PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lotay Wangchuck (ranked 6608 p4p, 3323 weight class) and Paul Rabbitte (ranked 622 p4p, 392 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Wangchuck
vs
Rabbitte

190 cm
35
255
15 - 16 - 0

189 cm
29
220
6 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Lotay Wangchuck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Rabbitte!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wangchuck shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rabbitte napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wangchuck trying to control the position but Rabbitte is working away.
Rabbitte is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rabbitte manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rabbitte throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wangchuck changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rabbitte is defended easily by Wangchuck.
Rabbitte misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Rabbitte.
Rabbitte lands a nice shot that snaps Wangchuck's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wangchuck shoots in looking for a takedown. Rabbitte tries to sprawl out of it but Wangchuck keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rabbitte manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick lands from Rabbitte.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Rabbitte does no damage.
Wangchuck tries to counter with a takedown but Rabbitte is quick to defend against it.
Wangchuck takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rabbitte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wangchuck drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rabbitte sprawls and moves away.
Rabbitte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wangchuck is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rabbitte sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Wangchuck looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rabbitte!
Rabbitte stops Wangchuck from passing to mount.
Wangchuck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabbitte keeps working.
Rabbitte wants to get back to his feet.

Wangchuck tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wangchuck is looking to take a break and control but Rabbitte is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rabbitte is trying to control Wangchuck's posture but Wangchuck avoids it.
Wangchuck has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Wangchuck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabbitte keeps working.

Wangchuck thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabbitte manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Still in half guard, Rabbitte seems content to control.
Wangchuck wants to improve his position but Rabbitte is controlling well.

Wangchuck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rabbitte is looking to stall here but Wangchuck recovers full guard.
Rabbitte with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabbitte is pushing down on Wangchuck's leg trying to pass to half guard. Wangchuck is fighting to maintain full guard but Rabbitte has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rabbitte wants to stand up but Wangchuck is controlling the position.
Nice strikes from Rabbitte there.
Wangchuck trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rabbitte is controlling the pace.
Wangchuck is looking for a sweep. Rabbitte is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wangchuck works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rabbitte dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wangchuck is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rabbitte sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rabbitte.
Rabbitte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rabbitte connects with a body shot that sends Wangchuck's belly button to the back.
Rabbitte tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wangchuck is defended easily by Rabbitte.
Rabbitte leaves Wangchuck with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lotay Wangchuck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wangchuck shoots in looking for a takedown. Rabbitte tries to sprawl out of it but Wangchuck keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rabbitte manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rabbitte misses with a head kick.
Wangchuck tries to counter with a takedown but Rabbitte is quick to defend against it.
Rabbitte throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rabbitte has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rabbitte leaves Wangchuck with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wangchuck dives in for a single leg takedown but Rabbitte sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rabbitte gets underhooks to prevent Wangchuck's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rabbitte scores a nice knee to the body.

Rabbitte manages to break the clinch.

Rabbitte closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wangchuck is trying to get back to full guard.
Rabbitte with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rabbitte is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
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. Rabbitte connects with a nice short shot to Wangchuck's temple.
Rabbitte prevents Wangchuck from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wangchuck is controlling Rabbitte's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Wangchuck is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rabbitte moves nicely into side control.
Rabbitte is looking to take a break and control but Wangchuck is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wangchuck wants to control but Rabbitte postures up.
Wangchuck is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rabbitte stands up and beckons Wangchuck to his feet.
Wangchuck shoots in for a takedown but Rabbitte shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rabbitte tries a head kick but it misses.
Wangchuck avoids the head kick by Rabbitte.
Wangchuck misses with a takedown attempt - Rabbitte sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wangchuck is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rabbitte sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rabbitte throws a sloppy head kick and Wangchuck moves out of range easily.
Rabbitte throws a head kick that misses.
Rabbitte connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rabbitte turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rabbitte throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rabbitte throws a head kick but Wangchuck moves out of range.
Wangchuck tries to counter with a takedown but Rabbitte is quick to defend against it.
Wangchuck avoids the head kick by Rabbitte.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wangchuck avoids the head kick by Rabbitte.
Wangchuck looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rabbitte is fending him off so far but Wangchuck persists. Nope, Rabbitte circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Rabbitte does no damage.
Rabbitte misses with a head kick.
Wangchuck changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wangchuck tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rabbitte sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wangchuck somewhat.
Rabbitte throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wangchuck shoots for a double leg takedown but Rabbitte sprawls well. He's pushed Wangchuck's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wangchuck blocks a head kick by Rabbitte.
Rabbitte keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wangchuck shoots in looking for a takedown but Rabbitte manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wangchuck's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Paul Rabbitte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rabbitte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rabbitte shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rabbitte was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rabbitte trying to control the action but Wangchuck is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rabbitte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rabbitte throws a leg kick

and Wangchuck counters with a takedown into side control.
Rabbitte gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Rabbitte holds on to Wangchuck as tight as he can, avoiding damage.

Wangchuck working for a guillotine from mount but Rabbitte is in no mood to give up.
Rabbitte's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wangchuck trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rabbitte can't escape the position.
Rabbitte felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Wangchuck controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Rabbitte really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rabbitte is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Wangchuck is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rabbitte is surviving well by controlling Wangchuck's body position as best he can.
Wangchuck avoids the attempt from Rabbitte to control.

Wangchuck has hold of Rabbitte's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rabbitte manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rabbitte slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabbitte wants to control but Wangchuck is keeping busy.
Rabbitte throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rabbitte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wangchuck passes to full mount!
Wangchuck tries to control but Rabbitte wriggling away.

Wangchuck looking for a guillotine from mount but Rabbitte is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabbitte manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rabbitte wants to get back to his feet.

Wangchuck is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rabbitte has a hand on Wangchuck's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Wangchuck takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

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.
Rabbitte can't escape the position.
Wangchuck is trying to take his opponent's back.
Rabbitte wants to hold on but Wangchuck pushes him away.
Rabbitte is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rabbitte is trying to escape the mount but Wangchuck keeps good control and instead manages to take Rabbitte's back.
Rabbitte breaks Wangchuck's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lotay Wangchuck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rabbitte 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Rabbitte!
After the fight, Paul Rabbitte was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.