PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Damato (ranked 3539 p4p, 1738 weight class) and Emory Terranova (ranked 329 p4p, 192 weight class). Damato comes to the cage accompanied by Thunderstruck. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Damato
vs
Terranova

170 cm
20
150
4 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
141
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Knock Out Clothing

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 Helsinki, Rocco Damato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emory Terranova!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Terranova keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Terranova closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Terranova lands in his opponent's guard.
Terranova looking to pass the guard.
Terranova trying to control but Damato is working from the bottom.
Terranova works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Terranova blocks the strikes from Damato.
Damato is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at EFC Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Damato has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Terranova seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Damato does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Damato looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Damato is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Terranova pulls his head out easily.
Damato is trying to maintain the position but Terranova is very close to passing his half guard.
Terranova really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Damato. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terranova tries to pass to full mount but Damato defends it.
Terranova passes to full mount!
Damato is in all sorts of trouble here.
Terranova working Damato over with strikes here.
Terranova looking to control but Damato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
A nice elbow there by Terranova.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Terranova is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Terranova tries to control but Damato wriggling away.
Terranova is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Terranova jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Damato manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Terranova connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Damato some visible discomfort.
Damato is trying to control Terranova's posture but Terranova avoids it.
Damato sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Damato is not content to let Terranova control the position.
Damato trying to hold on to Terranova's head to control him but Terranova postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato wants to improve his position but Terranova is controlling well.
Terranova wants to advance to full mount but Damato doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Damato is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Terranova defends well.
Terranova looking to pass the guard.
Terranova wants to control from the top but Damato keeps moving.
Terranova with a nice head shot there.
Terranova trying to control the position from guard on top but Damato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Terranova wants to pass the guard but Damato is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Damato looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Terranova trying to control but Damato is working from the bottom.
Terranova is in close to Damato's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Terranova stands up over Damato, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Terranova passes into half guard.
Terranova is pressing down on Damato's thigh, looking to free his foot. Damato is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Terranova lands strikes from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emory Terranova 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.

Damato misses the shot to the body.

Damato closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Terranova wants to get back to full guard.
Damato lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Damato tries to stand and escape but Terranova is controlling the position.
Damato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Terranova defending well though.

Damato stands up and beckons Terranova to join him on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Damato.

Damato wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Terranova, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Damato are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Damato tries for a kimura but Terranova is defending well.
Terranova is looking for a sweep.
We've been informed that Terranova has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Terranova is pushing Damato's head away, looking to escape. Damato manages to hold on to the position though.
Terranova parries the strikes from Damato easily there. Damato is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Terranova to escape.
Terranova is working to avoid the ground and pound but Damato connects with a decent elbow.
Terranova is looking for a sweep.
Damato working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Terranova is trying to improve his position.
Terranova avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Damato.
Damato wants to take a breather but Terranova manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Damato.

Damato drops back looking for a leg! Terranova is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Terranova manages to kick Damato off! Damato jumps back into Terranova's guard.
Terranova is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato trying to control the position from guard on top but Terranova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damato connects with a couple of short punches.

Terranova is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Damato has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Terranova is proving hard to escape from.
Damato trying to control the position from guard on top but Terranova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Terranova throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Damato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Terranova is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Terranova throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Damato on the side of the head.
Damato closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Damato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Damato shoots in but no luck this time.
Terranova takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Damato motions for Terranova to come forward. Damato throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Terranova closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Terranova forces Damato back against the cage and clinches.
Damato tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Terranova just stands there and leans against the cage.
Terranova gets underhooks to prevent Damato's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocco Damato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Damato tries to score a body lock takedown but Terranova shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Terranova is working for takedown but Damato is calmly controlling the position for now.
Damato goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rocco Damato will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Damato throws a series of punches but Terranova moves out of range.
Damato wants to clinch.

Damato drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Damato stopping the sweep attempt from Terranova.
Damato trying to control but Terranova is working from the bottom.
Damato stops Terranova from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Damato is fighting to break Terranova's control of his arms but Terranova is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Terranova is looking to stand up but Damato isn't so interested in that idea.
Damato tries to free his leg and advance position but Terranova is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Damato stands and steps away. Terranova gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Damato ducks right into an uppercut from Terranova.

Terranova clinches.
Damato gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Terranova.
Damato has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Terranova avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Terranova has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Damato looking for a takedown.
Damato on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Damato fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocco Damato. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Terranova breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Terranova tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Terranova throws a one two combo.
Damato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Terranova looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Damato moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Damato tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Terranova defends well and Damato ends up having to push Terranova into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Terranova escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Damato shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Terranova but Terranova pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Damato is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Terranova.

Terranova closes the distance and clinches.
Damato on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Terranova missing with knees to the body.

Terranova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Damato fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Terranova has closed the distance and engaged Damato in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terranova lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Damato tries to score a body lock takedown but Terranova shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Terranova utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Terranova has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Damato regains guard immediately.
Terranova tries to free his leg and advance position but Damato is retaining full guard.
Damato not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Terranova working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Damato trying to control the position.
Damato has momentary wrist control but Terranova slips an elbow through the middle.
Terranova trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Damato throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damato will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Terranova thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Terranova stands up and waves to Damato to follow him.
A combination from Terranova does no damage.
Terranova rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Damato moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Terranova throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little feinted left hand from Damato on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damato slips a jab and a cross from Terranova.
The fight stays on the outside here - Terranova looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A quick step to the side and Damato tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Damato gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Terranova moves into range and clinches up with Damato.
Damato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emory Terranova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Terranova 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emory Terranova!
Emory Terranova made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I'll keep at it, and thanks to my team and supporters, it doesn't feel as daunting anymore. Thanks y'all.'.