PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erik Hiller (ranked 3475 p4p, 341 weight class) and Reno Rawlings (ranked 1290 p4p, 151 weight class). Hiller comes into the arena with Rush and Run - Shake and Jump blaring out of the sound system. Rawlings has chosen Burned as his entrance music. Erik Hiller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hiller
vs
Rawlings

176 cm
28
169 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

178 cm
27
165 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erik Hiller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reno Rawlings!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiller throws a leg kick

and Rawlings counters with a single leg into guard. Hiller didn't expect that.

Hiller manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rawlings scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hiller doesn't seem bothered though.
Hiller doesn't manage to clinch there - Rawlings circles away.
Rawlings doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hiller misses with a head kick.
Hiller takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A low kick from Hiller is predictable there
and Rawlings counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rawlings looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hiller is fending him off so far but Rawlings persists. Nope, Hiller circles away and we're back to standing.
Rawlings slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A low kick from Hiller is predictable there

so Rawlings counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlings wants to pass the guard but Hiller is keeping the position.
Hiller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rawlings is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hiller tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hiller looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rawlings has picked Hiller up and slammed him! Hiller can't keep hold of the triangle and Rawlings manages to pass to side control!
Hiller manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rawlings working Hiller over with strikes.
Hiller wants to improve his position but Rawlings is controlling well.

Rawlings is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hiller is just riding it out for now. Rawlings eventually gives up the hold.
Hiller gets back to full guard.
Rawlings connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rawlings avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
My spies in White's ELITE Fitness Gym inform me that Rawlings has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rawlings postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hiller keeping moving, preventing Rawlings from controlling successfully.
Rawlings is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rawlings loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rawlings with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rawlings drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rawlings jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hiller working for a triangle but Rawlings defends it easily.
Rawlings looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hiller throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hiller keeping moving, preventing Rawlings from controlling successfully.
Hiller wants to sweep here but Rawlings controlling him for the moment.
Hiller keeping moving, preventing Rawlings from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rawlings's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rawlings lands a couple of elbows.
Rawlings won't allow Hiller to sweep him here.

Rawlings avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rawlings has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hiller can't keep his opponent in guard - Rawlings advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hiller is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rawlings scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rawlings is pressing down on Hiller's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hiller is holding on for now.
Rawlings is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hiller tries to roll over but Rawlings keeps him under control.
Rawlings is pressing down on Hiller's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hiller is holding on for now.
Rawlings seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hiller regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rawlings trying to control but Hiller is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reno Rawlings dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rawlings slips under a jab from Hiller.
It seemed like Rawlings was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hiller tries to clinch but Rawlings is having none of it.
Rawlings scoring well with a low kick there.
Rawlings missing with a left hand there. Hiller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rawlings circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rawlings looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rawlings looks to throw the jab but Hiller is out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hiller checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiller tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rawlings paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hiller tries a head kick but it misses.
Hiller tries to bum rush Rawlings with a series of wild strikes but Rawlings uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiller misses with a jab to the body
and Rawlings counters with a left and a right that stings Hiller.
Hiller throws a shot from downtown. Rawlings moves away and avoids it.
A head kick by Hiller misses
and Rawlings cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hiller on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hiller takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hiller tries to bum rush Rawlings with a series of wild strikes but Rawlings uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hiller scores with a leg kick.
Hiller lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rawlings will feel that in the morning.
Rawlings blocks a head kick by Hiller.
Rawlings throws out a counter right but Hiller avoids it with no problem.

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!
Hiller misses with a low kick.
Hiller misses with an uppercut
and Rawlings counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hiller tries to work over Rawlings's front leg with a kick but Rawlings checks it.
Hiller takes one to the chin there.
Rawlings avoids a kick to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Rawlings misses.
Hiller takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hiller looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rawlings looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hiller.
Rawlings has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rawlings.
Hiller throws a low kick, looking for Rawlings's leg but Rawlings calmly moves out of range.
Rawlings throws out a counter right but Hiller avoids it with no problem.
Rawlings fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rawlings stuns Hiller with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rawlings connects with a crisp jab.
Hiller blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Rawlings throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Rawlings tries to get set, Hiller tries to push him back and clinch up but Rawlings manages to avoid the attempt.
Rawlings fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rawlings checks a leg kick.
Hiller looks to score with a jab to the body but Rawlings is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rawlings! But no joy.
Reno Rawlings seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rawlings moves out of range of the body kick from Hiller.
Hiller is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rawlings goes for a double leg but Hiller avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hiller continues to drive forward.
A swing and a miss from Rawlings.
Hiller throws a quick counter head kick but Rawlings was just out of range.
Hiller slips under a jab from Rawlings.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reno Rawlings 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! This is the final round!

Rawlings moves away from the strike by Hiller.
Hiller displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hiller wants to clinch but Rawlings slips to the side
and Hiller takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick misses from Hiller.
Hiller tries to clinch up.
Rawlings takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiller scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Rawlings drives through with a takedown into Hiller's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Hiller has his feet on Rawlings's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hiller moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlings blocks an elbow strike.
Rawlings is looking to control Hiller's arms but Hiller gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rawlings has his back to the cage.
Hiller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rawlings blocks it with crossed arms.

Hiller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rawlings throws a jab when Hiller was well out of range.

Rawlings gets tackled into the cage by Hiller. Hiller maintains the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hiller.
Hiller prevents the takedown attempt.
Rawlings fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hiller tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rawlings avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hiller fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rawlings scores with a jab. Hiller acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rawlings tries to work over Hiller's front leg with a kick but Hiller checks it.
Erik Hiller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hiller fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hiller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rawlings shoots in looking for a takedown but Hiller manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rawlings's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Erik Hiller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reno Rawlings.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings misses with a looping left.

Hiller rushes Rawlings and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hiller misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hiller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Hiller.
Hiller scores with a shoulder strike.
Hiller trying to land knees to the body.

Hiller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hiller moves in looking to clinch but Rawlings pushes him off.
A little jabbing left from Rawlings on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rawlings wants to slow Hiller down by chopping away at his legs.
Rawlings lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hiller as Rawlings shoots in.
Hiller wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hiller tries to clinch there but Rawlings circles away.
Erik Hiller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rawlings swats away the attempt to clinch by Hiller.
Rawlings appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hiller jabs Rawlings to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Erik Hiller is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hiller tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rawlings swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rawlings with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Hiller showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rawlings has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Reno Rawlings!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Reno Rawlings!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Reno Rawlings!

Reno Rawlings wins by unanimous decision!
Post fight, Reno Rawlings stared into the camera and said '(super serious) I will continue to destroy all those that block my path to eternal glory. (brief pause) David your soul now belongs to Reno Rawlings. (laughs...) Master guide me to my next victim. (then disappears)'.