PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Rose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akekae Pokaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akekae Pokaku has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Hunter Rose's chin.

Rose
vs
Pokaku

170 cm
31
181 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

190 cm
28
181 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hunter Rose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akekae Pokaku!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rose misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pokaku.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rose.
Pokaku throws a leg kick
and Rose counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pokaku's knee momentarily.
Pokaku digs a good hook to Rose's body.
Akekae Pokaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pokaku fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rose slips under a jab from Pokaku.

Pokaku throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rose was covering up waiting for the punch and Pokaku finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pokaku would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pokaku is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pokaku is looking to work some ground and pound but Rose has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokaku is looking to work some ground and pound but Rose has wrist control.
Pokaku throws an elbow that misses. Rose uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pokaku's guard. Nice move by Rose!
Pokaku wants to sweep but no luck.
Pokaku is pulling down on Rose's head to control his posture.
Rose trying to control the position from guard on top but Pokaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokaku can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rose controls the pace.
Rose wants to stand and escape but instead Pokaku has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokaku is working Rose over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rose avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pokaku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pokaku preventing the sweep.
Pokaku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rose is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pokaku trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.
Pokaku advances position into side control!
Pokaku with the ground and pound but Rose regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ground and pound from Pokaku.
Pokaku passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokaku is looking to take a break and control but Rose is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rose keeps Pokaku under control for a moment.
Pokaku cracks Rose with a big elbow.
Pokaku working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pokaku cracks Rose with a big elbow.
Pokaku throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Pokaku cracks Rose with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akekae Pokaku dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pokaku connects with a jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pokaku.
Rose on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pokaku creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rose sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ground and pound from Pokaku seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rose parries the strikes from Pokaku easily there. Pokaku is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rose to escape.
Pokaku landing a few strikes.
Pokaku working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rose is not content to let Pokaku control the position.
Rose manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pokaku.
Rose avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pokaku.
Pokaku thows a huge punch but Rose dodges it nicely.
Pokaku missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pokaku scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pokaku stalling away here and it's allowed Rose to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rose keeping moving, preventing Pokaku from controlling successfully.
Pokaku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pokaku lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pokaku throws an elbow that misses. Rose uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pokaku's guard. Nice move by Rose!
Rose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rose trying to control the position from guard on top but Pokaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokaku wants to sweep but no luck.
Pokaku looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rose puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokaku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pokaku trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rose throws a jab but it's blocked by Pokaku.
Rose will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pokaku fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rose avoids it really well and circles away.
Good leg kick by Rose there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pokaku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rose scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rose avoids the head kick by Pokaku.
Rose throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pokaku.
Rose catches Pokaku with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pokaku throws a head kick but Rose moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akekae Pokaku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rose's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pokaku misses with a hook.
Pokaku misses with a body kick.
Rose avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pokaku throws the left hand but Rose avoids the punch easily.
Pokaku throws a sloppy head kick and Rose moves out of range easily.
Pokaku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pokaku cracks Rose with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pokaku needs to keep his hands up - Rose had a free shot at his head there.
Pokaku shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rose but Rose pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rose throws a sloppy head kick and Pokaku moves out of range easily.
A slow jab from Pokaku misses its intended target.
Rose takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jab, jab by Pokaku - just one landing.

Pokaku closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rose to the mat! Rose manages to get full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pokaku throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rose works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pokaku missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pokaku has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose trying to control the position.
Pokaku throws a strike but Rose rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rose in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rose looking to sit in guard and control but Pokaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rose might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pokaku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pokaku.
Pokaku slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rose is trying to control Pokaku's posture but Pokaku avoids it.
Pokaku landing strikes.
Rose regains half guard, as Pokaku was trying to land strikes.
Pokaku throwing shots but Rose is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokaku sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rose defending well though.
Pokaku not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hunter Rose has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pokaku thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rose's head.
Pokaku stalling away here and it's allowed Rose to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Pokaku throwing strikes but missing.
Pokaku lands a couple of digs.
Akekae Pokaku is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rose being controlled here, momentarily.
Akekae Pokaku has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pokaku trying to control the position from guard on top but Rose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokaku scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pokaku trying to control the position from guard on top but Rose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokaku slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akekae Pokaku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pokaku has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akekae Pokaku!
A victorious Akekae Pokaku thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.