PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sthawy Sthowp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Rakusaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sthowp's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Blind Guardian - Into the Storn. Rakusaba is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: David Bowie - Suffragette City. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kazushi Rakusaba was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Sthowp
vs
Rakusaba

180 cm
24
183 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

183 cm
27
181 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery
Hell's Balls Recovery

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sthawy Sthowp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Rakusaba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sthowp misses with a double jab

and Rakusaba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rakusaba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sthowp working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rakusaba has passed into half guard!
Rakusaba with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sthowp is trying to control but can't.
Rakusaba content to control rather than advance.
Rakusaba is looking to take a break and control but Sthowp is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakusaba is taking a breather. Sthowp says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sthowp is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kazushi Rakusaba.
Rakusaba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sthowp swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rakusaba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sthowp uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sthowp misses the shot to the body.

Rakusaba feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rakusaba tries to free his leg and advance position but Sthowp is retaining full guard.

Rakusaba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sthowp has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rakusaba has managed to get both his arms back between Sthowp's legs - danger averted.
Rakusaba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sthowp is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba wants to control from the top but Sthowp keeps moving.
Sthowp looking for a sweep. Not yet Sthowp, not yet.
Sthowp keeping moving, preventing Rakusaba from controlling successfully.
Rakusaba content to stall in guard here.

That's four 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's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kazushi Rakusaba was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sthowp misses with a left hand

and Rakusaba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rakusaba sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rakusaba trying to control from half guard but Sthowp is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Rakusaba dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sthowp connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rakusaba with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sthowp counters with a one-two to the body.

Rakusaba closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sthowp to the mat! Sthowp manages to get full guard.

Sthowp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rakusaba defends it easily.
Rakusaba wants to control from the top but Sthowp keeps moving.
Rakusaba not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sthowp throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sthowp can't keep his opponent in guard - Rakusaba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sthowp has a hand on Rakusaba's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rakusaba takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

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.
Rakusaba tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sthowp is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp is squirming around, avoiding Rakusaba's attempts to control the action.
Rakusaba is stalling here but it's allowed Sthowp to get half guard.

Sthowp actively working from the bottom here.
Rakusaba keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four 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.
Sthowp is looking to improve his position.
Rakusaba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rakusaba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sthowp does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rakusaba performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kazushi Rakusaba wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sthowp throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rakusaba stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Rakusaba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rakusaba misses with a takedown
and Sthowp counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sthowp throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rakusaba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sthowp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rakusaba is one step ahead there.
Rakusaba stands up over Sthowp, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rakusaba sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sthowp working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rakusaba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sthowp striking from the bottom here.
Rakusaba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sthowp is keeping the position for now.
Rakusaba controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rakusaba slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sthawy Sthowp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sthowp misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Sthowp being controlled for a moment.
Sthowp throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba controlling the position.
Rakusaba trying to control the action but Sthowp is working from the bottom.
Sthowp tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four 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.
Rakusaba takes a little break here. Sthowp wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Rakusaba trying to control the action but Sthowp is working from the bottom.
Kazushi Rakusaba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Rakusaba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rakusaba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazushi Rakusaba!