PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Rakusaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josef Dietrich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakusaba's entrance music is David Bowie - Suffragette City. A fine choice. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Rakusaba
vs
Dietrich

183 cm
26
181 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Rakusaba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josef Dietrich!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dietrich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rakusaba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dietrich pinned against the cage. Dietrich gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Dietrich as Rakusaba shoots in.
Rakusaba takes a swing at Dietrich's ribcage but misses.

Dietrich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rakusaba keeping moving, preventing Dietrich from controlling successfully.
Dietrich postures up in Rakusaba's guard and throws a big left but Rakusaba blocks it.

Dietrich drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dietrich jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dietrich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakusaba looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rakusaba is on top in guard.

Dietrich looking for a guillotine here but Rakusaba defends easily.
Dietrich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dietrich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rakusaba.
Dietrich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dietrich tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rakusaba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dietrich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rakusaba's guard.
Dietrich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dietrich postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rakusaba holds on and takes a little breather.

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.

Dietrich drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dietrich jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rakusaba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dietrich content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rakusaba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rakusaba throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Dietrich throws a big right hand that misses.
Dietrich has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dietrich works over Rakusaba with some ground and pound from guard.
Rakusaba keeping moving, preventing Dietrich from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rakusaba is keeping the position for now.

Dietrich drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rakusaba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dietrich has Rakusaba in his guard.
Dietrich keeping moving, preventing Rakusaba from controlling successfully.
Dietrich looking for a sweep. Not yet Dietrich, not yet.
Rakusaba advances position into side control!
Dietrich is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rakusaba connects with a decent elbow.
Rakusaba scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rakusaba's best efforts.
Rakusaba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rakusaba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rakusaba connects with a nice short shot to Dietrich's temple.
Rakusaba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Dietrich is defending against the submission attempts here by Rakusaba.
Dietrich is looking to improve his position.
Rakusaba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dietrich defending well though.
Dietrich is looking to improve his position.
Dietrich is not content to let Rakusaba control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josef Dietrich will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rakusaba thows a body shot but no joy.
Kazushi Rakusaba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dietrich slaps away a takedown attempt from Rakusaba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dietrich lands a nice shot to the body.
Dietrich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rakusaba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dietrich sprawls well. Dietrich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rakusaba gets slowly back to his feet.
Dietrich shoots in for a takedown but Rakusaba shows good takedown defense.
A jab from Dietrich finds it's way through Rakusaba's defenses.
Rakusaba takes a jab right on the kisser.

Rakusaba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dietrich napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dietrich is trying to improve his position.
Dietrich is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rakusaba working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dietrich is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rakusaba off and has taken his back!
Dietrich is landing with strikes. Rakusaba can't take much more of this.

Dietrich looking for the RNC.
Dietrich lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Rakusaba looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Rakusaba fending off the submission attempt from Dietrich.
Dietrich is punishing Rakusaba with strikes - can he finish him?!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Dietrich cracks Rakusaba with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Rakusaba from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Dietrich is looking for the choke from the back position but Rakusaba is controlling his hands well.
Dietrich lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Rakusaba.
Dietrich gets his hands free as Rakusaba looks to control.

Dietrich has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Dietrich lands strikes to the head.

Dietrich working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich doesn't have the hooks in and Rakusaba manages to turn into his guard.
Dietrich is breathing heavily.
Dietrich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rakusaba keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dietrich's head.

Dietrich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rakusaba defends well.
Rakusaba stands up over Dietrich, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Dietrich looking for subs off his back but Rakusaba has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rakusaba lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rakusaba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dietrich's head.
Dietrich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rakusaba.

Dietrich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rakusaba pulls his head out easily.
Dietrich on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dietrich is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rakusaba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dietrich gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josef Dietrich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rakusaba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dietrich.
Dietrich avoids the body shot from Rakusaba.
Rakusaba misses with a looping right.
Dietrich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rakusaba circles away quickly and effectively.
Good standup being displayed there by Dietrich as he connects with a hook.
Rakusaba misses with a shot to the body
and Dietrich counters with a stiff right hand.
Rakusaba keeps the fight on the outside.
Dietrich slips under a jab from Rakusaba.
Dietrich takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Dietrich misses with an uppercut. Rakusaba saw that one coming.
Rakusaba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dietrich moves in looking to clinch but Rakusaba pushes him off.

Rakusaba gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rakusaba is trying to keep Dietrich in close.
Dietrich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakusaba has Dietrich pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dietrich is working Rakusaba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Rakusaba working for a triangle but Dietrich defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dietrich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dietrich throwing strikes but missing.
Dietrich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rakusaba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.

Rakusaba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dietrich thows a big elbow that misses.
Dietrich pushing down on Rakusaba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rakusaba wants to control but Dietrich is keeping busy.
Dietrich prevents Rakusaba from improving his position.
Dietrich landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dietrich throwing shots but Rakusaba is blocking nicely.
Dietrich is trying to control the action in half guard but Rakusaba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rakusaba is positioning himself well to prevent Dietrich advancing to mount.
Dietrich works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba wants to control but Dietrich is having none of it.
The referee warns Rakusaba that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Josef Dietrich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dietrich is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rakusaba can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rakusaba is trying desperately to improve position.
Dietrich controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Dietrich 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba wants to control but Dietrich is having none of it.
Rakusaba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dietrich connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Dietrich wants to control the pace but Rakusaba is squirming around nicely.
Dietrich sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kazushi Rakusaba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dietrich pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Dietrich punishing his opponent with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josef Dietrich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dietrich 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josef Dietrich!