PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Owen William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rakharo Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ko's choice of entrance music: Monster. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

William
vs
Ko

185 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
27
177 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Owen William!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rakharo Ko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and William counters by clinching up.
Ko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ko is stalling here.
Ko landing knees to the head.
Ko slows down the pace here.
William is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ko stalling against the cage.
Ko connects with a knee to the head.
William takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ko stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rakharo Ko.
Ko stuffs the takedown.
Ko tries to clinch up.
Ko moves to clinch but William breaks away
and William counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rakharo Ko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ko closes the distance looking to clinch

and William counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ko is trying to stand up here but William is controlling him well.
William trying to control from half guard but Ko is working away.

Ko kicks William off and gets back to his feet.

Ko has William up against the cage in a clinch.
Ko stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko tries a knee to the head but William blocks it.
Ko stops a takedown attempt from William.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen William. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ko controlling the action here for a moment.
Ko lands a damaging elbow.
Ko is stalling here.
Ko lands an elbow just above William 's eye.
Ko lands a knee to the head.
Ko stalling.
Ko tries to land a knee to the head but William blocks with his arms.
Ko pressing his opponent against the cage.
A knee to the head by Ko.
Ko looks gassed!
Ko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rakharo Ko.

Ko pushes William up against the cage in a clinch.
William goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ko.
William wants a takedown.
Ko stalling against the cage.
William wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
William misses with the head strike.
William manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ko stalling the fight.
Ko misses with a knee strike.
William jumps guard but Ko stands there with William around his waist. William gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
William tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ko controlling the action here for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
William tries a body shot but Ko blocks it.
Ko avoiding damage.
Ko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ko is struggling to control the position.
Ko connects with a knee to the head.
Ko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through William's defenses.
Ko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
William missing with knees to the body.
William being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rakharo Ko.
William has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

William shoots for a takedown but Ko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ko lands a damaging elbow.
Ko lands an elbow that stopped William in his tracks for a moment.
Ko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Ko's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
William takes an elbow to the temple.
Ko is stalling here.
Ko prevents William from breaking the clinch.
William takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning William up against the cage.
William can't break the clinch.
William takes an elbow to the forehead.
William wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ko has him pressed against the cage.
Ko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko lands an elbow inside that William shrugs off.
William takes a knee right on the jaw!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ko.

William breaks from the clinch.

William closes the distance and pushes Ko back into the cage.
William is trying to break the clinch but Ko has him pressed against the cage.
William lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ko is stalling here.
Ko receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Ko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ko - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rakharo Ko.

Ko closes the distance and clinches.
Ko looking to throw knees to the head but William is blocking nicely.
Ko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through William's defenses.
Ko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ko is breathing heavily.
Ko keeps control of William as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko landing knees to the head.
Ko lands an elbow inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ko prevents a body shot from William.
Ko has William pushed against the cage.
William stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ko with a knee to the head.
Ko with a knee to the head.
Ko lands an elbow inside.
Ko scores with a knee to the head.
Ko stalling in the clinch but William improves position.
A bit of stalling here from Ko.
William blocks an elbow strike.
Ko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ko misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
William tries to work over Ko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ko looking to stall.
Ko is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rakharo Ko.
Ko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ko darts in trying to clinch
and William counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

William drives through and clinches with Ko against the cage.
Ko scores with a knee to the head.
Ko misses with a knee strike.
William is trying to push Ko away but Ko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
William lands a knee to the body.
William is looking to break free of the clinch but Ko has double underhooks.
Ko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ko prevents William from breaking the clinch.
Ko slowing the pace effectively.
William tries to pull guard but Ko won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen William. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but William has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
William is trying to push Ko away but Ko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
William missing with knees to the body.
Ko looking to stall.
William jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ko walks away with a smile on his face. William gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
William scores with a body shot.
William tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ko was well out of range. Poor timing from William.
William misses with a wild body shot.
Ko wants to clinch.
Ko stuffs the takedown.
Ko tries to clinch but William is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rakharo Ko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! William's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and William counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ko won't be happy with that.
Ko is not content to let William control the position.

Ko explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Ko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ko wants to clinch
and William counters with a left to the body.
William circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ko doesn't manage to clinch there - William circles away.

Ko clinches up against the cage.
William is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ko taking a breather.
Ko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ko lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko avoiding damage.
Nice elbow from Ko.
Ko pressing his opponent against the cage.
William stalling in the clinch but Ko improves position.
Ko manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ko misses with a knee strike.
Come on Ko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rakharo Ko.
William circles away from the clinch attempt

and William moves into the clinch.
Ko stalling in the clinch.
Ko landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
William drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
William can't break the clinch.
William has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ko just leaning against William, taking a breather.
Ko lands an elbow inside that William shrugs off.
Ko with a knee to the head.
William is trying to force a seperation but Ko has the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ko connects with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Ko.
Nice elbow from Ko.
Ko scores with a knee to the head.
William tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
William letting Ko take a breather here.
William jumps guard but Ko stands there with William around his waist. William gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen William. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
William wants to break free but Ko has control.
Ko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ko lands an elbow that stopped William in his tracks for a moment.
Ko lands an elbow just above William 's eye.
William tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to William's face.
Ko looking to stall.
Ko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but William blocks it with crossed arms.
William fails to pull guard.
William fails to pull guard.
William tries to pull guard but Ko won't allow it.
Ko leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ko is trying to maintain a safe position but William gets an underhook and turns Ko into the cage.

William pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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.

William drives through and clinches with Ko against the cage.
Ko lands an elbow inside.
Ko connects with a knee to the head.
Ko lands a damaging elbow.
Ko scores with a knee to the head.
William is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ko is keeping busy.
William misses with a body punch.
Owen William has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ko is trying to stall.
Ko misses with a knee strike.
A frustrated look appears on William's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
William tries to pull guard but Ko won't allow it.
Ko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters up against the cage, William throws an elbow but misses.
William drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ko pulls his leg out and moves away.
William keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rakharo Ko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ko 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rakharo Ko!