PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ubungu Bamboo Face (ranked 1412 p4p, 1995 weight class) and Ricky Rawse (ranked 41 p4p, 64 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Bamboo Face
vs
Rawse

205 cm
33
285
18 - 14 - 0

193 cm
34
269
18 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ubungu Bamboo Face!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Rawse!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Rawse.

It looks like Ubungu Bamboo Face has been cut.
Rawse tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bamboo Face swivels and escapes.
Rawse lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bamboo Face circles away quickly and effectively.
Rawse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bamboo Face circles away.
Rawse lands a lovely overhand right.
Bamboo Face cracks a nice hook into Rawse's ribs.
A slow jab from Bamboo Face misses its intended target.
Rawse pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bamboo Face swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rawse changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Rawse drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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!
Rawse preventing the sweep.
Bamboo Face controlling Rawse's posture.
Rawse won't allow Bamboo Face to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bamboo Face seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rawse wants to pass the guard but Bamboo Face is keeping the position.
Bamboo Face pulls Rawse in close to prevent any damage.
Bamboo Face is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bamboo Face manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rawse manages to get himself to full guard.

Bamboo Face throwing strikes from guard but Rawse blocks nicely.
Rawse seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bamboo Face wanted to stand there but Rawse had control of the position.
Bamboo Face will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bamboo Face throwing strikes from guard but Rawse blocks nicely.
Bamboo Face throws a big elbow that misses.
Bamboo Face throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rawse works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rawse tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bamboo Face trying to control but Rawse is working from the bottom.
Rawse trying to control the position.
Bamboo Face throws a big elbow that misses.
Rawse bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bamboo Face's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawse is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rawse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bamboo Face controls Rawse momentarily but Rawse frees himself.
Bamboo Face is adopting a defensive guard.
Bamboo Face is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rawse is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rawse won't allow Bamboo Face to sweep him here.
Bamboo Face is working hard here to advance position.
Bamboo Face seems keen to control Rawse's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bamboo Face is looking to sweep but instead, Rawse has passed into half guard.
Rawse trying to control from half guard but Bamboo Face is working away.
Rawse is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rawse is taking a breather. Bamboo Face 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bamboo Face is looking for a sweep. Rawse is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bamboo Face is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rawse pulls his head out easily.
Bamboo Face tries to get to full guard but Rawse has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Rawse dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ubungu Bamboo Face's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rawse on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bamboo Face slips a jab from Rawse.
Bamboo Face blocks a jab.
Rawse misses with a double jab.
Bamboo Face uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rawse.
Bamboo Face misses with a hook. Rawse ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Bamboo Face throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bamboo Face blocks a jab.
Rawse shoots in looking for a takedown. Bamboo Face tries to sprawl out of it but Rawse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bamboo Face manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawse shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bamboo Face is looking for a sweep. Rawse is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bamboo Face moves into full guard.
Rawse being controlled here momentarily.
Ricky Rawse has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rawse controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawse throws a strike but Bamboo Face rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rawse bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bamboo Face's guard.

Rawse sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bamboo Face not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rawse passes into half guard.
Bamboo Face keeping control of the position.
Rawse takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bamboo Face is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawse content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bamboo Face gets full guard.
Rawse trying to control but Bamboo Face is working from the bottom.
Bamboo Face tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bamboo Face controls Rawse momentarily but Rawse frees himself.
Bamboo Face keeping moving, preventing Rawse from controlling successfully.
Rawse is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bamboo Face is pulling down on Rawse's head. It's preventing any offense from Rawse, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bamboo Face keeping full guard, as Rawse tries to pass.
Bamboo Face wants to stand up but Rawse is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rawse fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bamboo Face throws a shot from downtown. Rawse moves away and avoids it.
Rawse let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bamboo Face getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rawse clinches with his opponent.
Bamboo Face jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rawse walks away with a smile on his face. Bamboo Face gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bamboo Face swings for the body but Rawse moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ricky Rawse will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ubungu Bamboo Face's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rawse pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rawse misses with a body shot.
Rawse shoots and misses
and Bamboo Face counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rawse thinking.
Bamboo Face closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bamboo Face lands a jab to the nose.
Bamboo Face misses with a takedown attempt
and Rawse counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rawse wants to clinch
and Bamboo Face counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bamboo Face is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bamboo Face displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rawse throws out the jab.
Rawse misses with a hook

and Rawse is countered with a crisp right hand from Bamboo Face that sends him to the canvas! Bamboo Face follows him to the mat into side control.

Rawse is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bamboo Face misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Bamboo Face fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bamboo Face connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rawse some visible discomfort.
Rawse is still in real trouble! Can Bamboo Face finish him?
Bamboo Face trying to control the action but Rawse is working from the bottom.
Rawse seems to have recovered his senses.
Rawse dodges the ground and pound from Bamboo Face.
Rawse wants to control but Bamboo Face postures up.
Rawse is trying to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Bamboo Face crashes against the mat.
Bamboo Face throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bamboo Face in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bamboo Face throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ubungu Bamboo Face has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricky Rawse is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bamboo Face throws an elbow but Rawse slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rawse can't do much from the bottom here.
Bamboo Face in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bamboo Face throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bamboo Face tries to score with some ground and pound. Rawse controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Bamboo Face tries to score with some ground and pound. Rawse controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rawse parries the strikes from Bamboo Face easily there. Bamboo Face is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rawse to escape.
Bamboo Face scoring with punches and elbows.
Bamboo Face throws a strike aimed at the side of Rawse's head but Rawse avoids it well.
Bamboo Face is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rawse can do to turn this around?
Bamboo Face cracks Rawse with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rawse is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Bamboo Face are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bamboo Face trying to control the position but Rawse is working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Bamboo Face.
Bamboo Face misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bamboo Face 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.
Bamboo Face wants to take a breather but Rawse manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Bamboo Face.
Rawse lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bamboo Face pulls Rawse in close to prevent any damage.
Bamboo Face keeping moving, preventing Rawse from controlling successfully.
Bamboo Face is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bamboo Face lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rawse is refusing to be controlled, as Bamboo Face sits in half guard.
Rawse is looking for a sweep. Bamboo Face is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bamboo Face wants to stand up but Rawse manages to regain full guard.
Bamboo Face missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bamboo Face scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bamboo Face throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rawse works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bamboo Face won't allow Rawse to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ubungu Bamboo Face showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rawse 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Rawse!
A very excited looking Ricky Rawse made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.