PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kha Ri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tane Te Rauparaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ri comes to the cage accompanied by . Te Rauparaha has chosen Get Ready - Concord Dawn ft Scribe as his entrance music. 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.

Ri
vs
Te Rauparaha

177 cm
27
194 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hades ®
STEEL PENN'S SKIN SHOP / Money Exchange!

Ka-POW Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kha Ri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tane Te Rauparaha!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ri throws a leg kick

and Te Rauparaha counters with a single leg into guard. Ri didn't expect that.
Te Rauparaha looking to pass the guard.
Te Rauparaha wants to stand and escape but instead Ri has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Te Rauparaha is trying to keep Ri in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha wants to stand up but Ri is controlling him.
Ri seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Te Rauparaha 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ri is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Te Rauparaha dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Te Rauparaha fails with an attempt to clinch.
A lazy body kick from Te Rauparaha
and Ri makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ri thows a leg kick but Te Rauparaha checks it
and Te Rauparaha finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ri lands a nice hook to Te Rauparaha's body. Te Rauparaha takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Te Rauparaha throws a leg kick
and Ri counters with a head kick. That will keep Te Rauparaha thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ri fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Te Rauparaha is out of range.

Te Rauparaha closes the distance and pushes Ri back into the cage.
Te Rauparaha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ri.
A right hand to the body from Ri.
Te Rauparaha lands an elbow inside.
Ri is stalling here.
Ri presses Te Rauparaha against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Te Rauparaha throws an elbow but misses.
Te Rauparaha tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Te Rauparaha tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ri avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tane Te Rauparaha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ri tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Te Rauparaha is able to avoid easily.
Ri moves out of range as Te Rauparaha throws a body kick.
Te Rauparaha looks to throw a body kick
and Ri counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That kick from Ri tenderised Te Rauparaha's leg. Te Rauparaha is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ri misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick from Te Rauparaha lands but Ri takes it in his stride.
Te Rauparaha throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ri. That's going to slow Te Rauparaha down.
A low kick from Ri is predictable there
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ri chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Te Rauparaha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ri is able to avoid easily.
Ri lands a leg kick that knocks Te Rauparaha off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a one-two to the body.
Ri throws a leg kick that is checked
and Te Rauparaha counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Te Rauparaha has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ri.
Te Rauparaha is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ri is looking to slow Te Rauparaha down with leg kicks.
Ri connects with an inside leg kick.
Ri getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Te Rauparaha throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ri misses with a series of wild punches.
Te Rauparaha tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ri throws a low kick but Te Rauparaha avoids it.
Ri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Te Rauparaha is out of range and Ri settles back down.
Ri throws a leg kick but Te Rauparaha sees it coming and checks it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kha Ri dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Te Rauparaha avoids the head kick by Ri.
Te Rauparaha lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Te Rauparaha avoids the body shot from Ri.
Te Rauparaha looks to throw a body kick
and Ri counters with a right hand to the body.
Ri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Te Rauparaha moves away.
Ri throws a low kick but it's checked well by Te Rauparaha.
A low kick from Ri misses
letting Te Rauparaha counter with a right hand.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ri throws a lazy head kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a three punch combo that has Ri backing up. Ri nods at Te Rauparaha to acknowledge the strikes.
Ri checks the leg kick.
Te Rauparaha lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ri will feel that in the morning.
Te Rauparaha keeps Ri at a distance using the push kick.
Te Rauparaha wants to clinch
and Ri counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ri misses with a shot to the body
and Te Rauparaha counters with a low kick, right behind Ri 's knee.
Ri avoids the head kick by Te Rauparaha.
Ri looks to score with a jab to the body but Te Rauparaha is just out of range.
Ri is looking to wear down Te Rauparaha with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Te Rauparaha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ri throws a low kick but Te Rauparaha moves out of range easily.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Te Rauparaha.
Ri throws a front kick aimed at Te Rauparaha's knee but Te Rauparaha avoids it well.
Ri throws out a leg kick but Te Rauparaha moves out of range and Ri only half commits.
A bone on bone clash there as Te Rauparaha blocks the leg kick.
Te Rauparaha uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ri has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Ri is predictable there
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice body kick.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ri throws a leg kick but Te Rauparaha sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ri throws a leg kick but Te Rauparaha moved away.
