PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Rasputin (ranked 585 p4p, 17 weight class) and Japa Koniu (ranked 1114 p4p, 27 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rasputin
vs
Koniu

180 cm
28
241 lbs
16 - 3 - 0

198 cm
28
235 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

RISE Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Grigori Rasputin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Japa Koniu!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rasputin closes the distance and pushes Koniu back into the cage.
Rasputin digs a right hand into Koniu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Koniu's gas tank.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koniu.
Koniu is trying to break the clinch but Rasputin is controlling him.
Rasputin lands a body shot.
Our sources have told us that Rasputin has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Koniu is trying to break free.
Koniu can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Koniu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Koniu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koniu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Koniu has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rasputin is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Rasputin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koniu.

Rasputin moves into the clinch successfully.
Koniu wants to get back to striking at distance but Rasputin won't allow it.
Rasputin digs a right hand underneath Koniu's ribcage. Koniu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rasputin working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koniu tries to break the clinch but Rasputin is controlling the position.
Koniu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rasputin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rasputin swings wildly with an uppercut but Koniu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koniu is trying to break the clinch but Rasputin has him pressed against the cage.
Rasputin working aggressively here.
Koniu is looking to break free of the clinch but Rasputin has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Rasputin.
Koniu tries to break free but Rasputin pushes him back against the cage.
Rasputin lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like Japa Koniu has been cut.
Koniu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rasputin tries to throw a body punch but Koniu avoids it by throwing Rasputin back against the cage.

Koniu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rasputin clinches.
Rasputin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Koniu's efforts to push away.
Rasputin lands with a light punch inside.

Koniu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koniu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rasputin has time to react.

Rasputin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rasputin struggles to land a body shot inside as Koniu controls his hands.
Rasputin throws a head punch that misses.
Rasputin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rasputin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rasputin misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Koniu breaks from the clinch.

Rasputin has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin lands with a left to the head.
Rasputin has Koniu pressed against the cage, preventing Koniu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rasputin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Koniu misses with a body punch.
Koniu blocking some punches.
Koniu blocks an uppercut.
Rasputin misses with the head strike.
Rasputin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Koniu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koniu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Koniu wants to break the clinch but can't.

Koniu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rasputin misses with a two punch combination.
Koniu let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Koniu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rasputin.

Rasputin forces Koniu back against the cage and clinches.
Rasputin lands an uppercut.
Koniu misses with some punches.
Rasputin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koniu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Koniu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Koniu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Koniu.
No joy there for Koniu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rasputin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Koniu is trying to force a seperation but Rasputin has the dominant position.
Rasputin working aggressively here.
Koniu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rasputin prevents Koniu from breaking the clinch.
Koniu has had enough of the clinch but Rasputin keeps him there for the moment.
Rasputin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Koniu looks winded!
Rasputin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rasputin lands a nice uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Rasputin as the two fighters clinch.
A hook to the body from Rasputin.
Rasputin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rasputin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That has opened up Japa Koniu's cut even more.
Rasputin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rasputin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rasputin drops Koniu onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Koniu is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Koniu is rocked!
Rasputin throws a head punch that misses.
Koniu is still on wobbly legs! Can Rasputin finish him?

Rasputin drops Koniu onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Koniu is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

The cut above Japa Koniu's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Koniu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Rasputin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin mutters something to Koniu before pushing him back against the cage. As Koniu comes back towards him, Rasputin unloads a hook from the very depths of hell that knocks Koniu clean out! Oh. My. God. That is some seriously brutal stuff right there! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:10 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Grigori Rasputin!
A victorious Grigori Rasputin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.