PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cao Yun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralf Moorkopf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yun
vs
Moorkopf

150 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cao Yun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ralf Moorkopf!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moorkopf avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yun looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yun throws a body kick that misses.
Yun swings for the body but Moorkopf moves out of range.
Moorkopf slips a jab and a cross from Yun.
Yun has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Moorkopf.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Moorkopf.
Yun is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Yun is working hard here to advance position.
Yun seems a little lost for a moment, as Moorkopf dominates the positioning.

Moorkopf stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Moorkopf lands a jab to Yun's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moorkopf blocks a head kick by Yun.
Moorkopf is looking to clinch but Yun is avoiding it.
Yun looks to land a body kick but Moorkopf moved away.
Moorkopf lands a nice looking body kick.
Yun fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Moorkopf avoids it really well and circles away.
Yun throws a sloppy head kick and Moorkopf moves out of range easily.
Yun misses with a jab to the body

and Moorkopf counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Moorkopf is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Yun might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moorkopf tries to free his leg and advance position but Yun is retaining full guard.
Yun wants to sweep here but Moorkopf controlling him for the moment.

Moorkopf gets to his feet. Yun looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Yun is breathing heavily.
Yun throws a sloppy head kick

and Moorkopf counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yun won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yun is not content to let Moorkopf control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yun tries to buck Moorkopf off but Moorkopf is having none of it.

Moorkopf decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Moorkopf stuns Yun with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Yun takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cao Yun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yun throws a sloppy head kick

and Moorkopf counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yun's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moorkopf wants to pass the guard but Yun is keeping the position.
Moorkopf postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Yun on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Yun tries to get out of the position.
Moorkopf trying to control the position from guard on top but Yun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moorkopf controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that Moorkopf has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moorkopf trying to control but Yun is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralf Moorkopf dominated that round.
That's time! Yun's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Moorkopf dives in and grabs Yun's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yun pushes down on Moorkopf's head and hops out.
Moorkopf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yun swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yun blocks the body kick.
A big right from Yun misses.
Yun throws a lazy head kick

and Moorkopf counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yun!
Ralf Moorkopf has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yun tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Moorkopf unloads with some shots from mount but Yun bucks and avoids them well.
Moorkopf avoids the attempt from Yun to control.
Yun tries to reverse the position but Moorkopf maintains control.
Moorkopf fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moorkopf manages to capitalize on a mistake by Yun to take his back!
A lull in the action here.
Even with his hooks in, Moorkopf manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Moorkopf scores with punches to the body.
Yun is really stuck here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Moorkopf misses with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yun tries to escape the position.
Moorkopf loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Yun hold on?
Even with his hooks in, Moorkopf manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Moorkopf throws strikes from the back but Yun rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Yun.
Moorkopf postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Moorkopf.
A head kick from Moorkopf lands but Yun takes it in his stride.
Moorkopf fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yun manages to avoid it.
Yun tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moorkopf was well out of range. Poor timing from Yun.
Yun throws a head kick that misses

and Moorkopf counters with a takedown into side control.
Yun is looking for a sweep.
Moorkopf has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Moorkopf looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Moorkopf wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yun keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yun is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Moorkopf decides to stand back up.
Moorkopf cracks a nice hook into Yun's ribs.
Yun misses with a body kick.
Yun throws a lazy head kick

and Moorkopf counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Moorkopf has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Yun is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moorkopf passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralf Moorkopf showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A lazy body kick from Yun

and Moorkopf counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Moorkopf.

Yun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yun throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Moorkopf counters with a series of strikes. Yun will be more careful next time no doubt.
Moorkopf dives in and grabs Yun's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yun pushes down on Moorkopf's head and hops out.
Yun feints and then cracks Moorkopf's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Moorkopf down.
Yun misses with a body shot
and Moorkopf counters with a head kick.
Moorkopf goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Moorkopf looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yun throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Moorkopf makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A head kick misses from Yun.
Yun dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Moorkopf. That did some damage!
A slapping leg kick lands for Yun.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yun looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yun tries a head kick but it misses.
Yun misses with a straight left.
Moorkopf has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moorkopf tries to clinch but Yun is having none of it.
Yun throws a wild body kick that Moorkopf sees coming a mile off.
Yun attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Yun misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Moorkopf shoots for a double leg takedown but Yun sprawls well. He's pushed Moorkopf's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cao Yun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralf Moorkopf.
Yun throws a head kick that misses.
Moorkopf shoots in for a takedown but Yun shows good takedown defense.
Yun lands a high kick!
Moorkopf tries to close the distance and clinch but Yun swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Moorkopf stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yun.
Moorkopf tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yun swivels and escapes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moorkopf.
Yun throws a head kick but Moorkopf moves out of range.

That's two 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.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Moorkopf, right into the meat.
A head kick misses from Moorkopf.
Moorkopf throws a sloppy head kick and Yun moves out of range easily.

Yun throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Moorkopf was covering up waiting for the punch and Yun finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Yun throwing strikes from guard but Moorkopf blocks nicely.
Yun is stalling in the full guard.
Moorkopf preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yun postures up in Moorkopf's guard and throws a big left but Moorkopf blocks it.
Yun trying to control the position from guard on top but Moorkopf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moorkopf preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yun working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Moorkopf throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Moorkopf with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yun counters with a big head kick but Moorkopf shrugs it off.

Moorkopf scores with a takedown into Yun's guard.
Moorkopf looking to sit in guard and control but Yun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Moorkopf controls Yun momentarily but Yun frees himself.
Yun has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yun postures up and lands a big shot to Moorkopf's brow.
Yun scoring with punches to the head and body.
Moorkopf is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Yun wants to get back to full guard.
Yun trying to control here.
Cao Yun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ralf Moorkopf is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yun throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Moorkopf manages to pass to side control.

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 Cao Yun.
Well Moorkopf has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 26:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralf Moorkopf!