PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Koji Murosaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dawid Rafal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murosaki comes into the arena with Now We Are Free blaring out of the sound system. On his way into the cage it seems that Koji Murosaki has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Koji Murosaki seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Murosaki
vs
Rafal

185 cm
31
165 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

187 cm
30
177 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Koji Murosaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dawid Rafal!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murosaki just misses with a punch to the body.
Rafal lands with an overhand left.
Rafal throws an overhand right that lands on Murosaki's shoulder, as Murosaki tries to avoid the shot.
Rafal lands with an overhand left.
Rafal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Murosakis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rafal throws a lazy uppercut

and Murosaki counters by moving into the clinch.

Murosaki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rafal controlling the position for now.
Murosaki controlling the action here.
Murosaki has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murosaki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rafal is on top in guard.

Murosaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Murosaki keeping moving, preventing Rafal from controlling successfully.
Murosaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafal sitting in guard here, content to control.
Murosaki has a closed guard, preventing Rafal from standing up.
Rafal controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Murosaki working a defensive guard here.
Rafal won't allow Murosaki to sweep him here.
Rafal 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rafal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murosaki is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murosaki thuds his right hand into Rafal's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rafal connects with a body shot that sends Murosaki's belly button to the back.
Rafal misses with a looping right.
Murosaki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Murosaki moves out of range as Rafal throws a body kick.
Murosaki wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Murosaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Dawid Rafal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murosaki shoots in for a double leg but Rafal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rafal appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Murosaki closes the distance and clinches.
Murosaki tries to pull guard but Rafal holds him up against the cage and eventually Murosaki drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koji Murosaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murosaki lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafal managing to block the knees to the body from Murosaki.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rafal.

Murosaki pulls guard.
Rafal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rafal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rafal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Murosaki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rafal engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Murosaki keeping full guard, as Rafal tries to pass.
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 Koji Murosaki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rafal misses with a wild combination.
Nice jab there from Rafal.
Murosaki ducks under a wild hook from Rafal.
Murosaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rafal throws out the jab.
Rafal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Murosaki.
Murosaki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rafal cracks Murosaki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rafal moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rafal. That's going to slow Murosaki down.
Rafal misses with a double jab.
Rafal misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murosaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rafal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murosaki manages to avoid it.
Murosaki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rafal throws a leg kick that is checked
and Murosaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Rafal fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Murosaki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rafal throws a leg kick that misses.
Murosaki checks a leg kick.
Rafal takes a swing at Murosaki's ribcage but misses.
Murosaki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rafal sprawls and moves away.
Nice defenses there by Murosaki.
Murosaki scores with a leg kick.
Rafal misses the shot to the body.
Murosaki seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
An inside leg kick lands from Rafal.
Rafal stuffs the takedown.
Rafal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rafal throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rafal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafal connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dawid Rafal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Murosaki.
Rafal feints and then cracks Murosaki's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murosaki down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rafal misses with a low kick.
Murosaki avoids the body shot from Rafal.
A little feinted left hand from Murosaki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Murosaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rafal listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Murosaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rafal tries to avoid it but Murosaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rafal to the ground. Rafal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koji Murosaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafal looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rafal connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rafal buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal throws a big shot that misses.
Rafal jabs Murosaki right on the nose. Murosaki blinks but takes it well.
Rafal scores with a kick to the midsection.
Murosaki takes one to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Rafal.
Rafal lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rafal misses with a looping right.
Murosaki was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Murosaki shoots for a takedown but Rafal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murosaki darts in looking for a takedown but Rafal gets double underhooks and turns Murosaki into the cage.
Rafal is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice uppercut there from Rafal.
Rafal misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murosaki checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murosaki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murosaki looking to pass the guard.
Murosaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dawid Rafal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Murosaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murosaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rafal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rafal swings widly with a right hand

and Murosaki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rafal won't be happy with that.
Murosaki in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Murosaki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Murosaki has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafal stuffs the takedown attempt from Murosaki. Murosaki gets slowly back to his feet.
Murosaki fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Murosaki has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koji Murosaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafal looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rafal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murosaki.
Rafal bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rafal digs a good body shot into Murosaki's ribs.
A slow jab from Rafal misses its intended target.

