PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and nelson rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). rocha has chosen Pas de Héros as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thiago
vs
rocha

181 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, nelson rocha!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

rocha gets a clinch.

rocha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thiago fails with the takedown.

rocha gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Thiago pulls guard effortlessly.

Thiago looking for a guillotine here but rocha defends easily.
Thiago keeping moving, preventing rocha from controlling successfully.
rocha sitting in guard here, content to control.
I looks like rocha might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

rocha drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and rocha jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thiago being controlled here, momentarily.

Thiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rocha controlling from the top position.
rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Thiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thiago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. rocha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. rocha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

rocha drops back looking for a leg! Thiago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thiago manages to kick rocha off! rocha jumps back into Thiago's guard.
rocha wants to stand but Thiago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
rocha controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thiago wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and rocha is now in half guard.
rocha wants to take a breather but Thiago is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

rocha decides to return to a standing position.

rocha shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thiago's guard.

Thiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thiago is breathing heavily.

rocha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
rocha trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.

rocha drops back looking for a leg! Thiago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thiago manages to kick rocha off! rocha jumps back into Thiago's guard.
rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Thiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, nelson rocha just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thiago shoots and misses

and rocha counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thiago's guard now.
rocha is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thiago working for submissions but it's allowed rocha to get to 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!
rocha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thiago wants to get back to full guard.
rocha looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thiago misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

nelson rocha dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

rocha's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and rocha duly obliges.

rocha drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thiago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
rocha postures up.
Thiago keeping full guard, as rocha tries to pass.

rocha gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A good leg kick by rocha.
rocha throws a right and a left that Thiago avoids nicely.

rocha has Thiago up against the cage in a clinch.
Thiago is trying to work for a single leg takedown but rocha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

rocha breaks from the clinch.
rocha lands a high kick!

rocha feints and as Thiago raises his hands in defense, rocha changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago keeping moving, preventing rocha from controlling successfully.

Thiago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thiago keeping moving, preventing rocha from controlling successfully.
rocha slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thiago throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Thiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but rocha can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

rocha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thiago keeping full guard, as rocha tries to pass.
nelson rocha has got the better of the ground game so far.
rocha slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Thiago.
rocha wants to control but Thiago is keeping him busy.
Still in half guard, rocha seems content to control.
Thiago missing with punches from the bottom.
rocha wants to take a breather but Thiago is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago trying to hold on to rocha's head to control him but rocha postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thiago doesn't succeed with the takedown

and rocha counters with a single leg into guard. Thiago didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Thiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
rocha is pushing down on Thiago's leg trying to pass to half guard. Thiago is fighting to maintain full guard but rocha has managed to sneak the leg through.
rocha tries to stand but can't do so whilst Thiago controls his leg.
Thiago avoiding damage under a succession of punches from rocha.
rocha throwing shots but Thiago is blocking nicely.
rocha blocks the strikes from Thiago.

Thiago actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
rocha performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Thiago is trying to stand up here but rocha is controlling him well.
rocha is controlling the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Thiago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
rocha passes Thiago's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

nelson rocha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

rocha throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
rocha shoots in for a takedown but Thiago shows good takedown defense.
Paulo Thiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Thiago misses.
Thiago doesn't succeed with the takedown

so rocha counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
rocha is pushing down on Thiago's leg trying to pass to half guard. Thiago is fighting to maintain full guard but rocha has managed to sneak the leg through.
rocha trying to control the pace.
Thiago manages to get to full guard.

Thiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thiago is trying to keep rocha in close.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rocha slips nicely into half guard.
Thiago is trying to control but can't.
rocha not landing any meaningful shots this time.
rocha trying to pass the guard but Thiago defending well.
rocha not doing much here.
rocha seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
rocha looks to land a strike but Thiago avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
rocha trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.
Thiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
rocha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thiago but Thiago pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thiago swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and rocha counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thiago wants to sweep but no luck.

Thiago has his foot on rocha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. rocha works his way back into a safe position though.

Thiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Thiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as rocha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. rocha manages to get himself to full guard.
rocha controls Thiago momentarily but Thiago frees himself.
Thiago throws a big right hand that misses.
Thiago looking to pass the guard.

rocha wriggles free and stands up.
Thiago has his takedown stuffed

and rocha counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thiago won't be happy with that.
Thiago is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago is pressing down on rocha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Thiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but rocha can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thiago wants to sweep here but rocha controlling him for the moment.
Thiago keeping moving, preventing rocha from controlling successfully.

Thiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but rocha can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiago wants to stand but rocha is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
nelson rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well rocha 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... nelson rocha!