PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tatanka Blackfoot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raymond Rabago has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tatanka Blackfoot's chin.

Blackfoot
vs
Rabago

188 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

No Shit Nutrition
Fit Fuel

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tatanka Blackfoot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raymond Rabago!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackfoot misses with a two punch combination.
Blackfoot throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rabago throws a right hand that Blackfoot ducks under and follows up with a left that Blackfoot also avoids with ease.
Blackfoot swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rabago counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blackfoot tries to close the distance and clinch but Rabago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rabago ducks under a wild hook from Blackfoot.
Blackfoot scores with a one two! Rabago had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Raymond Rabago has been cut.
Blackfoot throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rabago tries to close the distance and clinch but Blackfoot swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rabago tries to clinch there but Blackfoot circles away.
Blackfoot swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rabago counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rabago looks to land a combination. Blackfoot sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Blackfoot closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rabago circles away.
Nice defenses there by Rabago.
Rabago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rabago throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blackfoot's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Rabago. No joy for Blackfoot on that attempt.
Rabago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rabago.
Rabago moves out of range of the leg kick from Blackfoot.
Blackfoot misses with a double jab
and Rabago counters with a two punch combo.
Blackfoot stalks Rabago and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rabago's face. Rabago staggers backwards, shaken.
Blackfoot throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rabago counters with a series of strikes. Blackfoot will be more careful next time no doubt.
Blackfoot throws a sloppy head kick and Rabago moves out of range easily.
Blackfoot is breathing heavily.
Rabago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rabago tries for a takedown but Blackfoot sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rabago fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Blackfoot looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rabago tries to clinch up
and Blackfoot counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackfoot shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rabago as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatanka Blackfoot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rabago fails with the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blackfoot misses with a shot to the body

and Rabago counters with a single leg into guard. Blackfoot didn't expect that.
Rabago wants to stand but Blackfoot is controlling his posture from full guard.

Rabago drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Blackfoot dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rabago has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Blackfoot has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Rabago is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Blackfoot tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Blackfoot sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackfoot makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blackfoot.
Blackfoot will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Rabago drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blackfoot looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blackfoot looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blackfoot!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Blackfoot scoring with punches and elbows.
Blackfoot lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rabago down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rabago is looking for a sweep.
Blackfoot working the body and head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatanka Blackfoot dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raymond Rabago's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rabago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blackfoot swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Blackfoot clinches up with Rabago and pushes him back against the cage.

Blackfoot pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rabago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rabago tries to clinch up.
Rabago scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rabago tries to clinch up.

Rabago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rabago stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tatanka Blackfoot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rabago tries to close the distance and clinch but Blackfoot swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rabago is breathing heavily.
A low kick from Blackfoot is predictable there
and Rabago counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackfoot feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rabago has momentary wrist control but Blackfoot slips an elbow through the middle.

Rabago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackfoot gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blackfoot lands a couple of elbows.
Blackfoot missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blackfoot is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackfoot accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rabago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackfoot makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Blackfoot connects with a couple of short punches.
Blackfoot wants to control from the top but Rabago keeps moving.

Rabago has his foot on Blackfoot's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blackfoot works his way back into a safe position though.
Blackfoot working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Blackfoot prevents Rabago from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackfoot is in close to Rabago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rabago keeping moving, preventing Blackfoot from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rabago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Blackfoot is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rabago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Blackfoot's back instead.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rabago has eaten all the pies!
Blackfoot rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Rabago decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Blackfoot misses with a combination
and Blackfoot takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rabago looks to clinch
and Blackfoot counters with a nice uppercut.
A combination from Blackfoot does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rabago darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Blackfoot avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blackfoot swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rabago makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rabago closes the distance looking to clinch

and Blackfoot counters by moving into the clinch.
Blackfoot stops a takedown attempt from Rabago.
Rabago tries to score a body lock takedown but Blackfoot shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Blackfoot pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blackfoot throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tatanka Blackfoot will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Raymond Rabago's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rabago tries to clinch up but Blackfoot circles away and keeps his distance.
Rabago scores with a body shot.
No joy there for Rabago, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Blackfoot doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Blackfoot is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rabago.
Blackfoot keeps the fight on the outside.
Rabago scores with a hook.
Rabago is looking to clinch but Blackfoot is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackfoot throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rabago decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Blackfoot's guard.

Rabago postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Blackfoot is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rabago, into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Blackfoot decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blackfoot is fending him off so far but Rabago persists. Nope, Blackfoot circles away and we're back to standing.
Blackfoot swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rabago counters by clinching up.

Blackfoot has hold of one of Rabago's legs. Rabago is fighting the takedown attempt but Blackfoot gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Rabago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Raymond Rabago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blackfoot stops Rabago from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago has momentary wrist control but Blackfoot slips an elbow through the middle.
Blackfoot content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rabago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Blackfoot is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rabago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Blackfoot's back instead.
Blackfoot rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Rabago is looking for a kimura here.

Rabago is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackfoot regains full guard. Nicely done.
Blackfoot is looking to stand up but Rabago isn't so interested in that idea.
Rabago passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rabago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blackfoot is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rabago tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Blackfoot manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rabago is staying active underneath Blackfoot, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rabago actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raymond Rabago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blackfoot 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Tatanka Blackfoot!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Tatanka Blackfoot!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Tatanka Blackfoot!

Tatanka Blackfoot wins by unanimous decision!