Rafal gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Murosaki postures up in Rafal's guard and throws a big left but Rafal blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafal is adopting a defensive guard.
Rafal keeping moving, preventing Murosaki from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Murosaki trying to control but Rafal is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Murosaki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rafal's half guard.
Rafal is looking to improve his position.
Murosaki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Murosaki escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafal scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Murosaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rafal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murosaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Rafal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Murosaki dives in and grabs Rafal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rafal pushes down on Murosaki's head and hops out.
Rafal follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Rafal throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rafal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murosaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rafal throws a front kick that sends Murosaki stumbling back into the cage.
Rafal throws the left hand but Murosaki avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Dawid Rafal just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Murosaki wants to clinch.
Rafal goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rafal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murosaki.
Murosaki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rafal.
Murosaki fails with a takedown attempt.

Murosaki manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rafal on his heels. He'll look to pass Rafal's guard now, I'm sure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murosaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rafal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal working a defensive guard here.
Murosaki is stalling in the full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rafal holds on and takes a little breather.
Murosaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Murosaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murosaki blocks a jab.
A left lands for Rafal.

Murosaki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rafal's guard.
Murosaki looking to pass the guard.
Murosaki wants to control from the top but Rafal keeps moving.
Murosaki preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Murosaki wants to control from the top but Rafal keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Murosaki looking to sit in guard and control but Rafal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rafal tries to free his leg and advance position but Murosaki is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rafal sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rafal wants to pass the guard but Murosaki is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rafal preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Murosaki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koji Murosaki had his way with Dawid Rafal in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murosaki is defended easily by Rafal.
Rafal throws a body kick that misses

and Murosaki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Murosaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Murosaki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Murosaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murosaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rafal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dawid Rafal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murosaki avoids a kick to the body.
Murosaki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rafal dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Murosaki. That did some damage!
A jab from Rafal finds it's way through Murosaki's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rafal.
Murosaki checks a low kick from Rafal.
Rafal throws a jab but it's blocked by Murosaki.
A clash of legs there as Murosaki blocks the low kick.
Murosaki closes the distance and clinches up with Rafal, looking for a takedown. Murosaki pushes Rafal against the cage but Rafal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koji Murosaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafal lets loose with a powerful body kick. Murosaki will feel that in the morning.
Rafal lands a leg kick that knocks Murosaki off balance momentarily.
Murosaki tries to clinch but Rafal moves away
and Rafal counters with a stiff right hand.
Murosaki wants to clinch up but Rafal keeps it at a distance.
Rafal scores with a leg kick.
Rafal is looking to slow Murosaki down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rafal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rafal throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Murosaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Murosaki tries to counter with a takedown but Rafal is quick to defend against it.
Rafal bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rafal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Well,Murosaki is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Rafal misses with a body shot.
Rafal lands with a hook. Murosaki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Murosaki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Murosaki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rafal bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murosaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murosaki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rafal.
Murosaki attempts a counter takedown but Rafal avoids it well and moves away.
Rafal misses with a lunging right hand
and Rafal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rafal scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rafal throws a leg kick but Murosaki sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Murosaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Rafal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Murosaki closes the distance and clinches.
Murosaki blocking some punches.
Murosaki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rafal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Koji Murosaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Murosaki.
Rafal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murosaki.
Murosaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rafal walks away with a smile on his face. Murosaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Murosaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Rafal getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Murosaki shoots in and gets a takedown into Rafal's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murosaki wants to control from the top but Rafal keeps moving.
Koji Murosaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rafal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Murosaki.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dawid Rafal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rafal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Dawid Rafal!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Dawid Rafal!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Dawid Rafal!

Dawid Rafal wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Dawid Rafal, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.