PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takehiko Rokuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Black
vs
Rokuro

180 cm
19
178 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
177 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

2KMMA 159+ Ultimate Supplements
2KMMA 159+ Ultimate Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Takehiko Rokuro!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black missing with a left hand there. Rokuro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Rokuro scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Black is controlling Rokuro's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Rokuro is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Rokuro trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Rokuro is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.

Rokuro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rokuro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rokuro postures up.
Black keeping moving, preventing Rokuro from controlling successfully.
Black will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rokuro is fighting to break Black's control of his arms but Black is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokuro stopping the sweep attempt from Black.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Rokuro or perhaps it was just good defense by Black which made him look bad.
Michael Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rokuro.
Black throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Black dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Black misses.
Black ducks under a wild hook from Rokuro.
Black lands a jab-cross combination.
Black jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rokuro moves away from the strike by Black.
Rokuro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rokuro shoots for a double leg takedown but Black sprawls well. He's pushed Rokuro's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Michael Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takehiko Rokuro.
Rokuro shoots in and drives through. Black sprawls well.
Black lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro slips under a jab.
Black scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rokuro explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Black lands a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rokuro is defended easily by Black.
Rokuro displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Black throws out the jab.
Rokuro fails with a takedown attempt.
Black misses with an uppercut. Rokuro saw that one coming.
Black is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rokuro throws a sloppy head kick and Black moves out of range easily.
Black fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Rokuro gets the takedown into side control.
Black is trying to improve his position.
Black is trying to work for a sweep but Rokuro has mounted him!
Rokuro throws some wild stikes that Black manages to avoid easily.
Rokuro avoids the attempt from Black to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rokuro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rokuro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rokuro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Black.
Rokuro swings for the body but Black moves out of range.
Black lands a jab to the head.
Nice shot by Black.
Black moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rokuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Black lands with a cross.
Nice uppercut there from Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokuro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Black.
Rokuro defending well as Black loads up on a big left hand.
Rokuro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Black as he avoids it easily.
Black misses with a looping left.
Black ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Black scores with a nice right hand.
Black fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Black.
Good standup being displayed there by Black as he connects with a hook.
Michael Black is winning the standup battle so far.

Rokuro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Black manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rokuro wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro looking to pass the guard.
Black is trying to control the position but Rokuro postures up.
Black knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rokuro on the ground.
Rokuro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rokuro postures up.
Rokuro looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rokuro gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black gets full guard.
Rokuro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
Rokuro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rokuro trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rokuro trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Black utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rokuro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rokuro trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rokuro is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Black's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black wants to improve his position but Rokuro is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rokuro feints and as Black raises his hands in defense, Rokuro changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rokuro trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Black wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Black working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rokuro.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rokuro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black looking to control but Rokuro passes into half guard.
Rokuro trying to mount his opponent but Black defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Black misses with a two punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Black. No joy for Rokuro on that attempt.
Rokuro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rokuro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Michael Black is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rokuro shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takehiko Rokuro.
Black throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro ducks under a wild hook from Black.
Rokuro throws an overhand right that lands on Black's shoulder, as Black tries to avoid the shot.
Black lands an overhand right.
Rokuro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rokuro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Black moves into range and connects with a jab.
Black misses with a two punch combination.
Black throws a lazy right hand but Rokuro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Rokuro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Black was covering up waiting for the punch and Rokuro finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rokuro tries to free his leg and advance position but Black is retaining full guard.
Takehiko Rokuro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Black looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rokuro stopping the sweep attempt from Black.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Black working a defensive guard here.
Rokuro forces his way into half guard.
Michael Black is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Black trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rokuro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Black defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takehiko Rokuro.
I think Black has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Black!