PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard Rahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Sarus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarus has chosen T.I. - What Up, What's Happenin as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rahl
vs
Sarus

180 cm
22
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richard Rahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anton Sarus!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Rahl shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rahl was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rahl is working for a guillotine from mount but Sarus frees his head quite easily.

Rahl stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Sarus tries to clinch there but Rahl circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sarus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rahl clinches up against the cage.
Rahl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rahl managing to block the knees to the body from Sarus.
Sarus tries to land knees in the clinch but Rahl avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rahl has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sarus uses from the top position.
Rahl will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rahl will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Rahl working for submissions but it's allowed Sarus to get to half guard.
Rahl is trying to stand up here but Sarus is controlling him well.
Rahl flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sarus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rahl. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rahl tries to kick Sarus off but Sarus keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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.
Sarus tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rahl controls his leg.
Rahl is looking to control Sarus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rahl avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sarus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sarus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rahl counters with a left and a right that stings Sarus.
Anton Sarus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rahl fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sarus, pushing him back against the cage.
Rahl is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sarus keeps control of Rahl as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rahl avoiding damage as Sarus throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl managing to block the knees to the body from Sarus.
Rahl tries to break the clinch but Sarus is controlling the position.
Rahl goes for a takedown attempt but Sarus pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rahl misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sarus scores with a decent looking hook.

Sarus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rahl is breathing heavily.
Rahl wants to control from the top but Sarus keeps moving.
Sarus is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rahl is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sarus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rahl passes into half guard.
Rahl trying to control the action but Sarus is working from the bottom.

Rahl is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Rahl 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.

Rahl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sarus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sarus with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A head kick by Sarus misses

and Rahl decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sarus's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rahl stops Sarus from standing up.
Rahl wants to pass the guard but Sarus is keeping the position.

Rahl stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rahl throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sarus.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl avoids the head kick by Sarus.
Rahl circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rahl makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rahl thuds his right hand into Sarus's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rahl scoring well with a low kick there.
Sarus throws a chopping leg kick but Rahl manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sarus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sarus throws and low kick but Rahl moves out of range easily.
Richard Rahl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sarus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sarus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sarus on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sarus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rahl throws a series of punches but Sarus moves out of range.

Sarus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rahl, pushing him back against the cage.
Rahl has had enough of the clinch but Sarus keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rahl tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sarus unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rahl lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rahl is trying to break free.
Rahl managing to block the knees to the body from Sarus.
Sarus using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sarus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rahl wants to break free but Sarus has control.
Rahl managing to block the knees to the body from Sarus.
Rahl lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Rahl escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sarus tries a head kick but it misses.
Sarus connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rahl takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sarus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sarus throws a quick inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sarus.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sarus as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Sarus.
Sarus wants to clinch

and Rahl counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sarus!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rahl is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Rahl fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sarus throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rahl.

Rahl is rocked!
Rahl circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rahl counters with a stiff right hand.
Sarus throws a head kick that Rahl semi-blocks.
Oh Rahl is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rahl moves into the clinch successfully.
Rahl managing to block the knees to the body from Sarus.
Rahl seems to have got his legs back now.
Rahl on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anton Sarus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sarus closes the distance but Rahl moves to the side

and Rahl counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sarus won't be happy with that.

Rahl decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sarus to his feet.
Sarus wants to clinch but Rahl slips to the side

and Rahl counters by moving into the clinch.

Rahl has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sarus clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rahl throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Rahl sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Sarus taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Richard Rahl!