PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Rabbitte (ranked 6808 p4p, 462 weight class) and Marco Dorival (ranked 7192 p4p, 478 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rabbitte
vs
Dorival

189 cm
23
220 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

211 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Rabbitte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marco Dorival!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabbitte dives in for a single leg takedown but Dorival sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rabbitte throws a head kick that misses.
Rabbitte shoots in but no luck this time.
Dorival is looking for the big counter here.

Dorival gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rabbitte manages to break the clinch.
Rabbitte takes one to the chin there.
Dorival throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dorival swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dorival throws a jab but it's blocked by Rabbitte.
Dorival lands a jab to the nose.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rabbitte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marco Dorival seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dorival tries to clinch but Rabbitte is having none of it.
Dorival scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rabbitte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dorival lands a body shot.
Dorival ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dorival misses the jab.
Rabbitte throws a quick counter kick to the body but Dorival avoids it.
Dorival throws an off balance right hand
and Rabbitte counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dorival throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rabbitte throws a counter high kick but Dorival was just alert enough to avoid it.

Rabbitte takes the fight into the clinch.
Rabbitte content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dorival tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Dorival escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rabbitte goes for a double leg but Dorival avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dorival continues to drive forward.
Dorival has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Rabbitte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dorival pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rabbitte throws a sloppy head kick and Dorival moves out of range easily.
Dorival feints a counter leg kick.
Dorival blocks a head kick by Rabbitte.

Dorival gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dorival misses with a body punch.
Dorival looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Rabbitte breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dorival avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dorival digs a good body shot into Rabbitte's ribs.
Rabbitte misses with a looping left.
Rabbitte lands a high kick!
Dorival jabs Rabbitte right on the nose. Rabbitte blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Paul Rabbitte has been cut.
Rabbitte connects with a high kick.
Dorival tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rabbitte manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rabbitte is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Dorival.
Dorival ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rabbitte moves away.
Dorival misses with a hook. Rabbitte ducked under it nicely.
Dorival throws a hook but Rabbitte avoids it easily.
Dorival throws a hook but Rabbitte avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rabbitte drives through and clinches with Dorival against the cage.
Rabbitte works on Dorival's body with a couple of short punches.

Rabbitte manages to break the clinch.
Dorival fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rabbitte bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rabbitte ducks under a wild hook from Dorival.
Dorival throws a lazy right hand but Rabbitte sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rabbitte showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dorival.
Dorival throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice uppercut there from Dorival.
Dorival misses with a few strikes there.
Marco Dorival is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rabbitte ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dorival tries to clinch up.
A right-left combo lands from Dorival.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dorival with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Dorival misses the shot to the body.
Rabbitte has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dorival finds it's way round the side to connect with Rabbitte's head.
Dorival fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rabbitte manages to avoid it.
Dorival swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rabbitte takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Rabbitte tries to keep at a distance but Dorival has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rabbitte unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rabbitte struggles to land a body shot inside as Dorival controls his hands.
Dorival throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Rabbitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Dorival dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Rabbitte's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dorival fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rabbitte manages to avoid it.
Rabbitte throws a counter high kick but Dorival was just alert enough to avoid it.
Rabbitte pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've been told by Rabbitte's head coaches at JAG Battle Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Dorival throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rabbitte on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dorival looks to score with a jab to the body but Rabbitte is just out of range.
Rabbitte walks into a stiff left hand from Dorival.
Rabbitte is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dorival.
Rabbitte tries to close the distance and clinch but Dorival swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rabbitte misses with a head kick.

Dorival moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rabbitte misses with a punch on the inside.
Rabbitte misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rabbitte is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rabbitte lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dorival or not.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabbitte moves in looking to clinch but Dorival pushes him off.
Dorival with a nice cross.
Dorival fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rabbitte looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rabbitte ducks under a wild hook from Dorival.

Rabbitte pushes Dorival up against the cage in a clinch.
Rabbitte takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rabbitte misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dorival blocks an elbow strike.
Rabbitte tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Rabbitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marco Dorival seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dorival's corner calls for a 1-2. Dorival obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

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

Rabbitte escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rabbitte takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rabbitte takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dorival gets tackled into the cage by Rabbitte. Rabbitte maintains the clinch.
Rabbitte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dorival makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Rabbitte.
Rabbitte struggles to land a body shot inside as Dorival controls his hands.

Rabbitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Dorival catches Rabbitte right on the button with a cross.
Dorival sizes up Rabbitte with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rabbitte slips under a jab.
Rabbitte swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rabbitte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dorival tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rabbitte was well out of range. Poor timing from Dorival.
Dorival lands with a hook. Rabbitte tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Dorival clinches with his opponent.

Rabbitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dorival misses with a hook.
Dorival throws the left hand but Rabbitte avoids the punch easily.
Rabbitte moves away from the strike by Dorival.
Dorival tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dorival swings for the body but Rabbitte moves out of range.
Rabbitte moves away from the strike by Dorival.
Rabbitte avoids the body shot from Dorival.
Rabbitte throws a counter high kick but Dorival was just alert enough to avoid it.
Dorival misses with a two punch combination.
Rabbitte throws a quick counter head kick but Dorival was just out of range.

Dorival clinches up with Rabbitte and pushes him back against the cage.

Dorival's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rabbitte ducks under a wild hook from Dorival.
Dorival misses with a straight left.
Rabbitte throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dorival throws a body punch but Rabbitte moves out of range.
Rabbitte tries to counter by clinching up but Dorival breaks away and moves out of range.
Rabbitte tries to close the distance and clinch but Dorival swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dorival blocks a head kick by Rabbitte.
Dorival is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rabbitte takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dorival has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dorival swings widly with a right hand
and Rabbitte counters with a nice body kick.
Dorival throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rabbitte moves into the clinch.

Rabbitte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rabbitte dodges the punch combination from Dorival.
Rabbitte throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rabbitte wants to clinch up but Dorival keeps it at a distance.
Dorival ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rabbitte moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Dorival showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Rabbitte's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rabbitte uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dorival.
Rabbitte tries to counter with a takedown but Dorival is quick to defend against it.
Dorival swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rabbitte shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dorival sprawls well. Dorival wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rabbitte gets slowly back to his feet.
Dorival jabs at Rabbitte's body.
Rabbitte blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dorival tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rabbitte tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dorival manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rabbitte ducks under a wild hook from Dorival.
Dorival misses with a body shot.
Dorival wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dorival lands with a nice body punch.

Dorival moves into the clinch successfully.
Dorival throws a knee to the head but misses.

Dorival breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rabbitte takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dorival throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rabbitte throws a big shot that misses.
Dorival connects with a body shot.
Dorival is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rabbitte.
Dorival throws a hook but Rabbitte avoids it easily.
Rabbitte was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dorival takes a swing at Rabbitte's ribcage but misses.
Rabbitte seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Dorival tries to close the distance and clinch but Rabbitte swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Dorival, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rabbitte is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabbitte moves in looking to clinch but Dorival pushes him off.
Dorival throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rabbitte.
Dorival fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dorival throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dorival throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rabbitte stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rabbitte throws a lazy head kick
letting Dorival counter with a right hand.
Dorival throws a body shot but no joy.
Rabbitte keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dorival.
Dorival throws an off balance right hand
and Rabbitte counters with a right hand to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dorival. Rabbitte does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dorival throws a good cross that connects.
Dorival looks to land a right hand but Rabbitte moved out of range.
Rabbitte wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Dorival misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dorival cracks Rabbitte with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Dorival is looking to clinch.
Rabbitte uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dorival.
A big left from Dorival misses.
Rabbitte thinks about countering with a head kick.
Dorival throws a jab but it's blocked by Rabbitte.
Rabbitte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dorival just misses with a punch to the body.
Dorival swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rabbitte.
Rabbitte doesn't manage to clinch there - Dorival circles away.
It seemed like Dorival was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rabbitte slips a jab from Dorival.
Paul Rabbitte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Dorival does it's job there.
Dorival lands a glancing blow to the side of Rabbitte's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dorival misses with a looping left.
An attempted straight right counter from Rabbitte misses the target.
Rabbitte looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rabbitte drops his hands momentarily and Dorival takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Dorival misses the target.
Rabbitte thuds a left hand into Dorival's body.

Dorival moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dorival tries to stall but Rabbitte uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rabbitte throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Dorival lands with a right to the head.

Dorival pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dorival cracks Rabbitte with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rabbitte is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Dorival's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Dorival connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Rabbitte pushes Dorival up against the cage in a clinch.
Dorival is trying to push Rabbitte away but Rabbitte has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Paul Rabbitte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marco Dorival is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rabbitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Dorival comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dorival has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Dorival!
Marco Dorival decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.