PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Retsu (ranked 5179 p4p, 248 weight class) and Daeng Rurung (ranked 7012 p4p, 291 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Retsu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rise Up Dead Man. Rurung comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rise kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Daeng Rurung struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Retsu
vs
Rurung

178 cm
23
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
28
145 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryu Retsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daeng Rurung!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rurung dives in and scores a takedown into Retsu's guard.
Rurung trying to control the position from guard on top but Retsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Retsu has control of Rurung's left arm, preventing Rurung from doing any damage.

Rurung drops back, looking for a kneebar! Retsu looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Retsu looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Retsu!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Retsu goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rurung rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Retsu's guard! Nice work there by Rurung!
Rurung trying to control but Retsu is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Retsu working a defensive guard but Rurung passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rurung trying to pass the guard but Retsu defending well.
Rurung prevents Retsu from improving his position.
Rurung sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Retsu defending well though.
Rurung thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Retsu's head.
Rurung wants to stand up but Retsu has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Rurung is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rurung wants to lay and pray for a moment but Retsu keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rurung seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Retsu is not content to let Rurung control the position.
Retsu is looking to control Rurung's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Retsu avoid being mounted?
Rurung prevents Retsu from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rurung.
Rurung wants to stand but Retsu is controlling his arm.
Retsu is looking for a sweep.

Rurung tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rurung tries for a kimura but Retsu is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retsu is looking for a sweep.

Rurung tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Retsu is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rurung tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daeng Rurung dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rurung shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Retsu manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Retsu wants to sweep but no luck.
Rurung is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rurung won't allow Retsu to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rurung wants to pass the guard but Retsu is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rurung has gone for a leg lock! Retsu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rurung's guard.

Retsu throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Retsu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rurung is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Retsu, into his guard.

Rurung wants to pass the guard but Retsu is keeping the position.
Rurung working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rurung wants to control from the top but Retsu keeps moving.
Rurung seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Let's hope that Rurung has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rurung wants to stand but Retsu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Retsu is pulling down on Rurung's head. It's preventing any offense from Rurung, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rurung throws a strike but Retsu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Retsu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rurung looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Retsu wants to control from the top but Rurung keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rurung pulls Retsu in close to his closed guard and prevents Retsu from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Retsu drops back looking for a leg! Rurung is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rurung manages to kick Retsu off! Retsu jumps back into Rurung's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Retsu closes the distance and clinches up with Rurung, looking for a takedown. Retsu pushes Rurung against the cage but Rurung circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Retsu tries to sprawl but Rurung drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Rurung is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Retsu sees it coming and defends easily.
Retsu is doing well to control the position and prevent Rurung from advancing to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rurung missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daeng Rurung showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Retsu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rurung swivels and escapes.
Rurung has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rurung closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Retsu drags the fight down to the ground.
Rurung throwing strikes from guard but Retsu blocks nicely.
Rurung throwing strikes but missing.
Rurung in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rurung with a flurry of punches that miss.
Retsu wants to sweep here but Rurung controlling him for the moment.
Rurung wants to stand but Retsu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rurung working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Retsu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rurung stays in close to Retsu's body and controls the position.
Retsu keeping full guard, as Rurung tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retsu is pulling down on Rurung's head to control his posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rurung accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Retsu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rurung shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rurung showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rurung looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rurung is taking a breather. Retsu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Rurung in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Retsu tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Rurung!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Daeng Rurung!
Daeng Rurung was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.