PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drake Retso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Balrog Rhino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhino is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 100 Percent Aggression!. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Retso
vs
Rhino

175 cm
28
270 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

200 cm
22
282 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Vodka Rags

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Drake Retso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Balrog Rhino!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Rhino misses its intended target.
Retso takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rhino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Retso.
Rhino with a nice cross.
A big right from Rhino misses.
Drake Retso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Retso works Rhino's body with a nice hook.
Rhino stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rhino wants it to stay on the feet.
Retso throws the left hand but Rhino avoids the punch easily.
Retso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rhino sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Retso fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rhino just misses with a punch to the body.
Retso tests Rhino's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Retso bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rhino can't do much from the bottom here.
Rhino avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Retso.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rhino can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Retso.
Rhino can't do much from the bottom here.
Retso postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Retso is putting a hurting on Rhino here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rhino avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Retso.
Retso 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.
Retso working the ground and pound but Rhino is defending the strikes.
Retso lands some shots froms side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Retso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retso throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Retso is putting a hurting on Rhino here, landing some big shots from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Retso landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rhino is looking to reverse the position.
Rhino avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Retso.
Retso scores with punches from side control.
Rhino dodges the ground and pound from Retso.
Retso tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Retso lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rhino is trying to improve his position.
Retso is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhino is working to avoid the ground and pound but Retso connects with a decent elbow.
Rhino taking punishment in the form of punches.
Retso misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Retso lands a few punches from side control.
Retso working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Retso wants to control but Rhino is keeping him busy.
Retso creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Retso works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retso working away.
Retso working the ground and pound but Rhino is defending the strikes.
Retso throws an elbow but Rhino slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rhino defending against the ground and pound.
Retso sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rhino is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ground and pound from Retso seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rhino prevents Retso from improving position.
Retso sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rhino is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Retso is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Retso throws an elbow but Rhino slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Retso dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Retso throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Rhino counter with a right hand.
Retso throws a big shot that misses.
Retso swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Retso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Retso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhino tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Retso was well out of range. Poor timing from Rhino.
Rhino lands a nice looking body shot.
Retso throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Retso loads up on a big right hand but Rhino slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Retso fails with a takedown attempt.
Rhino throws out a loose jab but Retso uses good head movement to avoid it.
Retso moves out of range as Rhino strikes.
Retso missing with a left hand there. Rhino was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retso uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rhino.
Retso misses with a wild body shot.
Retso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Retso misses with a wild body shot.
Rhino swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rhino scores with a shot to the body.
Retso pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rhino just misses with a punch to the body.
Retso throws a big shot that misses.
Retso lands a body shot.
Retso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rhino misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rhino takes a swing at Retso's ribcage but misses.
Retso swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rhino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rhino swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Retso takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Retso misses with an uppercut. Rhino saw that one coming.
Retso jabs at Rhino's body.
Rhino slips a straight right by Retso.
Rhino swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Retso is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Rhino's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Retso throws a body punch but Rhino moves out of range.

Retso changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rhino looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rhino avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Retso.
Retso creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rhino sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhino sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Retso throwing shots but Rhino is blocking nicely.
Retso with the ground and pound but Rhino uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Retso trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Retso chips away with some ground and pound.
Retso thows a big elbow that misses.
Retso looking to pass the guard.
Retso is looking to advance position but Rhino has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhino thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Retso regains half guard.
Retso is looking to improve his position.
Retso wants to get back to full guard but Rhino has passed into side control.
Retso bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Drake Retso will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Rhino.
Rhino drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Retso lands a slapping body shot.
Retso swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rhino counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Retso thinking.
Rhino throws a hook but Retso avoids it easily.
Rhino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Retso manages to avoid it.
Rhino is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Retso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Retso fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice jab there from Rhino.
Rhino takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Retso throws a sloppy body shot
and Rhino counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retso throws a hook to the side of Rhino's head but Rhino sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Retso throws a right and a left that both miss.
Retso tries to bum rush Rhino with a series of wild strikes but Rhino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Retso looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rhino scores with a jab to the body.
Retso misses with a few strikes there.
Retso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rhino stuffs the takedown.
Retso closes the distance and clinches up with Rhino, looking for a takedown. Retso pushes Rhino against the cage but Rhino circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Retso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhino ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Retso moves away.
Rhino has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rhino moves out of range of the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rhino. Retso does a little dance to reset his feet.
Retso on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Drake Retso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retso fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balrog Rhino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Retso throws the left hand but Rhino avoids the punch easily.
Retso keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rhino.
Rhino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Retso.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Retso.
Retso ducks under a wild hook from Rhino.
Rhino lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Retso at a distance.
Retso with a poor takedown
and Rhino counters with a left to the body.
Rhino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhino scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheers as Rhino lands an impressive looking overhand right. Retso doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retso swings for the body but Rhino moves out of range.
Retso moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Retso takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A shot to the body from Retso misses
and Rhino counters with a straight right hand.
Jab by Rhino.
Rhino looks to score with a jab to the body but Retso is just out of range.
Rhino scores with the left hand. Retso knows he should have avoided that one.
Rhino takes a swing at Retso's ribcage but misses.
Retso has his takedown stuffed
and Rhino counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Retso thinking.
Retso misses with a takedown attempt - Rhino sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Retso fails with the takedown
and Rhino counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhino lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rhino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhino throws a jab when Retso was well out of range.
Rhino throws a good cross that connects.
Balrog Rhino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Retso swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rhino counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rhino digs a good hook to Retso's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Retso swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rhino counters with a nice body shot.
Retso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rhino scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rhino lands with a good body shot.
Rhino sizes up Retso with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A shot to the body from Rhino misses

and Retso counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balrog Rhino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Retso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drake Retso!