PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Damato (ranked 2117 p4p, 3814 weight class) and Karsten Koererlaerer (ranked 226 p4p, 355 weight class). Damato comes to the cage accompanied by Thunderstruck. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Damato
vs
Koererlaerer

170 cm
25
150
10 - 14 - 0

180 cm
24
155
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocco Damato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karsten Koererlaerer!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damato throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Damato tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Koererlaerer is able to avoid easily.
Damato goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Koererlaerer dodges the punch combination from Damato.
Damato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Koererlaerer.
Damato throws a series of punches but Koererlaerer avoids them all with ease.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Damato throws a right and a left that Koererlaerer avoids nicely.

Koererlaerer gets tackled into the cage by Damato. Damato maintains the clinch.
Koererlaerer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Damato is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Still in the clinch, Damato scores with a nice short uppercut.
Koererlaerer wants a takedown but no success here.
Rocco Damato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karsten Koererlaerer.

Damato ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Damato no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Damato seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koererlaerer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Koererlaerer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Damato swivels though and keeps the full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Koererlaerer working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Koererlaerer trying to control but Damato is working from the bottom.
Damato wants to sweep here but Koererlaerer controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koererlaerer is pushing down on Damato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Damato is fighting to maintain full guard but Koererlaerer has managed to sneak the leg through.

Koererlaerer 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.
Koererlaerer stops Damato from getting back to his feet.
Damato keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Damato pushes Koererlaerer off looking to stand but Koererlaerer dives back in and keeps control.
Koererlaerer is nestled in close to Damato, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Koererlaerer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koererlaerer seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Koererlaerer there.
Koererlaerer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Koererlaerer is just content to waste time from the top position. Damato takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Koererlaerer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Damato's head.
Damato trying to keep a closed guard but Koererlaerer is proving a slippery customer.

Damato throws his legs up looking for a submission but Koererlaerer uses it to pass to side control.
Koererlaerer takes a little break here. Damato wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Damato takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Koererlaerer working the ground and pound.
Koererlaerer blocks the strikes from Damato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koererlaerer working the ground and pound.
Damato is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Koererlaerer off and has taken his back!
Damato doesn't have the hooks in and Koererlaerer manages to turn into his guard.
Koererlaerer postures up and lands a big shot to Damato's brow.
Koererlaerer wants to control from the top but Damato keeps moving.
Koererlaerer connects with a couple of short punches.
Koererlaerer passes Damato's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Damato actively working from the bottom here.
Koererlaerer is keen to just control but Damato is a slippery customer.
Koererlaerer slips a nice elbow through Damato's hands, connecting with Damato's forehead.
Koererlaerer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Damato is not content to let Koererlaerer control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damato is trying to stand up here but Koererlaerer is controlling him well.
Damato is trying to maintain the position but Koererlaerer is very close to passing his half guard.
Damato on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Koererlaerer takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Koererlaerer 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.

Koererlaerer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koererlaerer working the head and body with strikes.

Damato is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Koererlaerer pulls his head out easily.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Koererlaerer connects with a nice short shot to Damato's temple.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Karsten Koererlaerer will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Damato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Koererlaerer tries to counter it with a takedown but Damato pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A big right from Koererlaerer misses.
Damato throws a right and a left that both miss.

Damato closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Koererlaerer to the mat! Koererlaerer manages to get full guard.
Damato advances position into side control!
Koererlaerer struggling a bit here.
Koererlaerer parries the strikes from Damato easily there. Damato is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Koererlaerer to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koererlaerer can't do much from the bottom here.
Karsten Koererlaerer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koererlaerer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Damato wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koererlaerer keeps trying to improve his position.
Koererlaerer gets back to half guard.
Koererlaerer is in trouble now - Damato has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koererlaerer is trying to escape the mount.
Damato tries to control but Koererlaerer wriggling away.
Koererlaerer can't escape the position.
Koererlaerer wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Damato is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Koererlaerer shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Damato manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Damato is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Koererlaerer trying to control the position from guard on top but Damato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damato is looking to sweep but instead, Koererlaerer has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damato moves into full guard.
Koererlaerer is in close to Damato's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Damato has his foot on Koererlaerer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koererlaerer works his way back into a safe position though.
Koererlaerer connects with a couple of short punches.
Damato can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koererlaerer controls the pace.

Damato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Damato has his foot on Koererlaerer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koererlaerer works his way back into a safe position though.

Koererlaerer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koererlaerer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koererlaerer working some strikes from top position.
Koererlaerer landing some decent shots from guard.
Koererlaerer slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Koererlaerer trying to control the position from guard on top but Damato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Damato looking for a guillotine here but Koererlaerer defends easily.
Damato keeping moving, preventing Koererlaerer from controlling successfully.

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.
Koererlaerer scoring with punches to the head and body.

Damato throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Koererlaerer is in close to Damato's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Koererlaerer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koererlaerer cracks Damato with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koererlaerer wants to control from the top but Damato keeps moving.
Damato has momentary wrist control but Koererlaerer slips an elbow through the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rocco Damato will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Damato.
Damato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koererlaerer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Koererlaerer changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Koererlaerer stuffs the takedown attempt from Damato. Damato gets slowly back to his feet.
Koererlaerer throws a head kick that misses.
Damato is looking to clinch but Koererlaerer is avoiding it.

Koererlaerer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Koererlaerer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Koererlaerer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Damato is keeping the position for now.
Koererlaerer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Damato's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koererlaerer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Koererlaerer landing strikes.
Damato is trying to get back to his feet.
Koererlaerer scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koererlaerer lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Koererlaerer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Damato keeps working.
Damato is trying to control Koererlaerer's posture but Koererlaerer avoids it.
Koererlaerer landing strikes.
Damato is looking for a sweep.
Koererlaerer lands a decent elbow from side control.
Damato sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Damato wants to get back to full guard.
Damato gets back to full guard.

Damato looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koererlaerer lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koererlaerer stands up over Damato, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Koererlaerer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Damato working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Koererlaerer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Koererlaerer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Damato is looking for a triangle but Koererlaerer pushes his legs off easily.
Koererlaerer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Koererlaerer scoring with some ground and pound.
Koererlaerer stands up over Damato, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Damato looking for a guillotine here but Koererlaerer defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koererlaerer connects with a couple of short punches.
Koererlaerer works over Damato with some ground and pound from guard.
Koererlaerer trying to control but Damato is working from the bottom.
Koererlaerer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Koererlaerer with a nice head shot there.

Damato has his foot on Koererlaerer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koererlaerer works his way back into a safe position though.

Damato is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Koererlaerer is aware though and is defending well.
Koererlaerer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Koererlaerer pushes down on Damato's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Koererlaerer controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koererlaerer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Damato with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Damato has hold of Koererlaerer's hands but Koererlaerer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Koererlaerer working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Koererlaerer is nestled in close to Damato, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Koererlaerer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Damato is looking to improve his position.
Koererlaerer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Koererlaerer lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koererlaerer is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Koererlaerer lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Koererlaerer looking to control but Damato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karsten Koererlaerer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Koererlaerer 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Karsten Koererlaerer!
An out of breath and clearly excited Karsten Koererlaerer thanked Altitude Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).