PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darui Hanegawa (ranked 5721 p4p, 4091 weight class) and Islam Rafiq (ranked 548 p4p, 444 weight class). The key to victory for Darui Hanegawa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hanegawa
vs
Rafiq

190 cm
20
165
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
170
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darui Hanegawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Islam Rafiq!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanegawa lands a front kick.
Hanegawa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rafiq counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hanegawa is trying to hold Rafiq in close to prevent damage but Rafiq has managed to pass into half guard.
Hanegawa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rafiq not doing much here.
Rafiq looks winded!
Hanegawa is trying to maintain the position but Rafiq is very close to passing his half guard.
Rafiq with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hanegawa tries to get to full guard but Rafiq has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanegawa wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Rafiq seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafiq missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rafiq seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hanegawa is looking to control Rafiq's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hanegawa avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanegawa tries to get to full guard but Rafiq has control of the leg.
Hanegawa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rafiq controlling the action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hanegawa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Rafiq is working for a kimura but Hanegawa is defending it quite comfortably.
Rafiq stalling.
Rafiq's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rafiq is thwarting Hanegawa's attempts to control the position.
Hanegawa is trying to get back to full guard.

Hanegawa is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Rafiq has latched onto it... Big trouble! Rafiq pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Hanegawa is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Rafiq!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Islam Rafiq!