PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Roche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bucky Laplace (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.

Roche
vs
Laplace

180 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger Roche!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bucky Laplace!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laplace tries to clinch there but Roche circles away.
Roche connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Laplace's hands.
A combination from Laplace does no damage.
No joy there for Laplace, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Laplace misses with the combination.
Roche slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Laplace is rocked!
Laplace is looking to chop away at Roche's legs.
Laplace is still on wobbly legs! Can Roche finish him?

Roche clinches up with Laplace and pushes him back against the cage.
Laplace tries to break the clinch but Roche is controlling the position.
Laplace seems to have recovered his senses.
Laplace wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Laplace prevents a takedown attempt there.
Laplace wants to break free but Roche has control.
Laplace wants to break free but Roche has control.
Laplace tries to break the clinch but Roche is controlling the position.
Laplace wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Laplace breaks the clinch.
Roche lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Laplace at a distance.
Laplace misses with a wild body shot.
Laplace misses with a body punch
and Roche counters with a nice kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laplace looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oh, that's a big right hand from Roche and Laplace goes tumbling to the canvas! Roche follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

It looks like Bucky Laplace has been cut.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Roche can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laplace wants to improve his position but Roche is controlling well.
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.
Roche is taking a breather. Laplace says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roche prevents Laplace from improving his position.
Roche looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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.
Laplace is trying to control but can't.
Roche sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Roger Roche just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
An inside leg kick lands from Roche.
Roche connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Laplace momentarily.
Roche lands a big head kick that sends Laplace to the canvas! Roche follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roger Roche!