PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Koreen Poi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Zapelini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Zapelini has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Koreen Poi's chin.

Poi
vs
Zapelini

187 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koreen Poi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Zapelini!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Poi.
Zapelini tries to clinch there but Poi circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Poi misses the target.
Poi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Poi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zapelini tries to avoid it but Poi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zapelini to the ground. Zapelini escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No joy there for Poi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Poi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Poi shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koreen Poi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zapelini doesn't manage to clinch there - Poi circles away.
Zapelini shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Poi as he avoids it easily.
Poi throws a sloppy head kick and Zapelini moves out of range easily.
Zapelini tries to close the distance and clinch but Poi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zapelini tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zapelini pushes Poi up against the cage in a clinch.
Poi tries to score a body lock takedown but Zapelini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Poi tries to stall but Zapelini uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Poi stalling against the cage.
Zapelini with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelini wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zapelini creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Zapelini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zapelini tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zapelini is looking to clinch but Poi is avoiding it.
Zapelini moves in looking to clinch but Poi pushes him off.
Poi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zapelini tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Poi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Poi thinks about countering with a head kick.
Zapelini shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Poi pinned against the cage. Poi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A punch combination from Poi misses.
Zapelini tries to clinch but Poi moves out of range.
Poi tries a head kick but it misses.
Zapelini tries to clinch but Poi moves out of range.
Zapelini tries to clinch there but Poi circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zapelini!

It looks like Koreen Poi has been cut.
Poi throws a head kick but Zapelini moves out of range.
Zapelini fails with an attempt to clinch.

Poi closes the distance and clinches.
Zapelini scores with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zapelini misses with a hook from the clinch.

Poi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Zapelini can't fight it off and eventually Poi manages to take the fight to the floor. Zapelini looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Poi stops Zapelini from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zapelini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zapelini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini wants to stand but Poi is controlling the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Poi manages to pass to side control.
Poi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Poi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Poi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zapelini!
Poi won't let Zapelini get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Poi with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini trying desperately to get to his feet.
Zapelini takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zapelini really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Poi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A nice elbow there by Poi.
You get the feeling that Zapelini really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Poi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Zapelini is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Zapelini looks winded!
Poi landing punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Poi has control of Zapelini's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Zapelini regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Poi unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koreen Poi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Koreen Poi's cut.
That's time! Poi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zapelini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Poi avoids it really well and circles away.
Zapelini is trying hard to land a takedown here. Poi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Poi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zapelini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zapelini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Poi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zapelini was covering up waiting for the punch and Poi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet but Poi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poi landing with the ground and pound.
Poi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelini wants to stand and escape but Poi is having none of it.
Poi wants to control from the top but Zapelini keeps moving.

Zapelini has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Poi has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Zapelini lands an elbow just above Poi 's eye.
Zapelini wants to get back to striking at distance but Poi won't allow it.
A body shot lands from Poi.
Zapelini unloads a knee to the mid-section. Poi lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Poi tries to pull guard but Zapelini holds him up against the cage and eventually Poi drops back down to his feet.
Zapelini misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Poi.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zapelini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Poi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zapelini misses with the head strike.
Zapelini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Poi avoids it.
Poi avoiding damage as Zapelini throws knees to the body.

Zapelini breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zapelini lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Koreen Poi is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Poi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zapelini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Poi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zapelini moves in looking to clinch but Poi pushes him off.
Poi throws a head kick that misses.
Poi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zapelini ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Poi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini shoots in for a double leg but Poi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Koreen Poi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Zapelini.
Zapelini is breathing heavily.
Zapelini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Poi throws a counter high kick but Zapelini was just alert enough to avoid it.

Poi rushes Zapelini and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zapelini lands a hook that snaps the head of Poi backwards.
Zapelini swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Poi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zapelini uses from the top position.
Poi has his hands on Zapelini's head, controlling the position.
Poi is trying to control the position but Zapelini postures up.
Zapelini wants to stand but Poi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Poi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zapelini can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poi is looking to stand up but Zapelini isn't so interested in that idea.
Zapelini wants to stand but Poi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Poi is trying to control the position but Zapelini postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zapelini trying to stand up but can't free himself from Poi's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Poi walks into a straight right hand from Zapelini.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Zapelini will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Koreen Poi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Poi moves into the clinch.
Zapelini misses with a knee to the head.
Zapelini is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Poi is keeping busy.
Zapelini stops a takedown attempt from Poi.
Zapelini tries to pull guard but Poi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zapelini working hard to break the clinch.
Zapelini throws an elbow but it misses.
Zapelini throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pois head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapelini looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zapelini goes for a takedown in the clinch but Poi prevents it.
Poi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rafael Zapelini seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zapelini controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Poi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zapelini wants to stand but Poi is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Poi is on top in guard.

Poi scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zapelini's head.
Zapelini wants to stand but Poi is controlling the position.
Poi with a nice head shot there.
Poi postures up and lands a big shot to Zapelini's brow.
Poi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zapelini is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Poi is controlling him.
Zapelini keeping moving, preventing Poi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zapelini's head.
Poi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zapelini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Poi stops Zapelini from standing up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Poi drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Poi seems to have locked his on tight now - Zapelini screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Poi, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Koreen Poi!