PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Akutagawa (ranked 316 p4p, 505 weight class) and Mark Rapheal (ranked 46 p4p, 72 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Akutagawa
vs
Rapheal

190 cm
23
184
12 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
175
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryu Akutagawa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Rapheal!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapheal's corner calls for a 1-2. Rapheal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Ryu Akutagawa has been cut.
Akutagawa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akutagawa moves out of range as Rapheal strikes.
Akutagawa takes a swing at Rapheal's ribcage but misses.
Akutagawa with the inside leg kick.
Akutagawa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Akutagawa scores with a jab. Rapheal acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rapheal takes a swing at Akutagawa's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akutagawa misses with a wild body shot.
Akutagawa misses with a hook. Rapheal ducked under it nicely.
Akutagawa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Akutagawa throws a shot from downtown. Rapheal moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Akutagawa swings widly with a right hand

and Rapheal counters by moving into the clinch.
Akutagawa misses with a punch to the body.
Akutagawa blocks an uppercut.

Akutagawa breaks from the clinch.
Akutagawa throws a hook but Rapheal avoids it easily.
Rapheal drops his hands momentarily and Akutagawa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rapheal changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Akutagawa misses with a left hand
and Rapheal counters with a nice uppercut.
Rapheal moves into range and connects with a jab.
Akutagawa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rapheal. Rapheal circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rapheal looks to throw the jab but Akutagawa is out of range.
Akutagawa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rapheal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akutagawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Rapheal.
Akutagawa throwing a counter right hand but Rapheal manages to avoid it.
Akutagawa avoids the body shot from Rapheal.
Akutagawa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Akutagawa throws a lazy body kick
and Rapheal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Akutagawa thinking.
Akutagawa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Akutagawa cracks Rapheal with a good jab.
Rapheal lands a nice hook to Akutagawa's body. Akutagawa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Akutagawa misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rapheal.
Akutagawa throws a lazy uppercut
and Rapheal counters with a nice uppercut.
A big right from Akutagawa misses.
Akutagawa tried to score with a low kick but Rapheal checks it.
Rapheal tries to counter by closing the distance.
Akutagawa misses with a straight right.
Akutagawa slips under a jab from Rapheal.
Akutagawa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Akutagawa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Akutagawa misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapheal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Akutagawa.
Rapheal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akutagawa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rapheal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rapheal with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Akutagawa to score with a decent uppercut.
A jab lands there for Akutagawa.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rapheal clinches up with Akutagawa and pushes him back against the cage.
Rapheal scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rapheal working aggressively here.
Akutagawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Akutagawa breaks from the clinch.
Rapheal's jab looks to have found its range, popping Akutagawa under the eye.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ryu Akutagawa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryu Akutagawa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rapheal just misses with a punch to the body.
Rapheal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akutagawa.
Good standup being displayed there by Akutagawa as he connects with a hook.
Rapheal checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rapheal has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Nice shot by Akutagawa.

Rapheal has closed the distance and engaged Akutagawa in a clinch.
Rapheal lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Rapheal.

Akutagawa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rapheal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice shot by Rapheal.

Ryu Akutagawa's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa lands a nice looking body shot.
Rapheal throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Akutagawa counters with a nice uppercut.
Akutagawa misses with a shot to the body
and Rapheal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rapheal walks into a stiff left hand from Akutagawa.
Rapheal throws a leg kick that is checked
and Akutagawa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rapheal dips to his left and cracks Akutagawa with an uppercut!
Rapheal blocks a leg kick.
Akutagawa lands the left hand.
Rapheal throws a poor cross that misses
and Akutagawa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Akutagawa is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Akutagawa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rapheal moves into the clinch.
Rapheal tries to work over Akutagawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rapheal blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Akutagawa breaks from the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Rapheal.

Ryu Akutagawa's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rapheal throws a hook to the side of Akutagawa's head but Akutagawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rapheal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rapheal with a nice cross.
Akutagawa misses with a lunging right hand
and Rapheal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Akutagawa throws a hook but Rapheal blocks it.
Rapheal lands a jab to Akutagawa's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A good leg kick by Rapheal.

Rapheal closes the distance and clinches.
Akutagawa blocks a body shot from Rapheal.
Rapheal lands with a left to the head.
Rapheal tries to work over Akutagawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rapheal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Akutagawa backwards.

Jeez, Ryu Akutagawa's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Akutagawa tries to break free but Rapheal pushes him back against the cage.
Akutagawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rapheal backwards.
Akutagawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Akutagawa tries to break free but Rapheal pushes him back against the cage.
Rapheal lands a right hand.
Rapheal lands a right hand.
Rapheal lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Akutagawa.
Rapheal lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Akutagawa.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rapheal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akutagawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rapheal cracks Akutagawa with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rapheal lands a body punch.
Akutagawa throws a punch but it's blocked by Rapheal.
Rapheal scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rapheal lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rapheal lands a body punch in the clinch.
Akutagawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Rapheal controls his hands.
Akutagawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rapheal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Akutagawa backwards.
Akutagawa tries to break the clinch but Rapheal is controlling the position.
Rapheal scores with an uppercut up the middle.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ryu Akutagawa's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mark Rapheal!
Mark Rapheal is the new welterweight champion!
A relieved looking Mark Rapheal thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.