PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Drunken Hermit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rabago comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Senses Fail - New Years Eve kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ryan Rabago will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hermit
vs
Rabago

165 cm
26
173 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
170 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Atlantis

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Drunken Hermit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryan Rabago!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hermit shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Hermit escapes and gets back to his feet.
Rabago moves in looking to clinch but Hermit pushes him off.

Hermit takes the fight into the clinch.
Rabago lands an elbow that stopped Hermit in his tracks for a moment.
Hermit has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rabago lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hermit dodges an elbow strike from Rabago.
Rabago lands a nice elbow.
Rabago is leaning against Hermit and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice left hand lands by Rabago.
Hermit has had enough of the clinch but Rabago keeps him there for the moment.
Hermit is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rabago pushes Hermit back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rabago throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hermits head.
Hermit is trying to break the clinch but Rabago has him pressed against the cage.
Rabago makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rabago softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Hermit manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit controls Rabago momentarily but Rabago frees himself.
Hermit is pulling down on Rabago's head. It's preventing any offense from Rabago, at least for the moment.
Hermit wants to sweep here but Rabago controlling him for the moment.
Rabago wants to stand and escape but instead Hermit has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hermit tries to free his leg and advance position but Rabago is retaining full guard.
Hermit won't allow Rabago to get back to his feet.
Hermit throwing strikes from guard but Rabago blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermit with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hermit throws a strike but Rabago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hermit has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rabago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hermit is proving hard to escape from.
Hermit looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hermit might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rabago wants to stand but Hermit has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rabago gets to his feet - Hermit follows without any prompting.
Hermit darts in looking for a takedown but Rabago gets double underhooks and turns Hermit into the cage.

Hermit gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Rabago has one foot on Hermit's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hermit keeps the fight on the outside.
Rabago stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drunken Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hermit feints and as Rabago raises his hands in defense, Hermit changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rabago keeping moving, preventing Hermit from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Hermit is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hermit in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermit looking to pass the guard.

Hermit has gone for a leg lock! Rabago slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hermit's guard.
Rabago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hermit is proving hard to escape from.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Drunken Hermit will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hermit is defended easily by Rabago.
Rabago wants to clinch up but Hermit keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hermit is defended easily by Rabago.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rabago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rabago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rabago moves into the clinch successfully.
Rabago creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hermit's defenses.
Rabago lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hermit is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drunken Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hermit gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Hermit is looking to work some ground and pound but Rabago has wrist control.
Hermit chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Our spies down at at Clean and Green inform us that Rabago has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Hermit loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hermit postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rabago is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hermit, into his guard.
Rabago would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hermit is adopting a defensive guard.
Rabago stopping the sweep attempt from Hermit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago wanted to stand there but Hermit had control of the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hermit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hermit is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hermit throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rabago to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermit controlling from the top position.
Hermit loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hermit wants to control from the top but Rabago keeps moving.
Hermit pushing down on Rabago's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hermit thows a huge punch but Rabago dodges it nicely.
Rabago won't allow Hermit to pass to mount.

Hermit is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hermit not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hermit takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Hermit is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rabago looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hermit not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drunken Hermit dominated that second round.
That's time! Hermit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rabago tries to clinch up

and Hermit counters by moving into the clinch.
Rabago lands a shot to the body.
Rabago comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rabago lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rabago.
Hermit has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rabago avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hermit changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rabago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rabago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rabago doesn't manage to clinch there - Hermit circles away.
Rabago tries to clinch up.
Hermit circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hermit counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rabago's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hermit prevents Rabago from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rabago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hermit stops Rabago from standing up.
Rabago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rabago really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hermit. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rabago wants to stand and escape but Hermit is having none of it.
Drunken Hermit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rabago keeping full guard, as Hermit tries to pass.
Hermit works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rabago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hermit throws a strike but Rabago avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermit wants to control from the top but Rabago keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hermit postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Hermit is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hermit passes Rabago's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rabago taking some punishment here, with Hermit in his half guard.
Hermit looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hermit missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hermit is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hermit looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hermit is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hermit stops Rabago from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hermit.
Drunken Hermit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hermit seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rabago does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rabago keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rabago taking some punishment here, with Hermit in his half guard.

Hermit is trying to work for a kimura but Rabago is defending well.
Rabago keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermit lands strikes from half guard.
Ryan Rabago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hermit is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rabago doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hermit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Drunken Hermit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hermit, 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

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