PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Putin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Rakusaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakusaba comes into a darkened arena with his song building. David Bowie - Suffragette City kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Putin
vs
Rakusaba

179 cm
25
182 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
181 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Fightworld Formula

[†CoE†]Terror Trition[†CoE†]

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolai Putin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Rakusaba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakusaba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Putin.
Rakusaba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Putin circles away.

Rakusaba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Putin wants to improve his position but Rakusaba is controlling well.
Putin moves into full guard.
Rakusaba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Putin working for submissions but it's allowed Rakusaba to get to half guard.
Rakusaba prevents Putin from improving his position.

Putin is defending against the submission attempts here by Rakusaba.
Putin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rakusaba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rakusaba's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakusaba is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rakusaba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
A nice elbow there by Putin.
Putin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Kazushi Rakusaba has been cut.

Putin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rakusaba is surviving well by controlling Putin's body position as best he can.
Rakusaba slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rakusaba has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Putin is working away from the top position though.
Rakusaba manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Putin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rakusaba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Putin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rakusaba is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakusaba tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rakusaba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Putin defends it easily.
Rakusaba wants to sweep but no luck.
Putin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rakusaba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Putin.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rakusaba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kazushi Rakusaba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rakusaba throws a lazy right hand but Putin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin tries a low kick but Rakusaba avoids it.
Putin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rakusaba counters with a nice double leg into side control. Putin won't be happy with that.

Rakusaba goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Putin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rakusaba but great work by Putin.
Putin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rakusaba is looking to reverse the position.

Putin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rakusaba has escaped the position, nice work there.
Putin is breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Rakusaba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Putin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rakusaba is looking for a sweep.
Putin trying to control the position but Rakusaba is working away.
Rakusaba struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba tries to buck Putin off but Putin is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rakusaba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Putin swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Putin. No joy for Rakusaba on that attempt.
Nikolai Putin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Rakusaba.

Putin scores a takedown into full mount!
Putin looking to control but Rakusaba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Putin looking for a guillotine from mount but Rakusaba is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rakusaba is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rakusaba slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Putin.

Putin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rakusaba is trying to control but Putin passes into side control!
Putin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Putin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rakusaba is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rakusaba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Putin off and has taken his back!
Rakusaba is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Putin. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Putin is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Putin avoids the strikes from Rakusaba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Putin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rakusaba's guard. Nice work there by Putin.
Putin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rakusaba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Putin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Putin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rakusaba is looking for a triangle but Putin pushes his legs off easily.
Rakusaba is breathing heavily.

Putin drops back looking for a leg! Rakusaba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rakusaba manages to kick Putin off! Putin jumps back into Rakusaba's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin looking to pass the guard.

Putin drops back looking for a leg! Rakusaba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rakusaba manages to kick Putin off! Putin jumps back into Rakusaba's guard.
Rakusaba keeping moving, preventing Putin from controlling successfully.

Rakusaba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Putin defends well.
Putin won't allow Rakusaba to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin chips away with some ground and pound.
Kazushi Rakusaba has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rakusaba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Putin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rakusaba looking for a guillotine here but Putin defends easily.
Putin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rakusaba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rakusaba has his foot on Putin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Putin works his way back into a safe position though.
Putin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rakusaba is keeping the position for now.
Putin is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rakusaba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Putin lands a couple of elbows.
Putin slips nicely into half guard.
Rakusaba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Putin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Putin's back!

Putin is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Rakusaba has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Putin trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Rakusaba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Rakusaba's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Putin misses with a takedown

and Rakusaba counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Putin!

Rakusaba goes for an armbar but Putin turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Putin.
Putin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rakusaba has his feet on Putin's thighs here. He's pushed Putin off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Putin screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazushi Rakusaba!