PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Rawls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Mousasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Rawls
vs
Mousasi

178 cm
23
222 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

190 cm
27
249 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rawls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fedor Mousasi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rawls throws a right hand that Mousasi ducks under and follows up with a left that Mousasi also avoids with ease.
Rawls keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mousasi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mousasi misses with a straight right.
Rawls avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Mousasi.
Mousasi misses with a double jab

and Rawls counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mousasi!
Rawls content just to control the position here.
Mousasi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Mousasi is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Rawls has taken his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What can Mousasi do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Mousasi has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
I would not like to be Mousasi right now.
Mousasi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rawls keeps control of the position easily here as Mousasi tries to buck him off.

That's two 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.
Mousasi is trying to get back to his feet but Rawls has full control of the position and if anything, Mousasi has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Mousasi showing good submission defense here.
Rawls is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Mousasi has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rawls.
Mousasi prevents Rawls from getting a body triangle.
Rawls slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rawls tries to keep control of the position but Mousasi is staying busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Rawls just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rawls shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mousasi as he jumps to the side.
Mousasi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like John Rawls has been cut.
Mousasi swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawls throws a series of punches but Mousasi moves out of range.
Mousasi fails to land with a series of punches.
Rawls is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mousasi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rawls counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rawls passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mousasi is trying to stand up here but Rawls is controlling him well.
Mousasi looks gassed!
Mousasi is staying active underneath Rawls, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rawls stops Mousasi from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rawls dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Rawls'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.

Mousasi misses with a straight left.

Rawls forces Mousasi back against the cage and clinches.
Rawls has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mousasi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rawls has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Mousasi clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rawls has good solid back control here.
Rawls seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mousasi for as long as he can get away with.
Rawls trying to control momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mousasi is trying to stand back up.

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.
Mousasi is breathing heavily.
Rawls really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Mousasi.

Rawls working for a choke but Mousasi is defending well.

Rawls is looking for a rear naked choke here but Mousasi reverses the position brilliantly into Rawls's guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mousasi stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rawls looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mousasi!
Mousasi is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rawls moves to back control.
Rawls controls the position.
Mousasi prevents Rawls from getting a body triangle.
Mousasi is trying to get back to his feet but Rawls has full control of the position and if anything, Mousasi has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mousasi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Mousasi is trying to get back to his feet but Rawls has full control of the position and if anything, Mousasi has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rawls's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mousasi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rawls dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Rawls's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A left and a right from Mousasi both land. Nice combination.
Mousasi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rawls counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mousasi!
Mousasi is squirming around, avoiding Rawls's attempts to control the action.
Rawls tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Mousasi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rawls.
Mousasi wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mousasi is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Rawls has taken his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawls has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Mousasi's body.
Mousasi trying to get back to his feet but Rawls is in full control for now.
Rawls is riding his opponent, not letting Mousasi buck him off.
Rawls tries to keep control of the position but Mousasi is staying busy.
John Rawls overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Rawls just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mousasi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No joy there for Mousasi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two 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.

Rawls shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mousasi is trying to stand back up but Rawls is controlling him
Still in half guard, Rawls seems content to control.
Mousasi is looking to escape.
Rawls performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rawls passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawls has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rawls controlling his opponent.

Rawls stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Mousasi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mousasi falls off balance throwing a combination

so Rawls counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rawls controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rawls trying to control the position from guard on top but Mousasi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawls looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fedor Mousasi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rawls won't allow Mousasi to get back to his feet.
John Rawls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rawls passes Mousasi's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Rawls showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rawls, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Rawls!