PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chikara Moyoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Strasser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chikara Moyoshi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rashad Strasser's chin.

Moyoshi
vs
Strasser

180 cm
26
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chikara Moyoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rashad Strasser!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strasser waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Moyoshi.
Strasser throws a hook but Moyoshi blocks it.
Moyoshi misses with a series of wild punches.
Moyoshi defending well as Strasser loads up on a big left hand.
Nice takedown defense from Moyoshi. No joy for Strasser on that attempt.
Moyoshi swings for the body but Strasser moves out of range.
Moyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Moyoshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strasser.
Moyoshi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Left hook, right uppercut from Moyoshi.
Strasser pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Moyoshi slips under a jab.
Moyoshi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strasser looks to throw the jab but Moyoshi is out of range.
Strasser throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chikara Moyoshi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moyoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Strasser manages to avoid it.
Moyoshi misses with a wild combination.
Moyoshi moves out of range as Strasser strikes.
Moyoshi swings for the body but Strasser moves out of range.
Moyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Moyoshi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strasser circles away quickly and effectively.
Moyoshi throws the left hand but Strasser avoids the punch easily.
Moyoshi tries to bum rush Strasser with a series of wild strikes but Strasser uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice shot by Strasser.
Nice uppercut lands for Moyoshi. That snapped Strasser's head back.
Strasser just misses with a punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Moyoshi.
Moyoshi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moyoshi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Strasser stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
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!
Moyoshi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Strasser.
Moyoshi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Strasser counters with a nice uppercut.
Strasser throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Strasser has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Strasser there as he acknowledges the shot.
Moyoshi moves out of range of the strikes.
Moyoshi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strasser throws out the jab.
Moyoshi misses with a hook.
Donk. Strasser catches Moyoshi right on the button with a cross.
Strasser shoots in and drives through. Moyoshi sprawls well.
Chikara Moyoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moyoshi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Strasser misses with a straight right.
Strasser might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Moyoshi slips under a jab from Strasser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strasser walks into a straight right hand from Moyoshi.

Strasser shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Strasser was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Strasser working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Moyoshi is trying to escape the mount.
Strasser working the ground and pound effectively.
Moyoshi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Strasser working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strasser with the ground and pound from mount.
Strasser can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Moyoshi is looking to escape.
Strasser punishing his opponent with strikes.
Strasser punishing his opponent with strikes.
Strasser misses with a head shot.
Strasser misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Strasser scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Strasser sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Strasser punching from mount but Moyoshi doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice defenses there by Moyoshi.
Moyoshi stuns Strasser with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Chikara Moyoshi is winning the standup battle so far.
Moyoshi misses the shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Moyoshi misses with a wild combination.
Moyoshi connects with a body shot that sends Strasser's belly button to the back.
Moyoshi swings for the body but Strasser moves out of range.
Strasser pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Moyoshi needs to keep his hands up - Strasser had a free shot at his head there.
Nice shot lands for Strasser.
Moyoshi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Moyoshi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moyoshi throws out a loose jab but Strasser uses good head movement to avoid it.
Moyoshi takes a swing at Strasser's ribcage but misses.
Strasser shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Moyoshi defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moyoshi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strasser circles away quickly and effectively.
Strasser uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moyoshi.
Strasser throws a jab but it's blocked by Moyoshi.
Strasser misses with a straight right.
Strasser uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moyoshi.
Strasser defending well as Moyoshi loads up on a big left hand.
Chikara Moyoshi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strasser avoids the body shot from Moyoshi.
Nice uppercut lands for Moyoshi. That snapped Strasser's head back.
Moyoshi looks to land a left hand but Strasser moved out of range nicely.
Moyoshi is looking to wear down Strasser with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Moyoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Strasser manages to avoid it.
Strasser cracks Moyoshi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Moyoshi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strasser takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Moyoshi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strasser throws a series of punches but Moyoshi moves out of range.
Moyoshi cracks Strasser with an open hand slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strasser misses with a hook.
Moyoshi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Moyoshi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Moyoshi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strasser at a distance.
Moyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strasser moves away.
Strasser throws a big shot that misses.
Moyoshi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Moyoshi throws a body punch but Strasser moves out of range.
Strasser scores with a punch to the head.
Nice defenses there by Moyoshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moyoshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strasser.
Strasser throws a lazy right hand but Moyoshi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Moyoshi misses.
Strasser throws a big shot that misses.
Strasser misses with a double jab.
Strasser ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Moyoshi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Strasser throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Moyoshi throws a right hand that Strasser ducks under and follows up with a left that Strasser also avoids with ease.
Moyoshi misses the shot to the body.
Moyoshi misses the shot to the body.
Strasser swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Moyoshi looks to throw the jab but Strasser is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strasser changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moyoshi tries to avoid it but Strasser manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moyoshi to the ground. Moyoshi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moyoshi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Strasser moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Moyoshi lands with a good body shot.
A shot to the liver by Moyoshi. Beautiful body shot.
Strasser walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Moyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strasser moves away.
Moyoshi lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moyoshi moves out of range as Strasser strikes.
Moyoshi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Moyoshi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Strasser cracks Moyoshi with an open hand slap.
Sloppy strikes from Strasser. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chikara Moyoshi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Moyoshi works over Strasser's head and body with a nice combination.
Moyoshi throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Strasser counter with a right hand.
Strasser uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Moyoshi.
Moyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Moyoshi takes one on the button.
Moyoshi throws a big shot that misses.
Strasser throws a shot from downtown. Moyoshi moves away and avoids it.
Moyoshi moves away from the strike by Strasser.
Moyoshi lands a glancing blow to the side of Strasser's head.
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!

Strasser fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Moyoshi sprawls well initially but Strasser persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Strasser looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Strasser not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Strasser throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strasser thows a huge punch but Moyoshi dodges it nicely.
Moyoshi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strasser on the ground.
Strasser throwing shots but Moyoshi is blocking nicely.
Moyoshi is staying active underneath Strasser, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Strasser sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Moyoshi defending well though.
Strasser missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strasser not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rashad Strasser has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moyoshi is refusing to be controlled, as Strasser sits in half guard.
Strasser not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Strasser lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strasser wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moyoshi keeps working.
Moyoshi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Strasser missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Strasser thows a huge punch but Moyoshi dodges it nicely.
Strasser moves nicely into side control.
Strasser advances nicely into full mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strasser landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strasser with shots to the head and body - Moyoshi looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strasser lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Strasser looking to finish Moyoshi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Moyoshi!
Moyoshi is desperately trying to improve his position but Strasser has a good base and remains in mount.
The referee warns Moyoshi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Strasser lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Strasser working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strasser working Moyoshi over with strikes here.
Strasser punishing his opponent with strikes.
Strasser with good strikes from the mount here!

Moyoshi is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strasser trying to control but Moyoshi is having none of it.
Strasser postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Moyoshi looks a forlorn figure.
Strasser controlling from mount.

Strasser working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Strasser scoring with strikes but Moyoshi is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Strasser comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Strasser 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Strasser!
After winning the bout, Rashad Strasser thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.