PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Pae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niten Dōraku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Dōraku's choice of entrance music: Ides Of Light - Jucifer. 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.

Pae
vs
Dōraku

185 cm
27
191 lbs
15 - 6 - 2

190 cm
27
201 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Voodoo Nutrition

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 15 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Pae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Niten Dōraku!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pae goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Dōraku has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Pae defending well as Dōraku loads up on a big left hand.
Pae connects with an inside leg kick.
Pae scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A jab from Pae finds it's way through Dōraku's defenses.
Pae cracks the inside of Dōraku's front leg.
Pae scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Dōraku defending well as Pae loads up on a big left hand.
Dōraku fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dōraku with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Dōraku slips a straight right by Pae.
Dōraku checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dōraku looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pae misses with a wild combination.
A head kick misses from Dōraku.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pae.
Joe Pae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dōraku tries to land a leg kick but Pae saw it coming and moves away.
Pae looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Pae throws a body punch but Dōraku moves out of range.
Pae keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Dōraku gets tackled into the cage by Pae. Pae maintains the clinch.
Pae lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dōraku.
Dōraku is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pae pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dōraku is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pae misses with the head strike.
Pae missing with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pae.
Pae landing knees to the body.
Pae lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Niten Dōraku has been cut.
Pae taking a breather.
Pae lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pae scores with a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dōraku on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dōraku's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dōraku misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Pae.
Dōraku lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pae lands a nice knee to the body.
Pae misses with a knee strike.
Dōraku blocking some punches.
Dōraku jumps guard but Pae stands there with Dōraku around his waist. Dōraku gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Joe Pae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niten Dōraku.
Dōraku tries to pull guard but Pae forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dōraku leaning against his opponent.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dōraku.
Dōraku is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pae to keep the fight standing.
Pae takes a shot to the head.
Dōraku lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pae backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dōraku.
Dōraku avoiding damage.
Pae trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pae is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pae lands an uppercut.
Pae lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dōraku lands with a right to the head.
Pae misses with a punch on the inside.
Pae tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dōraku avoids it.
Dōraku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pae with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pae tries to land knees in the clinch but Dōraku avoids the damage to the body.
Dōraku blocking some punches.
Dōraku is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pae swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pae letting Dōraku take a breather here.
Pae fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Dōraku has hold of one of Pae's legs. Pae is fighting the takedown attempt but Dōraku gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dōraku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dōraku with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pae keeping moving, preventing Dōraku from controlling successfully.
Dōraku prevents Pae from getting back to his feet.
Pae is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dōraku chips away with some ground and pound.
Pae not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pae wants to stand up but Dōraku is controlling him.
Dōraku wants to control from the top but Pae keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dōraku scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Pae dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Niten Dōraku's cut.
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.

Dōraku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pae. Pae circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Dōraku staying out of range there.
Pae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dōraku.
Pae misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dōraku changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pae dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dōraku. That did some damage!
Pae misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pae misses with a shot to the body
and Pae takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dōraku checks a low kick from Pae.
Pae pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dōraku throws the left hand but Pae avoids the punch easily.
Dōraku tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dōraku misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dōraku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pae manages to avoid it.
Pae wants to clinch up but Dōraku keeps it at a distance.
Dōraku feints a counter leg kick.
Pae tries to land a front kick but Dōraku steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dōraku blocks a head kick by Pae.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dōraku scores with the left hand. Pae knows he should have avoided that one.
Pae misses with a low kick.
Dōraku missing with a left hand there. Pae was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dōraku throws a head kick that misses.
Pae lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dōraku at a distance.
Pae throws a chopping leg kick but Dōraku manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dōraku scores with a spinning back kick!
Dōraku throws a push kick but Pae slaps the foot to one side.
Dōraku gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pae.
Dōraku misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joe Pae is winning the standup battle so far.

Pae gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dōraku to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dōraku is pushing down on Pae's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pae is fighting to maintain full guard but Dōraku has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dōraku thows a huge punch but Pae dodges it nicely.
Pae tries to get to full guard but Dōraku has control of the leg.
Dōraku trying to control from half guard but Pae is working away.
Pae avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dōraku.
Pae is trying to stand back up but Dōraku is controlling him
Pae tries to kick Dōraku off in order to stand up. Dōraku Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Pae is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dōraku has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Dōraku trying to control the position but Pae is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dōraku scores with punches from side control.
Dōraku prevents Pae from escaping the position.
Dōraku lands some shots froms side control.
Pae is looking for a sweep.
Pae takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Dōraku cracks Pae with a big right hand but Pae just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Dōraku in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pae tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dōraku wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dōraku lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Pae down.
Dōraku trying to control the action but Pae is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dōraku thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dōraku landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Pae is rocked!
A big shot lands for Dōraku! That's hurt Pae! Will he recover? Dōraku fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Niten Dōraku!
Niten Dōraku tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.