PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ikki Rokusho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krzysztof Morawski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rokusho
vs
Morawski

175 cm
22
153 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

169 cm
23
148 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Knockout power

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ikki Rokusho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Krzysztof Morawski!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rokusho throws a looping overhand right but Morawski ducks down to avoid it.
Morawski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rokusho throws a lazy head kick

and Morawski counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morawski.
Rokusho has had enough of the clinch but Morawski keeps him there for the moment.
Morawski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morawski lands with a left to the head.
Rokusho blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Morawski struggles to land a body shot inside as Rokusho controls his hands.
Rokusho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morawski throws a head punch that misses.
Morawski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morawski misses with a punch on the inside.
Rokusho has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Morawski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rokusho tries to circle away but Morawski has him pinned against the cage.
Morawski has a couple of punches blocked by Rokusho.
Morawski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rokusho is struggling to control the position.
Morawski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Rokusho.
Rokusho blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Morawski struggles to land a body shot inside as Rokusho controls his hands.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Rokusho.
Rokusho working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Morawski misses with a punch to the body.
Rokusho is looking to break free of the clinch but Morawski has double underhooks.
Rokusho blocks an uppercut.
Rokusho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rokusho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morawski misses with the head strike.
Rokusho can't break the clinch.
Rokusho lands a shot to the body.
Rokusho softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
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!
Rokusho lands with a left to the head.
Morawski has a couple of punches blocked by Rokusho.
Rokusho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rokusho pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morawski tried to score with a low kick but Rokusho checks it.
Rokusho scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho slips a straight right by Morawski.
Rokusho misses with a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morawski. That's going to slow Rokusho down.
A punch lands to the side of Morawski 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rokusho takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rokusho misses with a series of wild punches.
Rokusho walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Morawski checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rokusho misses with a looping right.
Morawski misses with a jab, cross combination.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rokusho crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Morawski - the referee stops the clock and Rokusho gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Morawski. Rokusho manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rokusho checks a low kick from Morawski.
Rokusho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morawski looks to land a combination but Rokusho avoids it well.
Morawski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rokusho lands a head shot.
A head kick by Rokusho misses
and Morawski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Morawski.
Ikki Rokusho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morawski moves in looking to clinch but Rokusho pushes him off.
Morawski slips under a jab from Rokusho.
Rokusho takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rokusho fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Morawski.
Morawski moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick from Morawski misses.
Rokusho keeps the fight on the outside.
Rokusho moves out of range of the leg kick from Morawski.
Morawski moves away from the strike by Rokusho.
Morawski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rokusho.
Rokusho swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice cross by Rokusho.
Morawski defending well as Rokusho loads up on a big left hand.
Rokusho scores with a push kick.
Rokusho jabs Morawski right on the nose. Morawski blinks but takes it well.
Morawski slips a jab from Rokusho.
Ikki Rokusho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morawski slips under a jab from Rokusho.
Morawski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rokusho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morawski jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morawski on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Morawski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rokusho was well out of range. Poor timing from Morawski.
Morawski on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Morawski misses with a left hand
and Rokusho counters with a nice body kick.
Morawski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rokusho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rokusho throws a looping overhand right but Morawski ducks down to avoid it.
Rokusho misses with a straight left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morawski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morawski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rokusho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rokusho darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Morawski ducks under a wild hook from Rokusho.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rokusho buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rokusho throws a leg kick

and Morawski counters by clinching up.
Morawski misses with the head strike.
Rokusho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Morawski backwards.
Morawski scores with a shot to the side of Rokusho's head.

Rokusho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Morawski blocks a head kick by Rokusho.
Morawski takes a swing at Rokusho's ribcage but misses.
Rokusho throws a head kick but Morawski moves out of range.
Rokusho misses the shot to the body.
Rokusho throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Morawski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rokusho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Morawski moves in looking to clinch but Rokusho pushes him off.
Rokusho misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morawski.
Rokusho scores with the left hand. Morawski knows he should have avoided that one.
Good shot there by Rokusho.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morawski fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Morawski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morawski displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rokusho lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Morawski is looking to score with low kicks.
Rokusho thows a body kick. Morawski tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rokusho throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Morawski gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Krzysztof Morawski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morawski uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rokusho.
Rokusho uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Morawski has time to react.
Morawski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rokusho uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Morawski has time to react.

