PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rogerio Cabral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koji Murosaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Murosaki's choice of entrance music: Now We Are Free. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cabral
vs
Murosaki

177 cm
28
177 lbs
12 - 11 - 1

185 cm
31
165 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rogerio Cabral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Koji Murosaki!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murosaki moves into range and clinches up with Cabral.
Cabral misses with a punch to the body.
Cabral has a couple of punches blocked by Murosaki.
Murosaki is working for takedown but Cabral is calmly controlling the position for now.

Murosaki pulls guard.
Murosaki controls Cabral momentarily but Cabral frees himself.
Cabral won't allow Murosaki to sweep him here.
Cabral looking to pass the guard.
Murosaki has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murosaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cabral manages to get himself to full guard.

Cabral is pulling down on Murosaki's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murosaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Murosaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Murosaki won't allow Cabral to sweep him here.
Murosaki wanted to stand there but Cabral had control of the position.
Murosaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cabral swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cabral is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murosaki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cabral is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cabral manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Murosaki manages to get himself to full guard.

Cabral preventing the sweep.
Cabral passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Murosaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cabral is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Murosaki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Murosaki dodges the ground and pound from Cabral.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki dodges the ground and pound from Cabral.
Cabral working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Cabral scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Murosaki to see if he's OK.
Cabral lands a nice forearm strike.
Murosaki sneaks back into half guard.
Cabral is keen to just control but Murosaki is a slippery customer.

Murosaki actively working from the bottom here.
Murosaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabral throwing shots but Murosaki is blocking nicely.

Cabral is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Murosaki is not content to let Cabral control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murosaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cabral throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Cabral dominated that round.
That's time! Cabral's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murosaki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cabral defends well and Murosaki ends up having to push Cabral into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cabral throws a body punch but Murosaki moves out of range.
Cabral is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murosaki can do to turn this around?
Cabral looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Murosaki wants to clinch.
Murosaki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Cabral is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Murosaki takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Murosaki moves in looking to clinch but Cabral pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cabral 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.
Murosaki keeping moving, preventing Cabral from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cabral slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral trying to pass the guard but Murosaki defending well.

Cabral is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murosaki is trying to stand.
Cabral trying to control from half guard but Murosaki is working away.
Cabral thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murosaki wants to control but Cabral is keeping busy.

That's two 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.

Cabral is looking for a kimura here.
Murosaki gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murosaki is on top in guard.

Murosaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Cabral is retaining full guard.
Murosaki preventing the sweep.
Cabral working a defensive guard here.
Cabral keeping moving, preventing Murosaki from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki throws an elbow that misses. Cabral uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murosaki's guard. Nice move by Cabral!

Cabral drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cabral jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Murosaki keeping moving, preventing Cabral from controlling successfully.
Cabral slips nicely into half guard.
Cabral stalling.

Cabral is working for an americana but Murosaki has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Cabral was thinking about the submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murosaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cabral can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Murosaki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cabral passes into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cabral is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Cabral dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Murosaki pushes Cabral up against the cage in a clinch.
Murosaki jumps guard but Cabral stands there with Murosaki around his waist. Murosaki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Murosaki blocks an uppercut.
Cabral misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murosaki tries to pull guard but Cabral forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cabral slows down the pace here.
Murosaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murosaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rogerio Cabral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Koji Murosaki.
Murosaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cabral is defending well for now.
Cabral misses with a punch to the body.
Cabral tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murosaki's elbow.
Cabral using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cabral tries a knee to the head but Murosaki blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Cabral.
Cabral throws an elbow that misses.

Murosaki gets control of Cabral's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murosaki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cabral throwing strikes but missing.
Cabral lands a couple of digs.
Murosaki trying to control the position.
Murosaki keeping moving, preventing Cabral from controlling successfully.
Cabral preventing the sweep.
Rogerio Cabral overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cabral works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabral thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murosaki's head.

Cabral seems to be working for a kimura but Murosaki defends the submission attempt.
Cabral frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Murosaki is trying desperately to improve position.
Cabral trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cabral with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki working to try and regain half guard.
Murosaki sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Murosaki is trying to control but can't.
Cabral takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Cabral is trying to work for a kimura but Murosaki is defending well.
Cabral is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cabral looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cabral not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Murosaki gets full guard.
Cabral is in close to Murosaki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cabral trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cabral is working hard here to advance position.
Cabral won't allow Murosaki to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murosaki can't keep his opponent in guard - Cabral advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cabral is looking to take a break and control but Murosaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Cabral clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Murosaki moves into the clinch.
Cabral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murosaki.
Murosaki dodges an elbow strike from Cabral.
Cabral wants to stall.
Cabral wants to stall.
Murosaki controlling the action here for a moment.

Murosaki jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral cracks Murosaki with a solid left hand.

Murosaki is looking for a triangle here but Cabral uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Murosaki tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cabral swings around for an armbar but Murosaki sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cabral's guard.
Cabral tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cabral keeping moving, preventing Murosaki from controlling successfully.
Murosaki stopping the sweep attempt from Cabral.
Cabral is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Murosaki is looking to improve his position.
Cabral trying to control from half guard but Murosaki is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cabral is working away from the top position though.
Cabral is controlling the pace.
Cabral not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murosaki wants to improve his position but Cabral is controlling well.

Cabral seems to be working for a kimura but Murosaki defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murosaki.
Cabral loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cabral throws a big elbow that misses.
Murosaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cabral trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cabral trying to control the position from guard on top but Murosaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cabral throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rogerio Cabral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Both fighters circling a little - Cabral finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Murosaki closes the distance and clinches up with Cabral, looking for a takedown. Murosaki pushes Cabral against the cage but Cabral circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cabral feinted with a counter takedown.
Cabral keeps Murosaki at a distance using the push kick.
A jab from Cabral does it's job there.
Murosaki shoots in for a takedown but Cabral shows good takedown defense.
Cabral throws a head kick that misses.
A nice side step and Murosaki releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cabral slaps away a takedown attempt from Murosaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rogerio Cabral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Koji Murosaki.
Murosaki is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Cabral drives through and clinches with Murosaki against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murosaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A bit of stalling here from Cabral.
Murosaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Cabral had his way with Koji Murosaki in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Murosaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Murosaki checks a leg kick nicely.

Cabral has Murosaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Cabral lands a knee to the body.
Rogerio Cabral has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Murosaki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cabral to keep the fight standing.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Murosaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rogerio Cabral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Koji Murosaki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murosaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cabral is leaning against Murosaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Murosaki is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Murosaki fails to pull guard.
Murosaki tries to pull guard but Cabral forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cabral tries a knee to the head but Murosaki blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cabral has hold of one of Murosaki's legs. Murosaki is fighting the takedown attempt but Cabral gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Cabral landing some decent shots from guard.
Murosaki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Murosaki prevents Cabral from improving his position.
Cabral manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cabral is on top in guard.

Cabral is stalling in the full guard.
Rogerio Cabral is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki controls Cabral momentarily but Cabral frees himself.
Cabral slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Murosaki wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabral is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Murosaki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cabral controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cabral wants to control from the top but Murosaki keeps moving.
Koji Murosaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cabral controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cabral passes into half guard.
Murosaki is staying active underneath Cabral, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cabral is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Murosaki tries to keep at a distance but Cabral has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rogerio Cabral showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cabral has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Rogerio Cabral!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Rogerio Cabral!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Rogerio Cabral!

Rogerio Cabral wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Rogerio Cabral thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.