PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Dawodu (ranked 7844 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Rockhard (ranked 4708 p4p, 447 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dawodu
vs
Rockhard

191 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dawodu!
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, Luke Rockhard!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dawodu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dawodu throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Dawodu gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rockhard regains guard.
Dawodu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dawodu stays in close to Rockhard's body and controls the position.

Rockhard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dawodu defends well.
Dawodu passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rockhard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rockhard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dawodu pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rockhard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dawodu content to control rather than advance.

Rockhard actively working from the bottom here.
Dawodu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Dawodu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rockhard on the ground.

Dawodu stands up and beckons Rockhard to join him on the feet.
Dawodu with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Rockhard counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rockhard darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Dawodu throws a head kick but Rockhard moves out of range.
Rockhard swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Dawodu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dawodu lands in his opponent's guard.
Dawodu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rockhard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Dawodu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rockhard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dawodu has managed to get both his arms back between Rockhard's legs - danger averted.

Rockhard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rockhard looks winded!
Dawodu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rockhard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dawodu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawodu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rockhard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rockhard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dawodu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dawodu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dawodu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dawodu remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Dawodu tries to score with some ground and pound. Rockhard controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Dawodu in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The referee asks Dawodu politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Dawodu prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dawodu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rockhard tries to buck Dawodu off but Dawodu is having none of it.
Dawodu controlling from side mount.
Rockhard is looking to regain half guard here but Dawodu keeps moving and retains side control.
The ground and pound from Dawodu seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dawodu working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dawodu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rockhard is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dawodu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dawodu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rockhard's guard.

Rockhard working for a triangle but Dawodu defends it easily.
Dawodu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Rockhard working for a triangle but Dawodu defends it easily.

Dawodu decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rockhard, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dawodu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dawodu instigates a clinch.
Dawodu looking to throw knees to the head but Rockhard is blocking nicely.
Dawodu is pressed up against the cage. Rockhard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dawodu down to the mat. Dawodu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rockhard stuffs the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Rockhard's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Dawodu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dawodu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rockhard can do to turn this around?
Dawodu throws the kick towards the body but Rockhard avoids it.
Rockhard tries to clinch up but Dawodu circles away and keeps his distance.

Dawodu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dawodu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rockhard with the active half guard here but Dawodu passes nicely into side control.
Rockhard is letting Dawodu control him for a moment.

Dawodu stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Donk. Rockhard catches Dawodu right on the button with a cross.
Dawodu throws a sloppy head kick
and Rockhard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rockhard bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawodu fails with the takedown
enabling Rockhard to counter with a crisp jab.
Rockhard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dawodu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rockhard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rockhard shoots in looking for a takedown but Dawodu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rockhard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dawodu misses with a takedown
and Rockhard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Dawodu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawodu fails with the takedown
and Rockhard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rockhard's corner calls for a 1-2. Rockhard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Dawodu drives through and clinches with Rockhard against the cage.

Dawodu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Dawodu is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rockhard's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rockhard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawodu takes a little break here. Rockhard wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Dawodu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dawodu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dawodu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rockhard finds it's way round the side to connect with Dawodu's head.
Rockhard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dawodu but Dawodu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick by Dawodu misses
enabling Rockhard to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dawodu doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rockhard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Dawodu closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dawodu gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rockhard looking for submissions off his back.

Rockhard actively working from the bottom here.

Rockhard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rockhard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dawodu passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rockhard!
John Dawodu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rockhard is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockhard avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dawodu.
Rockhard can't escape the position.

Dawodu working for a guillotine from mount but Rockhard is in no mood to give up.
Dawodu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dawodu's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhard slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Dawodu decides to stand and escape the position.

Dawodu clinches.

Dawodu has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rockhard is trying to keep an underhook but Dawodu manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rockhard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rockhard.

Dawodu gets to his feet. Rockhard looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Dawodu swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rockhard counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawodu has his takedown stuffed
letting Rockhard counter with a right hand.

Dawodu darts in and clinches Rockhard up against the cage.
Luke Rockhard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Dawodu lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rockhard actively working from the bottom here.

Rockhard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dawodu pulls his head out easily.
Dawodu trying to mount his opponent but Rockhard defends it.

Dawodu stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rockhard to get to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Dawodu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dawodu, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Dawodu!