PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sub Rampage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pepito Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sub Rampage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rampage
vs
Tshabalala

175 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sub Rampage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pepito Tshabalala!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tshabalala looks for a takedown but Rampage sprawls well.

Rampage closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tshabalala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rampage wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tshabalala can't do much from the bottom here.
Rampage content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Tshabalala sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Tshabalala actively working from the bottom here.
Rampage with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rampage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tshabalala for as long as he can get away with.
Rampage prevents Tshabalala from improving his position.
Rampage looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tshabalala wants to improve his position but Rampage is controlling well.

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.
Tshabalala is looking to control Rampage's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tshabalala avoid being mounted?
Rampage wants to pass the guard but Tshabalala is defending well.
Rampage takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tshabalala trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tshabalala misses with a takedown

and Rampage counters with a single leg into guard. Tshabalala didn't expect that.
Tshabalala being controlled here, momentarily.

Tshabalala has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rampage is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Tshabalala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala is looking for a sweep.
Tshabalala looks gassed!
Tshabalala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tshabalala wants to control but Rampage postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tshabalala is looking to reverse the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tshabalala tries for a takedown but Rampage circles away easily

and Rampage counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sub Rampage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepito Tshabalala.
Rampage content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tshabalala doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rampage counters with a shoot takedown. Tshabalala fights it but they end up in guard.
Tshabalala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Tshabalala isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rampage stacks Tshabalala on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rampage!
Tshabalala is being controlled here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tshabalala is trying to control Rampage's posture but Rampage avoids it.
Tshabalala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rampage wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rampage staying calm.
Tshabalala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tshabalala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rampage decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Tshabalala actively working from the bottom here.

Tshabalala looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tshabalala pushes Rampage off but Rampage dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rampage wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tshabalala is trying to control Rampage's posture but Rampage avoids it.
Tshabalala tries to buck Rampage off but Rampage is having none of it.
Tshabalala is trying to control Rampage's posture but Rampage avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tshabalala with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rampage counters with a single leg into guard. Tshabalala didn't expect that.
Tshabalala has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Tshabalala is looking for a triangle here but Rampage uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tshabalala wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Rampage dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tshabalala misses with a takedown

and Rampage counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rampage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rampage slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rampage has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tshabalala keeping moving, preventing Rampage from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tshabalala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tshabalala tries to strike from the bottom.

Tshabalala is looking for a triangle but Rampage pushes his legs off easily.
Rampage has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tshabalala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tshabalala looking for a sweep. Not yet Tshabalala, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rampage trying to control but Tshabalala is working from the bottom.
Rampage might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rampage postures up.
Rampage trying to control the position from guard on top but Tshabalala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tshabalala is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tshabalala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Tshabalala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rampage gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tshabalala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rampage controls the pace.

Tshabalala looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rampage passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tshabalala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rampage slows the pace down.
Sub Rampage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tshabalala is looking for a sweep.
Pepito Tshabalala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sub Rampage.
Well Rampage has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sub Rampage!