PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jozef Rakic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leben comes to the cage accompanied by Skrillex - Kyoto. 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.

Leben
vs
Rakic

200 cm
41
280 lbs
25 - 18 - 0

200 cm
23
240 lbs
8 - 5 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Leben!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jozef Rakic!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben wants to clinch up but Rakic keeps it at a distance.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rakic - that will leave a mark!
Leben darts in trying to clinch
and Rakic counters with a straight right hand.
Leben slips under a jab.
Rakic throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Donk. Rakic catches Leben right on the button with a cross.
Leben uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rakic.
Rakic swinging wildly here.

Leben gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rakic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Leben's elbow.

Rakic breaks from the clinch.
Leben throws a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leben misses with a hook.
Leben looks to land a right hand but Rakic moved out of range.
Leben fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rakic misses with a kick to the body.

Leben rushes Rakic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leben looks to clinch
and Rakic counters with a left to the body.
Leben on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rakic lands with a right hand.
Leben throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rakic drops Leben with a left and a right! Oh, Leben is hurt - Rakic dives into side control looking to finish!

It looks like Chris Leben has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rakic decides to stand back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leben looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rakic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leben misses with a wild combination.
Leben takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rakic looks to throw the jab but Leben is out of range.
Rakic connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Leben momentarily.
Leben misses with a low kick.
Rakic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rakic misses with a straight right.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rakic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rakic counters with a left to the body.
Leben blocks a head kick by Rakic.
Leben explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Leben - that will leave a mark!
Leben gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Rakic to counter with a crisp jab.
Rakic misses with a kick to the body.
Rakic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rakic scores with a kick to the body.
Leben is breathing heavily.
Rakic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

A big head kick from Rakic and Leben is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Leben is rocked!
Rakic told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Rakic stands up and waves to Leben to follow him.
Oh Leben is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rakic lands with a nice body kick.
Are you kidding me?! Rakic ducked down and unloaded an uppercut from hell that sent Leben clean off his feet! Someone make me a GIF - that's knockout of the night for sure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jozef Rakic! Jozef Rakic retains his heavyweight title!
An out of breath Jozef Rakic thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.