Kha Ri is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab lands there for Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha misses with a kick to the body
and Ri counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ri finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ri avoids the head kick by Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Te Rauparaha's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ri takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Te Rauparaha really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The crowd cheers as Te Rauparaha lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ri doesn't seem phased though.
Ri misses with a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ri. That's going to slow Te Rauparaha down.
Ri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Te Rauparaha is out of range and Ri settles back down.
Te Rauparaha throws a hook but Ri avoids it easily.
Ri lands a nice leg kick that just misses Te Rauparaha's sensitive parts.
Te Rauparaha lands a right hook to the body.
A low kick from Ri is predictable there
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice body kick.
Ri misses with a low kick as Te Rauparaha jumps back.
Ri takes a kick to the side of the head.
Te Rauparaha scores with a jab. Ri acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ri tries to bum rush Te Rauparaha with a series of wild strikes but Te Rauparaha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Te Rauparaha is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Te Rauparaha cracks the inside of Ri's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ri looks to land a right hand but Te Rauparaha moved out of range.
Ri fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ri. Te Rauparaha does a little dance to reset his feet.
Te Rauparaha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Te Rauparaha thows a body shot but no joy.
Ri throws a leg kick that is checked
and Te Rauparaha counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Te Rauparaha walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ri checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Te Rauparaha scores with a push kick.
Te Rauparaha throws a nice head kick!
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice body shot.
Ri throws a lazy head kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with an inside leg kick.
Ri misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ri wants to land a leg kick but Te Rauparaha is out of range.
Te Rauparaha blocks a low kick nicely.
A head kick by Ri misses
and Te Rauparaha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ri misses with a few strikes there.
Te Rauparaha is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Te Rauparaha tries to land a front kick but Ri steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ri throws a leg kick but Te Rauparaha checks it.
Te Rauparaha tried to score with a low kick but Ri checks it.
Ri throws a leg kick that is checked
and Te Rauparaha makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ri throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Te Rauparaha dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Te Rauparaha throws a leg kick
and Ri counters with a nice leg kick.
Kha Ri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Te Rauparaha throws a lazy head kick
and Ri counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ri misses with a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice body kick.
Te Rauparaha looks to score with a jab to the body but Ri is just out of range.
Te Rauparaha misses with a head kick.
Te Rauparaha wants to clinch up but Ri keeps it at a distance.
Ri walks into a stiff left hand from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha throws a lazy head kick
and Ri counters with a nice low kick that buckles Te Rauparaha's knee momentarily.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice kick to the body.
Te Rauparaha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice uppercut.
Ri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that half lands.
Te Rauparaha throws a right hand that misses
and Ri counters with an inside leg kick.
Te Rauparaha misses with a jab to the body
and Ri counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Te Rauparaha is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A low kick from Ri is predictable there
and Te Rauparaha counters with an inside leg kick.
Te Rauparaha on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ri tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Te Rauparaha is able to avoid easily.
Te Rauparaha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ri throws a leg kick that is checked
and Te Rauparaha counters with an inside leg kick.
Te Rauparaha connects with a solid leg kick.
Te Rauparaha is looking to clinch.
Ri throws a low kick, looking for Te Rauparaha's leg but Te Rauparaha calmly moves out of range.
Te Rauparaha tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ri throws a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Te Rauparaha.
Ri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Te Rauparaha moves away.
Ri misses with a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with a head kick.
Te Rauparaha misses with a low kick as Ri jumps back.
Ri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A low kick from Ri misses
and Te Rauparaha counters with a leg kick.
Te Rauparaha is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ri.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Te Rauparaha.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Te Rauparaha thumps Ri with a low kick.
Ri misses with a leg kick
and Te Rauparaha counters with an outside leg kick.
Tane Te Rauparaha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ri thows a leg kick but Te Rauparaha checks it
and Te Rauparaha counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

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 Kha Ri.
I think Te Rauparaha has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 47:48
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 47:48
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tane Te Rauparaha!
Tane Te Rauparaha is the new middleweight champion!