PBP Commentary

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

Rocha
vs
Gannon

179 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Josef Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rupaul Gannon!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gannon lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rocha's sensitive parts.
Rocha connects with a solid leg kick.
Rupaul Gannon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocha fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gannon is out of range.
Gannon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gannon misses the jab.
Rocha swats away the attempt to clinch by Gannon.
Gannon tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rocha counters with an outside leg kick.
Gannon tries to close the distance and clinch but Rocha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gannon misses with a leg kick
and Rocha counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rocha checks a leg kick.
Gannon throws a poor cross that misses
and Rocha counters with an outside leg kick.

Gannon closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rocha's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gannon wants to pass the guard but Rocha is keeping the position.
Rocha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gannon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rocha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rocha is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gannon defends well.
Gannon content to stall in guard here.
Gannon throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gannon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gannon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gannon prevents Rocha from getting back to his feet.
Gannon slips nicely into half guard.
Still in half guard, Gannon seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha is trying to stand up here but Gannon is controlling him well.
Gannon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rocha!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gannon controlling the position easily from mount.
Gannon landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gannon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gannon lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gannon content just to control the position here.
Gannon raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gannon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gannon working Rocha over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Gannon controlling from the full mount.
Rocha tries to buck Gannon off but he can't manage it.
Gannon controlling from mount.
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!
Gannon scoring with strikes but Rocha is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rocha is looking to improve his position but Gannon isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rupaul Gannon dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gannon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gannon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rocha!
Rocha is squirming around, avoiding Gannon's attempts to control the action.
Rocha tries to buck Gannon off but he can't manage it.
Gannon pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gannon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gannon scoring with strikes but Rocha is staying in there.
Gannon landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gannon looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gannon landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon controlling the pace for now.
Rupaul Gannon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gannon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gannon prevents Rocha from getting the reversal.
Rocha is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gannon tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gannon lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gannon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gannon controlling his opponent.
Gannon looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gannon tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gannon in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gannon breaks from Rocha's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gannon controlling from the full mount.
Gannon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rocha can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rocha in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gannon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Rocha is rocked!
Rocha wants to control but Gannon is having none of it.
Rocha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gannon on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gannon controlling the pace for now.
Gannon breaks from Rocha's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Oh Rocha is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gannon content just to control the position here.
Rocha seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rupaul Gannon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rocha defending well as Gannon loads up on a big left hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gannon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rocha gets caught flat footed, as Gannon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rocha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gannon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rocha working a defensive guard here.
Gannon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rocha being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rupaul Gannon.
Gannon scores with a jab to the jaw.

Rocha gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gannon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gannon advances position into side control!
Rocha is looking for a sweep.
Gannon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gannon lands some shots froms side control.
Gannon working the body and head with strikes.
Gannon advances nicely into full mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gannon tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gannon looking to finish Rocha with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rocha!
BOOM! Gannon connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gannon looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gannon has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rocha's face.
Gannon controlling the position easily from mount.
Rocha wants to control but Gannon is having none of it.
Gannon in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gannon cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gannon is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gannon controlling from mount.
Gannon fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gannon controlling the position easily from mount.
Josef Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rupaul Gannon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rocha is in a horrible position here. Gannon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rupaul Gannon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gannon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rupaul Gannon!