PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mustafiq Rana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vrushak Madhura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rana's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Spaceman. Vrushak Madhura told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rana
vs
Madhura

179 cm
27
179 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

183 cm
28
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mustafiq Rana!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vrushak Madhura!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Madhura fails to land the takedown.
Madhura wants to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rana.
We've been hearing reports that Rana has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rana circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rana counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Madhura is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Madhura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rana pulls his head out easily.
Rana tries to pass to full mount but Madhura defends it.
Rana perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rana seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Madhura for as long as he can get away with.
Rana is thwarting Madhura's attempts to control the position.
Rana tries to pass to full mount but Madhura defends it.

Rana is working for a kimura but Madhura is defending it quite comfortably.
Rana working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Madhura's thigh. Madhura counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Rana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Madhura is looking for a triangle but Rana pushes his legs off easily.

Madhura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Madhura is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rana is aware though and is defending well.
Rana wants to control from the top but Madhura keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rana passes Madhura's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Madhura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rana tries to pass the half guard into mount. Madhura knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Madhura keeps working.

Rana is looking for a kimura here.

Madhura looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rana is looking to stall here but Madhura recovers full guard.
Rana sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Madhura's guard.
Rana uses his free foot to push down on Madhura's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Madhura.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rana tries to control but Madhura wriggling away.
Rana is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Madhura is in real trouble.
Madhura is keeping busy.

Rana is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rana is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Madhura is defending well though. Rana let's go of the attempt for now.
Madhura trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Madhura rolls, trying to escape but Rana keeps control of the position.
Rana tries to get the hooks in deep but Madhura pushed the leg off.
Rana doesn't have the hooks in and Madhura manages to turn into his guard.
Madhura lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Madhura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Madhura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Madhura lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Madhura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Madhura postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafiq Rana dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rana shoots in but Madhura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Madhura let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Madhura dives in and grabs Rana's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rana pushes down on Madhura's head and hops out.
Madhura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Madhura misses with a body shot.
Rana closes this distance looking for a takedown but Madhura circles away.
Madhura ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Rana looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rana wants to pass to mount but Madhura is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Madhura looking for submissions off his back.
Rana passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Madhura!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madhura has given up his back.
Rana tries to keep control of the position but Madhura is staying busy.

Rana is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Madhura is defending well though. Rana let's go of the attempt for now.
Rana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Madhura can do to turn this around?

Rana is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Rana working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Madhura tries to escape the position.
Rana is not going to allow Madhura to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rana has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Madhura has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I really don't envy Madhura right now.

Rana is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Madhura knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Madhura for a finish.
Rana tries to keep control of the position but Madhura is staying busy.
Madhura breaks Rana's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Madhura works over Rana with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rana pulls Madhura in close to prevent any damage.

Rana had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Madhura defends it easily.
Madhura throws a big right hand that misses.
Madhura lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rana has his foot on Madhura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Madhura works his way back into a safe position though.
Rana looking for a sweep. Not yet Rana, not yet.
Madhura lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Madhura trying to control but Rana is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madhura makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rana controlling Madhura's posture.
Rana utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rana trying to keep a closed guard but Madhura is proving a slippery customer.
Madhura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Madhura postures up in Rana's guard and throws a big left but Rana blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Madhura scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Madhura wants to control from the top but Rana keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafiq Rana dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rana shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Madhura sprawls well. Madhura wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rana gets slowly back to his feet.
Madhura moves in looking to clinch but Rana pushes him off.
Rana changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rana closes this distance looking for a takedown but Madhura circles away.
Rana will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mustafiq Rana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rana avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Madhura fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rana sprawls well initially but Madhura persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Madhura throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rana moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Madhura throws a big elbow that misses.
Madhura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Madhura wants to control from the top but Rana keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madhura works over Rana with some ground and pound from guard.
Madhura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rana here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Rana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mustafiq Rana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Madhura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Madhura stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Rana throws up his legs and catches Madhura in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Madhura tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Rana! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Mustafiq Rana!
Mustafiq Rana is the new middleweight champion!
Mustafiq Rana really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Sportsmanship Ltd. logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.