PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Rourk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sydney Gartner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Rourk has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rourk
vs
Gartner

190 cm
24
176 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

175 cm
22
184 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Rourk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Sydney Gartner!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gartner moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gartner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rourk was well out of range. Poor timing from Gartner.
Gartner dives in and grabs Rourk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rourk pushes down on Gartner's head and hops out.
Rourk scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Gartner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rourk napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rourk sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rourk trying to hold on to Gartner's head to control him but Gartner postures up.
Gartner is looking to take a break and control but Rourk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rourk manages to get to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rourk is on top in guard.
Rourk looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gartner thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gartner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gartner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rourk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gartner's guard.
Rourk trying to mount his opponent but Gartner defends it.
Rourk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Rourk is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gartner defends it well.
Rourk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rourk is working for a kimura but Gartner is defending it quite comfortably.
Gartner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rourk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rourk tries to pass to full mount but Gartner defends it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gartner is looking for a sweep. Rourk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rourk slows the pace down in half guard.
Gartner tries to get to full guard but Rourk has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourk not doing much here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gartner can do anything to dispel that myth.

Rourk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gartner tries to roll over but Rourk keeps him under control.

Rourk seems to be looking for submissions.
Rourk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gartner defending well though.
Rourk is trying to control the action in half guard but Gartner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourk throwing shots but Gartner is blocking nicely.
Rourk seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rourk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rourk wants to control but Gartner is keeping him busy.
Gartner makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gartner.

Rourk drops back looking for a leg! Gartner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gartner manages to kick Rourk off! Rourk jumps back into Gartner's guard.
Rourk slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Rourk tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rourk is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Gartner is trying to escape and Rourk transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Gartner is forced to tap! Nice work there by Rourk! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Rourk!