PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard LaRocque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicezio De Luca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaRocque comes to the cage accompanied by sleepless night - by King Diamond. De Luca has chosen Wiseman as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

LaRocque
vs
De Luca

188 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
219 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

[MMABR]: TechNutri - Ensuring the quality

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Richard LaRocque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nicezio De Luca!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from De Luca.

LaRocque tries to keep at a distance but De Luca has taken the fight into the clinch.
LaRocque managing to block the knees to the body from De Luca.

LaRocque manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
De Luca won't allow LaRocque to sweep him here.
De Luca looking to sit in guard and control but LaRocque gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
LaRocque stays in close to De Luca's body and controls the position.
De Luca wants to sweep but no luck.
LaRocque is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
LaRocque throwing strikes from guard but De Luca blocks nicely.
LaRocque content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRocque stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Luca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
LaRocque working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
De Luca can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as LaRocque controls the pace.
De Luca wants to stand but LaRocque is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
LaRocque controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
De Luca is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
LaRocque is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Richard LaRocque just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
LaRocque pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

LaRocque shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
LaRocque controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRocque prevents De Luca from getting back to his feet.
LaRocque is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
De Luca is looking to stand up but LaRocque isn't so interested in that idea.
LaRocque stays in close to De Luca's body and controls the position.

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.

LaRocque is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
De Luca wants to get back to his feet but LaRocque is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
LaRocque is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
LaRocque postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
LaRocque landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
LaRocque is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard LaRocque dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

De Luca leaves LaRocque with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De Luca looks to land a combination but LaRocque avoids it well.

LaRocque decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
LaRocque is taking a breather. De Luca 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 referee stands the fighters back up. Richard LaRocque just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
De Luca lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

LaRocque shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. De Luca is trying to defend but LaRocque finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LaRocque looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRocque trying to mount his opponent but De Luca defends it.
LaRocque is figuring out what he wants to do next.

LaRocque looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De Luca pushes LaRocque off looking to stand but LaRocque dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

LaRocque is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. De Luca doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time LaRocque.
De Luca is trying to get back to full guard.

LaRocque is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, De Luca has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRocque lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

LaRocque is sneakily working for an arm triangle but De Luca sees it coming and defends easily.

LaRocque wants to work for an arm triangle but De Luca is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
LaRocque is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
De Luca pushes LaRocque off looking to stand but LaRocque dives back in and keeps control.
LaRocque stalling.
De Luca trying to hold on to LaRocque's head to control him but LaRocque postures up.
De Luca is looking for a sweep. LaRocque is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard LaRocque dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

LaRocque fails with the takedown.
LaRocque slips a jab and a cross from De Luca.
Left hook, right uppercut from De Luca.
Nicezio De Luca is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Luca throws a nice looking combination but LaRocque bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
LaRocque will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
De Luca lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but LaRocque circles away quickly and effectively.

LaRocque drives through and clinches with De Luca against the cage.

LaRocque has picked De Luca up - he's going for a ride! LaRocque dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
LaRocque takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
De Luca really doesn't want to stay on the ground with LaRocque. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

LaRocque is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
LaRocque controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

LaRocque wants to work for an arm triangle but De Luca is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
De Luca has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. LaRocque is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LaRocque is controlling the pace.

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.
De Luca keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
LaRocque works his way into full mount!

LaRocque wants to finish this one by submission but De Luca is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from LaRocque.

LaRocque get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Luca throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
LaRocque misses with a takedown attempt - De Luca sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard LaRocque. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Luca tries to clinch but fails miserably

so LaRocque counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
De Luca being controlled here, momentarily.

De Luca escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. LaRocque gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
LaRocque slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRocque thows a big elbow that misses.

LaRocque drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and LaRocque jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nicezio De Luca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

LaRocque decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
De Luca tries to close the distance and clinch up but LaRocque swats him away and circles back towards the center.
De Luca misses with a few strikes there.
LaRocque fails with the takedown.
No joy there for De Luca, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard LaRocque showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for LaRocque, 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Richard LaRocque!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Richard LaRocque!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Richard LaRocque!

Richard LaRocque wins by unanimous decision!