PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rajesh Koothrappali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azusa Moribe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koothrappali's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Punjab. Moribe has chosen Krayzie Bone - Drama as his entrance music. Rajesh Koothrappali has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Koothrappali
vs
Moribe

177 cm
34
148 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

165 cm
31
143 lbs
17 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Underworld Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rajesh Koothrappali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Azusa Moribe!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moribe throws a series of punches but Koothrappali avoids them all with ease.
Moribe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Moribe keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Moribe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Koothrappali is looking to counter punch.
Koothrappali misses with a leg kick
enabling Moribe to counter with a crisp jab.
Moribe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Moribe takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Moribe drives through and clinches with Koothrappali against the cage.
Koothrappali is looking to control Moribe's arms but Moribe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Koothrappali has his back to the cage.
Moribe swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Koothrappali breaks from the clinch.
Moribe scores with a nice right hand.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Moribe. Koothrappali shrugs it off though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
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!
Koothrappali wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Moribe scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moribe displaying some good clinch control by pressing Koothrappali up against the cage.
Moribe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Moribe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Koothrappali blocks an uppercut.
Moribe swings wildly with an uppercut but Koothrappali uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koothrappali stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
I was talking to Koothrappali's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Koothrappali can't break the clinch.
Moribe throws a head punch that misses.
Moribe scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Koothrappali pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koothrappali thows a leg kick but Moribe checks it
and Moribe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Koothrappali lands with a straight right. Moribe didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Moribe.
Koothrappali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moribe was well out of range. Poor timing from Koothrappali.
Moribe unleashes a big counter combination but Koothrappali bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Moribe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Koothrappali's calf.
Moribe lands a front kick.
Moribe misses with a lunging right hand
and Koothrappali counters with a low kick, right behind Moribe 's knee.
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!
Moribe throws a low kick but Koothrappali moves out of range easily.
Moribe throws an off balance right hand
and Moribe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Moribe throws a hook but Koothrappali avoids it easily.
Moribe ducks right into an uppercut from Koothrappali.
Moribe moves out of range as Koothrappali strikes.
Koothrappali scores with a hook to the body. Moribe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Koothrappali loads up on a big right hand but Moribe slips the punch.
Moribe cracks a nice hook into Koothrappali's ribs.
Koothrappali throws a big shot that misses.
Koothrappali misses with a lunging right hand
and Moribe counters with a straight right hand.
Koothrappali staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koothrappali fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Koothrappali misses the jab.
Moribe tries to counter with a clinch but Koothrappali shakes him off and moves away.
Moribe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Koothrappali blocks a head kick by Moribe.
Moribe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Moribe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Koothrappali's calf.
Koothrappali tests Moribe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Moribe misses with a kick to the body.
Moribe throws a low kick but Koothrappali moves out of range easily.
Koothrappali is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Koothrappali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moribe drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Koothrappali tests Moribe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Moribe checks a low kick from Koothrappali.
Koothrappali is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Koothrappali misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moribe misses with a head kick.
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!
Moribe feints and then cracks Koothrappali's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Koothrappali down.
Moribe lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koothrappali's sensitive parts.
A shot to the body from Koothrappali misses
and Moribe counters with a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Moribe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Moribe has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Koothrappali finds it's way round the side to connect with Moribe's head.
Koothrappali misses with a series of wild punches.
Moribe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Koothrappali misses with a looping right.
Koothrappali takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Moribe works Koothrappali's body with a nice hook.
Koothrappali misses with a wild body shot.
Koothrappali throws an overhand right that lands on Moribe's shoulder, as Moribe tries to avoid the shot.
Koothrappali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moribe looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azusa Moribe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Koothrappali stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Moribe.
Koothrappali misses with a leg kick.
Moribe scoring well with a low kick there.
Moribe lands a nice looking kick to the body. Koothrappali takes a step back to recover.
Koothrappali scores with a hook to the body. Moribe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Koothrappali throws an overhand right that lands on Moribe's shoulder, as Moribe tries to avoid the shot.
Koothrappali throws a body shot but no joy.
Moribe raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Moribe misses with a leg kick.
Moribe missing with a left hand there. Koothrappali was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moribe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koothrappali.
Moribe throws a body punch but Koothrappali moves out of range.
Koothrappali throws a body punch but Moribe moves out of range.
A shot to the liver by Moribe. Beautiful body shot.
Moribe scores with a hook to the body. Koothrappali takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moribe was well out of range. Poor timing from Koothrappali.
A shot to the liver by Moribe. Beautiful body shot.
Moribe with a jab.
Moribe throws a sloppy head kick and Koothrappali moves out of range easily.
Moribe lands a slapping body shot.
Moribe 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.
Koothrappali wants to land a leg kick but Moribe is out of range.
Koothrappali throws an off balance right hand
and Moribe counters with a nice uppercut.
Moribe wants to slow Koothrappali down by chopping away at his legs.
Koothrappali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Moribe manages to avoid it.
Koothrappali will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koothrappali moves out of range as Moribe throws a body kick.
Moribe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Moribe scores with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koothrappali moves out of range as Moribe strikes.
Koothrappali throwing a counter right hand but Moribe manages to avoid it.
Koothrappali throws a big shot that misses.
Koothrappali misses with a leg kick
and Koothrappali takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Koothrappali throws a body shot but no joy.
Moribe blocks a head kick by Koothrappali.
Moribe moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Koothrappali is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Moribe cracks Koothrappali with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Koothrappali throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Koothrappali throws a front kick aimed at Moribe's knee but Moribe avoids it well.
Moribe throws out a loose jab but Koothrappali uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koothrappali walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Moribe checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Koothrappali ducks under a wild hook from Moribe.
Koothrappali throws a front kick aimed at Moribe's knee but Moribe avoids it well.
A good leg kick by Koothrappali.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A big left from Moribe misses.
Moribe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Koothrappali.
Koothrappali misses with a wild body shot.
Moribe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Koothrappali on the side of the head.
Azusa Moribe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Koothrappali steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Moribe.
Moribe throws the left hand but Koothrappali avoids the punch easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Koothrappali misses its target.
Moribe blocks a head kick by Koothrappali.
Moribe stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Koothrappali tries to keep at a distance but Moribe has taken the fight into the clinch.
Moribe lands with a right to the head.
Moribe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Moribe lands a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Moribe prevents Koothrappali from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali is looking to break free of the clinch but Moribe has double underhooks.
Moribe lands a body shot.
Koothrappali wants to break free but Moribe has control.
Koothrappali looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Koothrappali wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Moribe prevents Koothrappali from breaking the clinch.
Koothrappali tries to break the clinch but Moribe is controlling the position.
Koothrappali just leaning against Moribe, taking a breather.
Moribe keeps control of Koothrappali as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Moribe misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Koothrappali fails to land.
Moribe lands with a left to the head.
Koothrappali is trying to stall.

