PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rhababer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darth Penguin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Rhababer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rhababer
vs
Penguin

190 cm
29
166 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

192 cm
32
205 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 9 - 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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darth Penguin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penguin tries to clinch up

and Rhababer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Penguin manages to get to full guard.
Penguin wants to sweep but no luck.
Rhababer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penguin on the ground.
Rhababer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rhababer seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Penguin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penguin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Penguin is trying to control the position but Rhababer postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Penguin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rhababer counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penguin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
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.

Penguin jumps guard and drags Rhababer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Penguin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhababer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Penguin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Penguin moves in looking to clinch but Rhababer pushes him off.

Penguin gets the takedown into side control.
Rhababer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rhababer tries to get out of the position.

Penguin decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rhababer to his feet.
Penguin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penguin tries to clinch but Rhababer is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer slaps away a takedown attempt from Penguin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rhababer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick from Rhababer misses.
Penguin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Penguin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rhababer, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Penguin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penguin won't allow Rhababer to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Penguin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rhababer throws out a loose jab but Penguin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penguin wants to clinch up but Rhababer keeps it at a distance.

Penguin darts in and clinches Rhababer up against the cage.

Penguin pulls guard successfully.
Penguin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Penguin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rhababer's guard.
Penguin trying to control but Rhababer is working from the bottom.

Penguin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rhababer looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rhababer looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rhababer!
Penguin is not content to let Rhababer control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penguin is looking for a sweep.
Penguin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Penguin wants to control but Rhababer is keeping busy.
Penguin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rhababer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penguin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Penguin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rhababer is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penguin working a defensive guard here.
Rhababer's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Penguin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rhababer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Penguin sprawls well. Penguin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rhababer gets slowly back to his feet.
Rhababer looks for a takedown but Penguin sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Rhababer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhababer misses with an uppercut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Penguin.
Penguin throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penguin decides to stand back up.
Penguin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rhababer's waist but Rhababer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Penguin off to one side.
Penguin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Penguin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rhababer was well out of range. Poor timing from Penguin.
Rhababer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Penguin swivels and escapes.

Penguin looking to score a takedown here. Rhababer is defending well but Penguin drives through and ends up in Rhababer's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penguin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rhababer keeping moving, preventing Penguin from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Penguin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Penguin gets a double leg takedown into Rhababer's guard.
Penguin wants to control from the top but Rhababer keeps moving.
Darth Penguin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penguin preventing the sweep.
Rhababer keeping moving, preventing Penguin from controlling successfully.
Penguin pushing down on Rhababer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Penguin is working for a kimura but Rhababer is defending it quite comfortably.
Penguin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhababer wants to get back to full guard.

Penguin is looking for a kimura but Rhababer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penguin to get the leverage.

Penguin postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rhababer to stand up.

Penguin moves into the clinch.

Penguin drags the fight down to the ground.
Penguin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rhababer preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer postures up.
Penguin has control of Rhababer's left arm, preventing Rhababer from doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Penguin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rhababer is aware though and is defending well.
Rhababer trying to control but Penguin is working from the bottom.
Penguin wants to sweep but no luck.
Penguin looking to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Penguin looking for a guillotine here but Rhababer defends easily.
Rhababer stopping the sweep attempt from Penguin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penguin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Penguin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rhababer manages to get himself to full guard.
Penguin's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penguin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rhababer dives on top into guard.
Penguin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel Rhababer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rhababer works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhababer controlling the action here.
Penguin has his hands clasped together around Rhababer's back. He's all about the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darth Penguin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Penguin 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darth Penguin!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Darth Penguin waved his t-shirt featuring L.A. Elite Clothing Co's logo in front of the cameras.