PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryland Rasmussen (ranked 2266 p4p, 261 weight class) and Koki Haranda (ranked 7483 p4p, 544 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Rasmussen
vs
Haranda

167 cm
21
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryland Rasmussen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koki Haranda!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haranda connects with a right hand. Rasmussen shakes it off.
Haranda throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rasmussen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Haranda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Haranda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jab by Haranda.
Rasmussen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haranda.
Haranda throws out a counter right but Rasmussen avoids it with no problem.
Rasmussen slips under a jab.
Rasmussen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rasmussen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Haranda counters with a nice uppercut.

Haranda gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Haranda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Haranda has momentary wrist control but Rasmussen slips an elbow through the middle.
Haranda is trying to control the position but Rasmussen postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rasmussen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Haranda is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasmussen is looking to work some ground and pound but Haranda has wrist control.
Haranda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rasmussen drops back looking for a leg! Haranda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Haranda manages to kick Rasmussen off! Rasmussen jumps back into Haranda's guard.
Rasmussen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Haranda is adopting a defensive guard.
Rasmussen wants to control from the top but Haranda keeps moving.
Rasmussen being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rasmussen wants to pass the guard but Haranda is keeping the position.
Rasmussen wants to control from the top but Haranda keeps moving.
Rasmussen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rasmussen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Haranda is trying to control Rasmussen's posture but Rasmussen avoids it.
Rasmussen lands an elbow.
Rasmussen throws an elbow but Haranda slips to the side and avoids it well.

Rasmussen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rasmussen lands a few punches from side control.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Rasmussen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haranda struggling a bit here.
Rasmussen lands an elbow.

Rasmussen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rasmussen trying to control the position but Haranda is working away.
Haranda can't do much from the bottom here.
Haranda on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Haranda is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

Rasmussen tries for a kimura but Haranda is defending well.
Haranda is not content to let Rasmussen control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haranda regains half guard.

Rasmussen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Haranda trying to control but Rasmussen postures up.
Haranda has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Haranda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rasmussen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rasmussen's back!
Haranda trying to control.
Rasmussen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Rasmussen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Haranda trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Rasmussen just trying to survive but Haranda is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rasmussen is trying to break free.
Rasmussen trying to control the hands but Haranda won't let him.
Haranda has the hooks in. Rasmussen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haranda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Haranda misses with a straight right.
Rasmussen sizes up Haranda with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Haranda looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haranda bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Haranda misses with a body shot.
Haranda scores with a jab.
Haranda has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Rasmussen shoots in and bounces Haranda off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rasmussen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haranda is keeping the position for now.
Ryland Rasmussen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rasmussen is working hard here to advance position.
Haranda trying to keep a closed guard but Rasmussen is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haranda is pulling down on Rasmussen's head. It's preventing any offense from Rasmussen, at least for the moment.
Haranda is trying to keep Rasmussen in close.
Rasmussen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Haranda pulls Rasmussen in close to prevent any damage.
Rasmussen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rasmussen is fighting to break Haranda's control of his arms but Haranda is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rasmussen postures up in Haranda's guard and throws a big left but Haranda blocks it.
Haranda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rasmussen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rasmussen trying to control the position from guard on top but Haranda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haranda has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rasmussen wants to pass the guard but Haranda is keeping the position.
Haranda has momentary wrist control but Rasmussen slips an elbow through the middle.
Rasmussen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haranda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Haranda is trying to keep Rasmussen in close.
Rasmussen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Haranda can do to turn this around?
Haranda can't keep his opponent in guard - Rasmussen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rasmussen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rasmussen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rasmussen is looking to advance position but Haranda won't allow it.
Rasmussen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Haranda defending well though.
Haranda is refusing to be controlled, as Rasmussen sits in half guard.
Rasmussen throwing shots but Haranda is blocking nicely.
Rasmussen is trying to control the action in half guard but Haranda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haranda trying to control but Rasmussen postures up.

Rasmussen wants to work for an arm triangle but Haranda is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rasmussen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rasmussen is working for a submission of some sort.
Rasmussen thows a huge punch but Haranda dodges it nicely.
Haranda is controlling Rasmussen's trapped leg to prevent Rasmussen from advancing to side control.
Rasmussen is nestled in close to Haranda, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rasmussen wants to pass the guard but Haranda is defending well.
Haranda trying to control but Rasmussen postures up.
Haranda is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryland Rasmussen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Haranda scores with the left hand. Rasmussen knows he should have avoided that one.
Rasmussen misses with a few strikes there.
Haranda is looking to land body kicks.
Rasmussen throws the kick towards the body but Haranda avoids it.
Koki Haranda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haranda misses with a head kick.
Haranda lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Haranda scores with a kick to the body.
Haranda lands a jab.
Haranda connects with a nice looking jab.
Haranda throws a shot from downtown. Rasmussen moves away and avoids it.
Rasmussen throws a series of punches but Haranda moves out of range.
Rasmussen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Haranda.
Haranda with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rasmussen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Haranda throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haranda with a nice cross.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Haranda - that will leave a mark!
Koki Haranda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Haranda misses.
Rasmussen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rasmussen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Haranda.
Koki Haranda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rasmussen fails to land with a series of punches.
Haranda looks for the body kick but Rasmussen saw that one coming.
Rasmussen is looking for a counter combo.
Rasmussen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haranda avoids it really well and circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Rasmussen 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haranda throws a hook to the side of Rasmussen's head but Rasmussen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Haranda is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Haranda keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rasmussen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rasmussen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Koki Haranda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rasmussen fails with a takedown attempt.
Rasmussen moves out of range of the body kick from Haranda.
Rasmussen shoots in for a takedown but Haranda shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryland Rasmussen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasmussen goes for a double leg but Haranda avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Haranda continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haranda is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rasmussen misses with an uppercut.
Rasmussen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Haranda swivels and escapes.
Haranda lands a head shot.

Rasmussen is rocked!
Haranda drops Rasmussen with a naaaaasty hook - Rasmussen is in real trouble here! Haranda dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Koki Haranda!