Koothrappali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Moribe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koothrappali.
It looked like Koothrappali wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azusa Moribe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Moribe moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Moribe takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Koothrappali wants to slow Moribe down by chopping away at his legs.
Koothrappali backing away here, and Moribe unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Moribe throws a shot from downtown. Koothrappali moves away and avoids it.
Koothrappali thinks about countering with a head kick.
Koothrappali uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moribe.
A counter left hand to the body from Koothrappali misses its target.
Koothrappali thuds his right hand into Moribe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Moribe checks a leg kick nicely.
Koothrappali lands a jab to the nose.
Koothrappali misses with an uppercut
letting Moribe counter with a right hand.
Moribe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moribe throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Koothrappali 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.
Moribe throws a leg kick which misses Koothrappali's front leg but catches the back leg as Koothrappali tries to avoid it.
Koothrappali works the jab nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koothrappali throws a nice outside leg kick.
Moribe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Moribe.
Moribe scores with a jab to the body.
Moribe tries to clinch up.
Koothrappali looks to score with a jab to the body but Moribe is just out of range.
Moribe thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Koothrappali if he has to take too many more of those.
Moribe tries to land a front kick but Koothrappali steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Moribe throws a jab when Koothrappali was well out of range.
Koothrappali takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Moribe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Koothrappali.
Koothrappali takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Moribe throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Moribe scores with a jab. Koothrappali acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Moribe tries to clinch up.
Rajesh Koothrappali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali misses with a wild body shot.
Koothrappali swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koothrappali connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moribe closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Koothrappali goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Koothrappali takes one to the chin there.
A slow jab from Koothrappali misses its intended target.
Koothrappali connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Koothrappali uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Moribe.
Moribe looks to land a right hand but Koothrappali moved out of range.
Moribe scores with a jab to the head.
Moribe throws the kick towards the body but Koothrappali avoids it.
Koothrappali throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Moribe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Koothrappali at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moribe lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koothrappali's sensitive parts.
Koothrappali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moribe was well out of range. Poor timing from Koothrappali.
Koothrappali throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Moribe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Moribe tries to clinch but Koothrappali moves out of range.
Koothrappali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donk. Koothrappali catches Moribe right on the button with a cross.
Koothrappali looks to throw the jab but Moribe is out of range.
Koothrappali looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Moribe connects with a nice looking jab.
Koothrappali circles away from the clinch attempt
and Koothrappali counters with a nice uppercut.
Koothrappali throws out a leg kick but Moribe moves out of range and Koothrappali only half commits.
Koothrappali swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azusa Moribe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali swats away the attempt to clinch by Moribe.
A slow jab from Moribe misses its intended target.
Koothrappali tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Moribe thows a body kick. Koothrappali tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Moribe has Koothrappali up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Koothrappali is trying to force a seperation but Moribe has the dominant position.
Koothrappali is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Moribe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koothrappali's elbow.
Koothrappali misses with the head strike.
Koothrappali can't find room to land a body shot as Moribe controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Azusa Moribe.
Well Moribe has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azusa Moribe!
Azusa Moribe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.