PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack de La Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Nick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

de La Rocha
vs
Nick

189 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack de La Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Nick!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nick keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nick wants to clinch up but de La Rocha keeps it at a distance.
de La Rocha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nick was well out of range. Poor timing from de La Rocha.
Nick connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nick tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nick tries to score a power double leg takedown but de La Rocha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nick somewhat.
Nick scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nick uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from de La Rocha.
Nick throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nick slips under a jab.
de La Rocha swings for the body but Nick moves out of range.
de La Rocha keeps the fight on the outside.
de La Rocha throws a nice looking combination but Nick bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nick pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nick fails with a takedown attempt.
Nick tries to clinch up but de La Rocha circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nick throws out a leg kick but de La Rocha moves out of range and Nick only half commits.
Chris Nick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nick shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has de La Rocha pinned against the cage. de La Rocha gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jack de La Rocha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Nick.
de La Rocha is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nick.
Nick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nick wants to clinch.
de La Rocha misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but de La Rocha moves away.
Nick throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
de La Rocha leaves Nick with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nick tries to clinch there but de La Rocha circles away.
Nick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts de La Rocha as he jumps to the side.
Nick looks gassed!
Nick fails with the takedown.

That's four 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.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as de La Rocha checks a leg kick.

de La Rocha drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

de La Rocha drops back looking for a leg! Nick is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nick manages to kick de La Rocha off! de La Rocha jumps back into Nick's guard.
de La Rocha working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nick's head.
de La Rocha connects with a couple of short punches.
de La Rocha keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nick's head.
de La Rocha lands a couple of elbows.
de La Rocha distracts Nick with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
de La Rocha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack de La Rocha dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

de La Rocha throws the left hand but Nick avoids the punch easily.
Nick tries for a takedown but de La Rocha circles away easily

and de La Rocha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by de La Rocha.
de La Rocha postures up and lands a big shot to Nick's brow.
de La Rocha throws a strike but Nick rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
de La Rocha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if de La Rocha tries to get out of the position.
de La Rocha wants to stand and escape but Nick is having none of it.
Nick is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nick would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
de La Rocha circles away from the clinch attempt.

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.
Nick darts in trying to clinch

and de La Rocha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
de La Rocha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nick defending well though.
de La Rocha looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from de La Rocha there.
de La Rocha drops an elbow to the side of Nick's head.
Ground and pound from de La Rocha.
de La Rocha winds up and cracks Nick with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nick taking some punishment here, with de La Rocha in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de La Rocha is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nick has hold of de La Rocha's hands but de La Rocha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
de La Rocha working over Nick with some ground and pound. Nick looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
de La Rocha lands with a punch from half guard.
Nick taking some punishment here, with de La Rocha in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. de La Rocha connects with a nice short shot to Nick's temple.
de La Rocha working the head and body with strikes.
Nick wants to get back to his feet.
de La Rocha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
de La Rocha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nick on the ground.
de La Rocha is trying to control. Nick wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nick has hold of de La Rocha's hands but de La Rocha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from de La Rocha there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
de La Rocha scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. de La Rocha connects with a nice short shot to Nick's temple.
de La Rocha working the head and body with strikes.
de La Rocha looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nick with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nick has hold of de La Rocha's hands but de La Rocha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nick has hold of de La Rocha's hands but de La Rocha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
de La Rocha is pressing down on Nick's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nick is holding on for now.
de La Rocha is nestled in close to Nick, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
de La Rocha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. de La Rocha lands a nice short elbow.
de La Rocha working over Nick with some ground and pound. Nick looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack de La Rocha dominated that second round.
That's time! de La Rocha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

de La Rocha takes a swing at Nick's ribcage but misses.
de La Rocha circles away from the clinch attempt

and de La Rocha counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nick's guard now.
Nick trying to control the position.
de La Rocha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
de La Rocha lands a couple of elbows.
de La Rocha scoring with some ground and pound.
Nick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
de La Rocha stands up over Nick, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
de La Rocha connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de La Rocha works over Nick with some ground and pound from guard.
de La Rocha is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
de La Rocha wants to control from the top but Nick keeps moving.
de La Rocha lands a couple of decent looking shots.
de La Rocha lands a couple of digs.
Nick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
de La Rocha landing some decent shots from guard.
Nick is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
de La Rocha distracts Nick with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
de La Rocha is looking to work some ground and pound but Nick has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nick looking for a sweep. Not yet Nick, not yet.
Nick wants to stand but de La Rocha is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
de La Rocha is working Nick over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
de La Rocha works over Nick with some ground and pound from guard.
de La Rocha connects with a couple of short punches.
de La Rocha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
de La Rocha keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nick's head.
de La Rocha working some strikes from top position.
de La Rocha scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
de La Rocha scoring with punches to the head and body.
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!
de La Rocha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
de La Rocha lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nick 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.
de La Rocha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
de La Rocha working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nick's head.
de La Rocha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells de La Rocha's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
de La Rocha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nick is trying to control the position from the bottom.
de La Rocha cracks Nick with a solid left hand.
de La Rocha is in close to Nick's body, working some short punches and elbows.
de La Rocha working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nick's head.
de La Rocha chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de La Rocha landing with the ground and pound.
de La Rocha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
de La Rocha looking to sit in guard and control but Nick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nick trying to control but de La Rocha is working from the bottom.
Jack de La Rocha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nick throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as de La Rocha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack de La Rocha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for de La Rocha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:25
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack de La Rocha!