PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pratipar Rapcheep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Brian Ko has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Brian Ko seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ko
vs
Rapcheep

175 cm
21
173 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Shinryaku MMA Gear
Mustang Fight Food

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brian Ko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pratipar Rapcheep!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapcheep moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rapcheep looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ko slips a straight right by Rapcheep.
Rapcheep stuffs the takedown attempt from Ko. Ko gets slowly back to his feet.
Rapcheep fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rapcheep will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rapcheep's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapcheep trying to keep a closed guard but Ko is proving a slippery customer.
Ko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rapcheep swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ko works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ko seems to be looking for submissions.
Ko stops Rapcheep from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ko working over Rapcheep with some ground and pound. Rapcheep looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ko tries to pass to full mount but Rapcheep defends it.
Ko trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep wants to improve his position but Ko is controlling well.
Rapcheep is trying to stand up here but Ko is controlling him well.

Rapcheep is defending against the submission attempts here by Ko.
Ko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rapcheep tries to lock up and control but Ko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko controlling the pace for now.
Ko landing shots from mount.
Ko content just to control the position here.

Ko moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rapcheep has worked his arm free - good work by Rapcheep!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ko decides to stand back up. Ko steps back and let's Rapcheep get back to his feet.
Rapcheep connects with a looping right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Rapcheep. No joy for Ko on that attempt.

Ko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rapcheep really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ko is breathing heavily.

Ko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rapcheep is trying to improve his position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rapcheep keeps working.
Ko lands an elbow.
Rapcheep wants to get back to his feet but Ko drags him back down.

Ko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rapcheep, who protects the arm well.
Ko throws a strike aimed at the side of Rapcheep's head but Rapcheep avoids it well.
Ko working away.

Ko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rapcheep has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep is trying to control Ko's posture but Ko avoids it.
Ko wants to control but Rapcheep is keeping him busy.
Rapcheep is pushing Ko's head away, looking to escape. Ko manages to hold on to the position though.
Ko trying to control the position but Rapcheep is working away.

Ko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ko tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep tries to buck Ko off but Ko is having none of it.
Rapcheep being controlled for a moment.
Rapcheep tries to escape but Ko is in control.
Ko takes a little break here. Rapcheep wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Ko decides to stand back up. Ko steps back and let's Rapcheep get back to his feet.

That's eight 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.
Rapcheep moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rapcheep throws a hook to the side of Ko's head but Ko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rapcheep lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Rapcheep. No joy for Ko on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Ko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rapcheep lands with a cross.
Brian Ko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ko fails to land the takedown.
Ko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rapcheep.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Ko scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ko content to control rather than advance.
Ko winds up and cracks Rapcheep with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rapcheep looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rapcheep!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Ko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rapcheep.
Ko moves away from the strike by Rapcheep.

Ko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ko is trying to control the action in half guard but Rapcheep is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rapcheep missing with punches from the bottom.
Ko controlling the pace.
Rapcheep manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ko gets to his feet - Rapcheep follows without any prompting.
Rapcheep is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Rapcheep. No joy for Ko on that attempt.
Ko looks for a takedown but Rapcheep sprawls well.
Ko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Ko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rapcheep fails to land with a series of punches.

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.
Ko shoots in and drives through. Rapcheep sprawls well.
Ko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rapcheep circles away.
Ko shoots in but Rapcheep avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rapcheep scores with a three punch combo!
Rapcheep listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rapcheep fails to land with a series of punches.
Ko shoots in for a takedown but Rapcheep shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rapcheep swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rapcheep.
Rapcheep throws a series of punches but Ko moves out of range.
Rapcheep lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ko's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nice cross by Rapcheep.
Ko needs to keep his hands up - Rapcheep had a free shot at his head there.
Ko fails with a takedown attempt.
Ko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rapcheep counters with a one-two to the body.
Rapcheep scores with a jab to the head.
Rapcheep lands a jab to the head.
Ko misses with a takedown
and Rapcheep makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep fails to land with a series of punches.
Rapcheep connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Some wild striking there from Rapcheep.
Rapcheep will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's six 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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rapcheep.

Ko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rapcheep wants to improve his position but Ko is controlling well.
Ko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Ko is working for a submission of some sort.
Ko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rapcheep's head.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ko is taking a breather. Rapcheep 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.
Ko wants to pass the guard but Rapcheep is defending well.
Rapcheep pushes Ko off looking to stand but Ko dives back in and keeps control.
Ko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ko is looking to take a break and control but Rapcheep is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ko stands up from half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rapcheep's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Rapcheep duly obliges.
Brian Ko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rapcheep.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ko tries for a takedown but Rapcheep circles away easily
and Rapcheep counters with a straight right hand.
Ko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rapcheep counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ko tries to clinch up.
Rapcheep connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ko slips a jab and a cross from Rapcheep.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rapcheep!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pratipar Rapcheep showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rapcheep connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rapcheep counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ko's knee momentarily.
Ko fails to land the takedown.
Rapcheep connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rapcheep buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ko tries to land a front kick but Rapcheep steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko tries for a takedown but Rapcheep circles away easily
and Rapcheep counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Ko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rapcheep misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ko shoots in but Rapcheep avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ko takes one to the side of the head.
Good leg kick by Rapcheep there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rapcheep keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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.
Rapcheep wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ko doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Rapcheep counter with a right hand.
Rapcheep moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ko wants to clinch
and Rapcheep counters with a leg kick.
Ko misses with a takedown
and Rapcheep counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rapcheep as he avoids it easily.
Ko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rapcheep counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rapcheep.
Rapcheep moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

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.
Ko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rapcheep scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rapcheep throws a good cross that connects.
Ko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rapcheep looks to land a combination but Ko avoids it well.
Rapcheep connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep scores with a leg kick.
Rapcheep darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rapcheep thuds his right hand into Ko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ko shoots and misses
enabling Rapcheep to counter with a crisp jab.
Ko has his takedown stuffed
enabling Rapcheep to counter with a crisp jab.
Rapcheep connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rapcheep misses with a series of wild punches.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rapcheep looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rapcheep counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rapcheep connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ko with a poor takedown
and Rapcheep counters with a one-two to the body.
Rapcheep throws out a powerful jab.
Ko avoids a punch combination nicely.

Rapcheep gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ko trying to control but Rapcheep is working from the bottom.
Rapcheep looking for a sweep. Not yet Rapcheep, not yet.
Rapcheep wants to stand but Ko is controlling the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rapcheep keeping moving, preventing Ko from controlling successfully.
Rapcheep tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ko tries to clinch but Rapcheep moves out of range.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ko has his takedown stuffed
and Rapcheep counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ko has a takedown stuffed.
Rapcheep lands a head shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rapcheep chopping away at his opponent's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pratipar Rapcheep comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rapcheep 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Pratipar Rapcheep!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Pratipar Rapcheep!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Pratipar Rapcheep!

Pratipar Rapcheep wins by unanimous decision!