PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antero Rokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Persecutioned (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rokka comes into the arena with Twilight Guardians - Out of Our Hands blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rokka
vs
Persecutioned

188 cm
40
197 lbs
38 - 25 - 0

191 cm
32
199 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

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 38 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antero Rokka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johny Persecutioned!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rokka throws a right hand that Persecutioned ducks under and follows up with a left that Persecutioned also avoids with ease.
Rokka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rokka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Persecutioned sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No luck for Rokka with that takedown attempt.
Persecutioned throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rokka doesn't manage to clinch there - Persecutioned circles away.
Persecutioned throws a combination. Rokka tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Persecutioned fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rokka, pushing him back against the cage.
Persecutioned throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rokkas head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Persecutioned swings wildly with an uppercut but Rokka uses good head movement to avoid it.

Rokka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rokka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rokka misses with a jab, cross combination.

Persecutioned gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Persecutioned lands a nice uppercut.
Rokka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rokka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Persecutioned's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Persecutioned tries to close the distance and clinch but Rokka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rokka walks into a jab.

Persecutioned gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rokka tries to pull guard but Persecutioned won't allow it.
Rokka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Persecutioned's elbow.
Rokka scores with a hook to the body.
Rokka jumps guard but Persecutioned turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Rokka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rokka throws a head punch that misses.
Persecutioned avoids a wild elbow strike from Rokka.
Persecutioned working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Persecutioned scores with a nice short uppercut.
Persecutioned misses with a hook to the ribs.
Persecutioned keeps control of Rokka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rokka has been working on his balance at LOD-Guts & Glory Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Persecutioned.
Persecutioned is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Persecutioned looking to slow down the pace here.
Persecutioned stops a takedown attempt from Rokka.
Persecutioned throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Persecutioned escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Persecutioned shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Persecutioned was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Rokka explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Persecutioned drives through and clinches with Rokka against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Persecutioned.
Stalling in the clinch from Persecutioned.

Rokka pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Persecutioned decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rokka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rokka uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Rokka darts in and clinches Persecutioned up against the cage.
Persecutioned keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rokka's efforts to push away.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rokka as Persecutioned tries to tie him up.
A right hand to the body from Persecutioned.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned lands a hook that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
Persecutioned misses with some punches.
Persecutioned lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
Persecutioned lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
Persecutioned struggles to land a body shot inside as Rokka controls his hands.

Persecutioned breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rokka darts in and clinches Persecutioned up against the cage.
Persecutioned misses with a hook to the ribs.
Persecutioned lands a right hand.
Rokka looking to stall.
Persecutioned takes a shot to the head.

Rokka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good exchange - Rokka coming out on top.
Rokka takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rokka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Persecutioned.

Persecutioned gets the takedown into side control.

Persecutioned stands up and beckons Rokka to his feet.
Rokka scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned blocks the body kick.
Rokka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Persecutioned rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rokka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It looked like Rokka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rokka looks to land a combination but Persecutioned avoids it well.
Persecutioned has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rokka finds it's way round the side to connect with Persecutioned's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Persecutioned tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rokka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Persecutioned thuds a left hand into Rokka's body.

Persecutioned has taken the fight to the clinch.
Persecutioned lands a body shot in the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Persecutioned throws an elbow but it misses.
Rokka is trying to push Persecutioned away but Persecutioned has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Persecutioned pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Persecutioned slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Persecutioned lands a jab to Rokka's midsection.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rokka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Persecutioned counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rokka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Persecutioned as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Persecutioned dominated that round.
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.

Persecutioned scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rokka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rokka regains full guard. Nicely done.
Persecutioned has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rokka is proving hard to escape from.

Rokka is looking for a triangle but Persecutioned pushes his legs off easily.

Persecutioned decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Persecutioned has closed the distance and engaged Rokka in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Persecutioned pushes Rokka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rokka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Persecutioned avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rokka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Persecutioned backwards.

Rokka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Persecutioned has managed to clinch.

Rokka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Persecutioned fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rokka, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rokka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Persecutioned prevents Rokka from breaking the clinch.
Persecutioned is looking to control Rokka's arms but Rokka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Persecutioned has his back to the cage.

Persecutioned escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rokka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rokka breaks the clinch.

Persecutioned moves into range and clinches up with Rokka.

Persecutioned breaks from the clinch.

