PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rusev Hungary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Joaquin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hungary
vs
Joaquin

194 cm
25
130 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rusev Hungary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocco Joaquin!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hungary lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Joaquin backs up against the cage.
We've been told by Hungary's head coaches at Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Joaquin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hungary.
Hungary throws a one two combo.

It looks like Rocco Joaquin has been cut.
Hungary lunges at Joaquin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Joaquin's hand.
Hungary works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rusev Hungary seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Hungary misses.
Hungary moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Joaquin is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good exchange - Hungary coming out on top.
Joaquin is still on wobbly legs! Can Hungary finish him?
Hungary throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Joaquin drops his hands momentarily and Hungary takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hungary misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hungary pushes Joaquin up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hungary wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Joaquin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Joaquin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hungary's elbow.
Joaquin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hungary gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Joaquin seems to have recovered his senses.
Hungary has had enough of the clinch but Joaquin keeps him there for the moment.
Joaquin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hungary is trying to push Joaquin away but Joaquin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Joaquin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hungary pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rusev Hungary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Joaquin.
Hungary is trying to force a seperation but Joaquin has the dominant position.
Hungary really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Joaquin is stalling here.
Joaquin prevents Hungary from breaking the clinch.
Hungary wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hungary can't break the clinch.

Joaquin gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Joaquin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Joaquin wants to control but Hungary is keeping him busy.
Joaquin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hungary wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joaquin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Joaquin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hungary defends it nicely.
It looked like Hungary wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hungary misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joaquin misses the shot to the body.
Hungary throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joaquin.
Joaquin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Joaquin moves to clinch but Hungary breaks away
letting Hungary counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin shoots in looking for a takedown but Hungary manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Joaquin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Joaquin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Joaquin looks to move away, Hungary throws a big counter combo bu Joaquin just gets out of the way.
Hungary is looking to clinch but Joaquin is avoiding it.
Joaquin unleashes a big counter combination but Hungary bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hungary scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Joaquin with a poor takedown
and Hungary counters with a left and a right that stings Joaquin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joaquin with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Hungary counter with a right hand.
Hungary jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Joaquin wants to slow Hungary down by chopping away at his legs.
A head kick misses from Joaquin.
Hungary swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hungary tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joaquin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joaquin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hungary as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusev Hungary dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocco Joaquin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hungary moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hungary with a nice cross.
Nice takedown defense from Joaquin. No joy for Hungary on that attempt.
Joaquin moves forwards but Hungary connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hungary fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hungary is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joaquin can do to turn this around?
Hungary shoots in but Joaquin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Joaquin! But no joy.
Hungary is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Hungary lands the left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hungary rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joaquin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joaquin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hungary stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Joaquin keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hungary scores with a crisp jab that stopped Joaquin in his tracks.
Rusev Hungary is winning the standup battle so far.
Hungary throws a series of punches but Joaquin avoids them all with ease.
Joaquin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hungary sprawls well. Hungary wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Joaquin gets slowly back to his feet.
Joaquin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hungary's waist but Hungary gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Joaquin off to one side.
Joaquin shoots and misses
and Hungary counters with a series of strikes. Joaquin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rusev Hungary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Joaquin.
Hungary slaps away a takedown attempt from Joaquin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hungary was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Joaquin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hungary's waist but Hungary gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Joaquin off to one side.
Hungary lands a jab-cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hungary catches Joaquin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hungary with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Joaquin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joaquin takes a swing at Hungary's ribcage but misses.
Joaquin shoots in looking for a takedown. Hungary tries to sprawl out of it but Joaquin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hungary manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Hungary here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Joaquin is breathing heavily.
Hungary scores with a decent looking hook.
Hungary looks to land a combination but Joaquin avoids it well.
Hungary is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Hungary lands.

Hungary takes the fight into the clinch.
Joaquin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Joaquin has Hungary pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hungary manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hungary wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Joaquin wants to take the fight to the mat but Hungary manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Joaquin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hungary tries to circle away but Joaquin has him pinned against the cage.
Joaquin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hungary smiles and moves away.
Joaquin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hungary shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Joaquin eats them both and turns towards Hungary to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hungary tries to close the distance and clinch but Joaquin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joaquin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hungary is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hungary scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Joaquin doesn't seem bothered though.
Joaquin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hungary lands a two punch combo.
Joaquin slaps away a takedown attempt from Hungary, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as Hungary lands an impressive looking overhand right. Joaquin doesn't seem phased though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusev Hungary dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rocco Joaquin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Joaquin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hungary counters with a three punch combo that has Joaquin backing up. Joaquin nods at Hungary to acknowledge the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Joaquin.
Joaquin misses with a takedown
enabling Hungary to counter with a crisp jab.
Rusev Hungary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Joaquin.
Hungary misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hungary tries to clinch there but Joaquin circles away.
Rusev Hungary is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joaquin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Joaquin stands up from Hungary's guard - Joaquin perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hungary feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Joaquins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joaquin shoots for a takedown but Hungary saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hungary uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Joaquin.
Hungary lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hungary lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hungary lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Danga de danga de dang - Hungary scores with a four punch combination!
Hungary is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin tries to move into range but Hungary moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hungary throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Joaquin on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joaquin misses with a takedown
and Hungary counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joaquin tries for a takedown but Hungary sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hungary stalks Joaquin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Joaquin's face. Joaquin staggers backwards, shaken.
Hungary shoots in for a takedown but Joaquin shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
It's a brutal combination of punches from Hungary! Joaquin is backing up but he can't get away as Hungary lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Joaquin and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Rusev Hungary!
Rusev Hungary decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.