PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paladin Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Rocha (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.

Steel
vs
Rocha

185 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
18
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paladin Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Felix Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Steel. That did some damage!
Rocha looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Steel fails with a takedown attempt.
Rocha goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Steel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Rocha.
Steel tries to clinch up but Rocha circles away and keeps his distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rocha.
Steel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rocha.
Felix Rocha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocha misses with a body kick.
Rocha looks for the body kick but Steel saw that one coming.
Rocha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Steel is able to avoid easily.
Steel shoots for a double leg takedown but Rocha sprawls well. He's pushed Steel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paladin Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rocha swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Steel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rocha avoids it really well and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is looking to clinch.
Rocha throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rocha attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rocha throws a head kick but Steel moves out of range.
Rocha tries a head kick but it misses.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt
and Rocha counters with a good low kick that Steel was not able to check.
Rocha throws the kick towards the body but Steel avoids it.
Rocha buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Steel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steel blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Rocha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rocha looks to land a body kick but Steel moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rocha but Rocha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steel is breathing heavily.
Steel moves out of range of the body kick from Rocha.
Steel shoots for a double leg takedown but Rocha sprawls well. He's pushed Steel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rocha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rocha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rocha cracks the inside of Steel's front leg.
An inside leg kick lands from Rocha.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rocha.
Steel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rocha can pounce on him.
Rocha attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Steel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rocha.
Rocha tries a head kick but it misses.
Rocha finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Felix Rocha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rocha wants to slow Steel down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rocha.
Rocha throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rocha throws a front kick that sends Steel stumbling back into the cage.
Rocha fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steel.
Rocha connects with a leg kick. Steel looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Steel blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Rocha keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rocha moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rocha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rocha lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Paladin Steel has been cut.
Rocha lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Both fighters circling a little - Rocha finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rocha.
Rocha scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha scores with a nice body kick.
Steel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rocha. That's going to slow Steel down.
Steel moves out of range of the body kick from Rocha.
That kick from Rocha tenderised Steel's leg. Steel is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rocha.
Rocha thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Steel if he has to take too many more of those.
Steel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rocha. That one must have hurt.
Rocha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Steel will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rocha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Steel on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rocha throws a head kick but Steel moves out of range.
Steel checks a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rocha.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Rocha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paladin Steel's cut.
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.

Steel has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rocha.
Rocha misses with a low kick as Steel jumps back.
Paladin Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rocha throws a front kick aimed at Steel's knee but Steel avoids it well.
Rocha takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Steel blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Rocha throws a head kick but Steel moves out of range.
Rocha scores with a push kick.
Rocha fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Steel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Felix Rocha seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steel shoots in but no luck this time.
Steel is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
That kick from Rocha tenderised Steel's leg. Steel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rocha looks to land a body kick but Steel moved away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rocha scores with a spinning back kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rocha.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Steel. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rocha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rocha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Steel blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Rocha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rocha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A solid body kick from Rocha.
Rocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rocha throws a head kick but Steel moves out of range.
Steel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Steel checks a leg kick nicely.
Rocha lands a high kick!
Rocha misses with a low kick as Steel jumps back.
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!
A clash of legs there as Steel blocks the low kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rocha lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Steel has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Steel and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rocha lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Steel has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Steel and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rocha in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Steel blocks the body kick.
Steel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rocha pushes Steel away with a front kick.
Steel moves out of range as Rocha throws a body kick.
Horrible takedown by Steel or perhaps it was just good defense by Rocha which made him look bad.
Steel avoids the head kick by Rocha.
Rocha looks for the body kick but Steel saw that one coming.
Steel tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rocha throws a nice head kick!
Steel moves out of range as Rocha throws a body kick.
Steel checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rocha throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Steel with a poor takedown
and Rocha makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paladin Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel dives in and grabs Rocha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rocha pushes down on Steel's head and hops out.
Rocha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Steel tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Steel on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
Rocha scores with a head kick.
Steel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Steel crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rocha - the referee stops the clock and Steel gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rocha. Steel manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rocha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy body kick from Rocha

and Steel counters by clinching up.
Steel is trying to pull guard but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Steel tries to pull guard but Rocha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rocha controlling the action here for a moment.
Steel is trying to drag Rocha to the mat but Rocha just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Rocha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paladin Steel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rocha throws a head kick that misses.
Rocha stuffs the takedown attempt from Steel. Steel gets slowly back to his feet.
Steel moves out of range of the body kick from Rocha.
Rocha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rocha looks for the body kick but Steel saw that one coming.
Rocha throws a leg kick that is checked

and Steel moves into the clinch.
Steel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rocha smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paladin Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha throws a head kick but Steel moves out of range.
Rocha pivots, looking for a leg kick but Steel is out of range and Rocha settles back down.
Steel tries to clinch up but Rocha circles away and keeps his distance.
Steel throws a low kick, looking for Rocha's leg but Rocha calmly moves out of range.
Rocha misses with a low kick as Steel jumps back.
Rocha explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rocha, right into the meat.
Rocha pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rocha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rocha throws the kick towards the body but Steel avoids it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rocha.
Rocha fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rocha misses with a low kick.
Rocha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rocha swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rocha delivers a nice body kick.
Rocha lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rocha throws a push kick but Steel slaps the foot to one side.
Steel takes a kick to the side of the head.
Steel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rocha circles away.
Rocha thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Steel if he has to take too many more of those.
Rocha dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Steel. That did some damage!
Rocha throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A head kick misses from Rocha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rocha thows a leg kick but Steel checks it

and Steel counters by clinching up.
Steel tries for a takedown but Rocha manages to get underhooks.

Rocha breaks the clinch.
Steel dives in and grabs Rocha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rocha pushes down on Steel's head and hops out.
Rocha misses with a head kick.
Rocha moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rocha chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Good leg kick by Rocha there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Steel blocks a head kick by Rocha.
Rocha throws a nice head kick!
Rocha misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel blocks a low kick nicely.
Steel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rocha throws a leg kick
enabling Steel to counter with a crisp jab.
Rocha looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rocha throws a front kick aimed at Steel's knee but Steel avoids it well.
Steel shoots in and drives through. Rocha sprawls well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rocha lands with a slapping head kick.
Steel scores with a three punch combo!
Rocha attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Steel fails with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rocha fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Steel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Paladin Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocha scores with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rocha winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Rocha!
A very excited looking Felix Rocha made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.