Persecutioned clinches with his opponent.
Still in the clinch, Persecutioned scores with a nice short uppercut.
Persecutioned lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Persecutioned takes an elbow to the forehead.
Persecutioned doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rokka.
Johny Persecutioned seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Persecutioned breaks from the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Rokka. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rokka.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Persecutioned gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rokka is trying to break the clinch but Persecutioned is controlling him.
Persecutioned looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokka blocks an uppercut.
Persecutioned lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rokka.
Persecutioned goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Persecutioned has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rokka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rokka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rokka tries to clinch up.
Rokka misses with a takedown
and Persecutioned counters with a straight right hand.
Rokka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Rokka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Rokka pushes Persecutioned off and scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Persecutioned misses with a few strikes there.
Rokka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Persecutioned closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rokka's guard.

Persecutioned decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rokka, up you get!

Persecutioned clinches up with Rokka and pushes him back against the cage.
Persecutioned scores with a shot to the side of Rokka's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned lands a shoulder strike.
Rokka is trying to break free.
Rokka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Persecutioned misses with some punches.
Persecutioned lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
Rokka avoids the elbow strike from Persecutioned, against the cage.
Rokka wants to break the clinch but can't.

Rokka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Persecutioned tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rokka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rokka moves forwards but Persecutioned connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Persecutioned clinches with his opponent.

Rokka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Persecutioned rushes Rokka and presses him up against the cage.

Rokka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rokka swings for the body but Persecutioned moves out of range.
Rokka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Antero Rokka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rokka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Persecutioned as he jumps to the side.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rokka breaks the clinch.
Persecutioned slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rokka tries a low kick but Persecutioned avoids it.
Rokka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Persecutioned moves in looking to clinch but Rokka pushes him off.

Rokka tries to keep at a distance but Persecutioned has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Persecutioned just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rokka's brow.
Rokka jumps guard but Persecutioned turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Persecutioned lands a shoulder strike.

Rokka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Persecutioned clinches up against the cage.
Persecutioned lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Persecutioned makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Rokka is rocked!
Rokka fails to pull guard.
Persecutioned digs a right hand underneath Rokka's ribcage. Rokka let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Rokka breaks from the clinch.

Persecutioned drives through and clinches with Rokka against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Persecutioned showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rokka takes one to the side of the head.
Oh Rokka is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Persecutioned shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rokka's guard.
Rokka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rokka trying to control from Persecutioned's half guard. Persecutioned has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Persecutioned keeping full guard, as Rokka tries to pass.
Rokka trying to control the position from guard on top but Persecutioned is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rokka seems to have got his legs back now.
Rokka prevents Persecutioned from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Persecutioned manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Persecutioned has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Persecutioned throws a knee to the head but misses.
Persecutioned can't find room to land a body shot as Rokka controls the action.
Persecutioned misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Persecutioned.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persecutioned swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rokka lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Persecutioned - that landed with a thud.
Persecutioned blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Persecutioned softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Persecutioned tries to work over Rokka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Persecutioned breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rokka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Persecutioned avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rokka darts in looking for a takedown but Persecutioned gets double underhooks and turns Rokka into the cage.

Persecutioned shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rokka napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Persecutioned has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rokka drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Persecutioned has managed to clinch.
Persecutioned is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Persecutioned keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rokka's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
Rokka is trying to stall.
Persecutioned working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rokka is looking to break free of the clinch but Persecutioned has double underhooks.
Rokka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Persecutioned after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Rokka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Persecutioned working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Persecutioned.
Rokka tries to break free but Persecutioned pushes him back against the cage.
Persecutioned has Rokka pressed against the cage, preventing Rokka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Persecutioned breaks the clinch.
Rokka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Persecutioned is out of range and Rokka settles back down.
Persecutioned tries to counter by closing the distance.

Persecutioned closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Persecutioned lands in his opponent's guard.

Rokka has his feet on Persecutioned's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Persecutioned closes the distance and pushes Rokka back into the cage.
Rokka tries to break free but Persecutioned pushes him back against the cage.
Rokka is trying to break the clinch but Persecutioned is controlling him.

Persecutioned's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rokka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rokka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rokka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Persecutioned avoids it really well and circles away.

Persecutioned shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Antero Rokka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antero Rokka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rokka is working an open guard so Persecutioned takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rokka tries to clinch up.

Rokka 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.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Persecutioned manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Persecutioned misses with a body punch.
Persecutioned scores with a shot to the side of Rokka's head.
Persecutioned working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rokka swings wildly with an uppercut but Persecutioned uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rokka tries to break the clinch but Persecutioned is controlling the position.

Persecutioned breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Persecutioned shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johny Persecutioned is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rokka looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Persecutioned passes into side control.

Persecutioned decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rokka to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rokka attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rokka throws a right and a left that both miss.
Persecutioned takes one to the side of the head.
Persecutioned throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Persecutioned comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Persecutioned 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Persecutioned!
An out of breath Johny Persecutioned thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.