PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rhababer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janathan Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ho is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: War Music. Janathan Ho is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Rhababer
vs
Ho

190 cm
29
166 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
7 - 8 - 1

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabriel Rhababer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Janathan Ho!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ho throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Rhababer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ho wants to clinch up but Rhababer keeps it at a distance.
Janathan Ho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ho lands a leg kick that knocks Rhababer off balance momentarily.
Ho wants to clinch.
Ho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rhababer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Rhababer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ho is looking to control Rhababer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ho avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhababer is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ho wants to get back to his feet.
Rhababer controlling the pace.

Gabriel Rhababer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rhababer swats away the attempt to clinch by Ho.
Ho throws a sloppy head kick and Rhababer moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho leaves Rhababer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rhababer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ho is looking to clinch but Rhababer is avoiding it.
Ho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rhababer shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rhababer controlling the action here.
Rhababer seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ho for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho wants to control but Rhababer is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhababer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ho doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Rhababer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gabriel Rhababer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janathan Ho.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rhababer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rhababer dominated that round.
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.

Ho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rhababer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ho throws a head kick but Rhababer moves out of range.
Ho fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rhababer swivels and escapes.
Ho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rhababer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rhababer slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhababer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rhababer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ho looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rhababer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ho knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ho tries to kick Rhababer off but Rhababer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Gabriel Rhababer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ho tries for a takedown but Rhababer circles away easily

and Rhababer moves into the clinch.
Gabriel Rhababer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janathan Ho.
Ho is pressed up against the cage. Rhababer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ho down to the mat. Ho avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Janathan Ho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rhababer pinned against the cage. Rhababer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ho rushes Rhababer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Rhababer turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rhababer manages to end up in side control.
Ho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhababer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ho will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ho sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ho tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rhababer has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rhababer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rhababer dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ho displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rhababer.
Ho has a takedown stuffed.
Rhababer swats away the attempt to clinch by Ho.
Rhababer looks to land a left hand but Ho moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho misses with a jab, cross combination.

Ho moves into range and clinches up with Rhababer.
Rhababer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ho's efforts to push away.

Rhababer has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ho clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Ho looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Ho is in bad spot here.
Rhababer biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer is trying to stick to Ho's back but Ho is turning into Rhababer. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rhababer's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ho.
Rhababer tries to strike from the bottom.

Gabriel Rhababer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rhababer circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rhababer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer checks a leg kick.
Ho looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rhababer swings for the body but Ho moves out of range.
Rhababer blocks a head kick by Ho.
Rhababer listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ho tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rhababer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ho tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rhababer avoids it.
Ho throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rhababer blocks it with crossed arms.
Rhababer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ho pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ho stops a takedown attempt from Rhababer.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Rhababer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ho changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rhababer tries to avoid it but Ho manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rhababer to the ground. Rhababer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho leaves Rhababer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ho misses with a takedown

and Rhababer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ho!
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!
Rhababer controlling from side mount.
Rhababer working away.
Gabriel Rhababer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Janathan Ho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rhababer blocks the strikes from Ho.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Rhababer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rhababer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Rhababer!
A determined Gabriel Rhababer didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!