PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Rasputin Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rakharo Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ko comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Monster kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rakharo Ko will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rasputin Rasputin
vs
Ko

180 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Piotr Rasputin Rasputin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rakharo Ko!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasputin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasputin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ko tries to clinch but Rasputin is having none of it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rasputin.
Rasputin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ko can't do much from the bottom here.
Rasputin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ko keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ko tries to bench press Rasputin off him but Rasputin keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
An elbow from Rasputin crashes against the mat.
Rasputin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rasputin throws an elbow but Ko slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rasputin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rasputin working the ground and pound but Ko is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin taking a break here but Ko is having none of it and regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rasputin lands a nice short elbow.
Ko is positioning himself well to prevent Rasputin advancing to mount.
Ko moves into full guard.
Rasputin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rasputin throws a big right hand that misses.
Rasputin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ko has his hands on Rasputin's head, controlling the position.
Rasputin is looking to work some ground and pound but Ko has wrist control.
Rasputin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ko seems keen to control Rasputin's posture.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rasputin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rakharo Ko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rasputin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ko doesn't manage to clinch there - Rasputin circles away.
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rasputin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rasputin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rasputin circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ko is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ko tries to clinch there but Rasputin circles away.
Ko tries to clinch there but Rasputin circles away.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ko doesn't manage to clinch there - Rasputin circles away.
Ko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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.
Ko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rasputin keeps the fight on the outside.
Rasputin defending well as Ko loads up on a big left hand.
Ko tries to clinch there but Rasputin circles away.
Rasputin swats away the attempt to clinch by Ko.
Ko wants to clinch up but Rasputin keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasputin fails with a takedown attempt.
Ko takes a swing at Rasputin's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Rasputin Rasputin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rasputin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rasputin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ko tries to clinch up but Rasputin circles away and keeps his distance.
Ko tries to clinch there but Rasputin circles away.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rasputin.
Ko doesn't manage to clinch there - Rasputin circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ko is looking to clinch.
Rasputin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko tries to clinch up.
Rasputin moves out of range as Ko strikes.
Rasputin shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Piotr Rasputin Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ko throws a body punch but Rasputin moves out of range.
Ko is looking to clinch.
Rasputin keeps the fight on the outside.
Ko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rasputin.
Rasputin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ko as he avoids it easily.
Rasputin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ko wants to clinch up but Rasputin keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two 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.

Ko clinches up with Rasputin and pushes him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ko throws an elbow but misses.
Rasputin dodges an elbow strike from Ko.
Rasputin tries to score a body lock takedown but Ko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ko stops a takedown attempt from Rasputin.
Rasputin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ko smiles and moves away.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rasputin tries to keep at a distance but Ko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ko throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rasputin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rasputin wants a takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ko throws an elbow but misses.
Rasputin blocks an elbow strike.
Rasputin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rasputin avoids the elbow strike from Ko, against the cage.
Come on Ko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rasputin.
Ko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

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.
Rasputin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ko throws an elbow that misses.
Ko lands an elbow that stopped Rasputin in his tracks for a moment.
Ko lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ko.
Ko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ko misses with an elbow over the top.
Ko lands an elbow that stopped Rasputin in his tracks for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rakharo Ko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rasputin keeps the fight on the outside.
Ko fails in his attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ko. Rasputin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rasputin just misses with a punch to the body.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ko wants it to stay on the feet.
Ko is looking to clinch.
Rasputin swats away the attempt to clinch by Ko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasputin looks to score with a jab to the body but Ko is just out of range.
Rasputin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ko moves in looking to clinch but Rasputin pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ko tries to clinch but Rasputin moves out of range.
Ko wants to clinch.
Ko is looking to clinch.
Ko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rasputin misses with a straight right.
Ko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rasputin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ko avoids it really well and circles away.
Ko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

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.
Ko swings for the body but Rasputin moves out of range.
Ko moves in looking to clinch but Rasputin pushes him off.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasputin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot by Ko.
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt - Ko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Piotr Rasputin Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasputin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ko looks to throw the jab but Rasputin is out of range.
Ko tries to clinch but Rasputin is having none of it.
Ko is looking to clinch but Rasputin is avoiding it.
Ko is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rasputin rather than just go for the knockout.
Ko wants to clinch up but Rasputin keeps it at a distance.
Ko tries to clinch there but Rasputin circles away.
Rasputin ducks under a wild hook from Ko.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ko is looking to clinch.
Rasputin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ko tries to clinch up but Rasputin circles away and keeps his distance.
Ko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ko doesn't manage to clinch there - Rasputin circles away.
Ko moves in looking to clinch but Rasputin pushes him off.
Ko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ko tries to clinch up.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ko misses with a two punch combination.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rasputin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rakharo Ko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rakharo Ko!