Morawski is rocked!
Rokusho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morawski is still on wobbly legs! Can Rokusho finish him?
Morawski misses with a wild body shot.
Morawski seems to have recovered his senses.
Rokusho paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice shot by Rokusho.
Rokusho lunges at Morawski with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Morawski's hand.
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!
Morawski takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho misses with a looping left.
Morawski throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Morawski checks the leg kick.

Morawski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rokusho struggles to land a body shot inside as Morawski controls his hands.
Rokusho working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Morawski tries to stall but Rokusho uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morawski.
Morawski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Rokusho fails to land.
Rokusho stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rokusho lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Morawski or not.
Rokusho's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rokusho misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rokusho.
Morawski misses with the head strike.
Rokusho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Morawski misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Rokusho.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morawski lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rokusho creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rokusho has a couple of punches blocked by Morawski.
Morawski has a couple of punches blocked by Rokusho.
Rokusho tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morawski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rokusho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ikki Rokusho has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rokusho takes a shot to the head.
Rokusho looking to stall.
Rokusho blocks a body shot from Morawski.
Rokusho blocks an uppercut.
Morawski misses with a body punch.
Morawski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rokusho blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Rokusho fails to land.
Rokusho blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morawski working aggressively here.
Morawski tries a body shot but Rokusho blocks it.
Morawski scores with a shot to the side of Rokusho's head.
A short uppercut from Morawski.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morawski blocks a body shot from Rokusho.
Rokusho looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Rokusho on the inside.

It looks like Krzysztof Morawski has been cut.
Morawski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rokusho blocks an uppercut.
Rokusho misses with a body punch.

Rokusho breaks the clinch.
Rokusho throws a head kick that misses.
Rokusho throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rokusho misses with an uppercut.

Morawski closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rokusho to the mat! Rokusho manages to get full guard.
Rokusho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morawski is one step ahead there.
Rokusho is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morawski is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikki Rokusho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Krzysztof Morawski's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Morawski throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rokusho ducks under a wild hook from Morawski.
Rokusho tries a head kick but it misses.
Morawski moves into range and connects with a jab.
Morawski swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rokusho cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Morawski connects with the punch.
Rokusho throws a shot from downtown. Morawski moves away and avoids it.
Morawski takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rokusho scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rokusho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morawski lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rokusho misses with a few strikes there.
Rokusho just misses with a punch to the body.
Rokusho lands with a nice combination. Morawski backs away looking to recover.
Morawski thows a body shot but no joy.
Rokusho throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokusho misses with an uppercut.
Rokusho dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rokusho misses with a hook to the body
and Morawski counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rokusho's knee momentarily.
Ikki Rokusho is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morawski moves out of range of the body kick.
Morawski tried to score with a low kick but Rokusho checks it.
Morawski throws a right hand that Rokusho ducks under and follows up with a left that Rokusho also avoids with ease.
Morawski lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rokusho will feel that in the morning.

Morawski takes the fight into the clinch.
Rokusho is trying to break free.
Morawski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Rokusho on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morawski.

Morawski gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Morawski lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rokusho wants to control but Morawski is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morawski throwing shots but Rokusho is blocking nicely.

Morawski is looking for a kimura but Rokusho is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Morawski to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morawski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Morawski uses his free foot to push down on Rokusho's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rokusho.

Morawski has hold of Rokusho's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rokusho manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rokusho wants to hold on but Morawski pushes him away.
Morawski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rokusho is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Rokusho tries to hold on but Morawski pushes him away.

Morawski looking to secure an arm triangle but Rokusho defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morawski raining down hammerfists from mount.
Rokusho on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rokusho tries to get out of the position.
Morawski scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rokusho tries to reverse the position but Morawski maintains control.
You get the feeling that Rokusho really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Morawski lands a big shot there that rocks Rokusho but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Morawski working Rokusho over with strikes here.
Rokusho knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Morawski on the ground.
Morawski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Krzysztof Morawski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Morawski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rokusho can't escape the position.
Morawski avoids the attempt from Rokusho to control.
Morawski working Rokusho over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rokusho keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Morawski connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Krzysztof Morawski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rokusho wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morawski wants to finish this one by submission but Rokusho is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Morawski.
Rokusho takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Morawski working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Morawski cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morawski lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Morawski punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rokusho is working to get back to half guard.
Ikki Rokusho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morawski working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krzysztof Morawski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rokusho has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ikki Rokusho!
During a confident post fight interview, Ikki Rokusho thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.