takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sanada is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Dela Rocha landing punches.
Dela Rocha wants to control the pace but Sanada is squirming around nicely.
Sanada is breathing heavily.
Dela Rocha lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Dela Rocha cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Dela Rocha looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Dela Rocha has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sanada's face.
Sanada is bucking up trying to escape but Dela Rocha cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Dela Rocha with good strikes from the mount here!
Sanada is working to get back to half guard.
Dela Rocha with the ground and pound from mount.
Dela Rocha lands a big shot there that rocks Sanada but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Dela Rocha can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanada is looking to escape.
Dela Rocha landing strikes from the mount and Sanada is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Rocha with a couple of short strikes.
Dela Rocha raining down shots from the mount!
Sanada taking shots to the head.
Sanada throwing hammer fists to the chest of Dela Rocha. What's that going to do exactly?
Dela Rocha cracks Sanada with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanada working to try and regain half guard.
Dela Rocha lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Rocha breaks from Sanada's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Dela Rocha lands with some strikes.
Dela Rocha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanada can do to turn this around?
Sanada trying desperately to get to his feet.
Dela Rocha has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sanada's face.
Dela Rocha with shots to the head and body - Sanada looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sanada is in a horrible position here. Dela Rocha smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sanada wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sanada tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Rocha throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Dela Rocha lands with some strikes.
Dela Rocha unloading with bombs!
Sanada working to try and regain half guard.
Dela Rocha with the ground and pound from mount.
Dela Rocha landing strikes from the mount.
Zack Dela Rocha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dela Rocha is landing with some decent strikes but Sanada is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Sanada somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanada throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dela Rocha keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanada doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dela Rocha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Dela Rocha dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanada dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dela Rocha. That did some damage!
Sanada tries to bum rush Dela Rocha with a series of wild strikes but Dela Rocha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sanada feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dela Rocha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dela Rocha tries to get out of the position.
Dela Rocha throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sanada wants to control from the top but Dela Rocha keeps moving.
Dela Rocha is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sanada stopping the sweep attempt from Dela Rocha.
Dela Rocha trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Rocha wants to sweep here but Sanada controlling him for the moment.
Dela Rocha throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Dela Rocha closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanada to the mat! Sanada manages to get full guard.
Sanada wants to stand up but Dela Rocha is controlling him.
Dela Rocha scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanada wants to stand but Dela Rocha is controlling the position.
Dela Rocha wants to pass the guard but Sanada is keeping the position.
Sanada striking off his back but it's not causing Dela Rocha any problems.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sanada shoots and misses

and Dela Rocha counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dela Rocha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dela Rocha looking to pass the guard.
Sanada avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanada keeping full guard, as Dela Rocha tries to pass.
Sanada bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dela Rocha's guard.
Sanada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dela Rocha throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Dela Rocha 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.
Dela Rocha throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Dela Rocha wants to sweep here but Sanada controlling him for the moment.
Dela Rocha is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dela Rocha throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sanada stands up out of Dela Rocha's guard for a moment - Dela Rocha manages to land a nice upkick.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dela Rocha is on top in guard.
Dela Rocha makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dela Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akihiko Sanada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dela Rocha is working Sanada over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dela Rocha might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dela Rocha scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dela 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Dela Rocha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dela 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:26

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