PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Blitzkrieg Friedhelm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Siduri Rafter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Friedhelm
vs
Rafter

160 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

168 cm
24
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Blitzkrieg Friedhelm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Siduri Rafter!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafter avoids the body shot from Friedhelm.

Rafter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Friedhelm is trying to defend but Rafter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Friedhelm looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rafter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rafter drops an elbow to the side of Friedhelm's head.
Friedhelm is holding on to half guard well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rafter prevents Friedhelm from improving his position.
Friedhelm on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
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. Rafter connects with a nice short shot to Friedhelm's temple.
Friedhelm is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafter winds up and cracks Friedhelm with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rafter slips a nice elbow through Friedhelm's hands, connecting with Friedhelm's forehead.
Rafter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rafter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ground and pound from Rafter.
Friedhelm has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rafter is working away from the top position though.
Rafter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rafter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rafter wants to pass to mount but Friedhelm is defending the position.
Friedhelm gets back to full guard.
Rafter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Friedhelm's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rafter advances position into side control!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Friedhelm takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Friedhelm takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Friedhelm can't do much from the bottom here.
Rafter cracks Friedhelm with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rafter tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rafter cracks Friedhelm with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Friedhelm takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rafter looking to control but instead Friedhelm has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Rafter passes to side control.
Friedhelm is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rafter working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rafter sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Friedhelm is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Friedhelm regains half guard.
Friedhelm blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rafter.
Rafter prevents Friedhelm from improving his position.
Friedhelm blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rafter.
Rafter trying to control the action but Friedhelm is working from the bottom.
Rafter is thwarting Friedhelm's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Friedhelm throws a shot to the body.
Friedhelm throws a series of punches but Rafter avoids them all with ease.
Rafter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Friedhelm as he jumps to the side.

Friedhelm gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rafter to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Friedhelm working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rafter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Friedhelm is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rafter working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siduri Rafter dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Friedhelm throws a big shot that misses.
Friedhelm listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Friedhelm misses with a looping right.
Rafter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Friedhelm just misses with a punch to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rafter.
Rafter working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Friedhelm gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rafter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Friedhelm with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rafter thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Friedhelm to regain full guard.
Rafter stopping the sweep attempt from Friedhelm.
Rafter throws a strike but Friedhelm rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Friedhelm drops back looking for a leg! Rafter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rafter manages to kick Friedhelm off! Friedhelm jumps back into Rafter's guard.
Rafter has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rafter is looking to stand up but Friedhelm isn't so interested in that idea.
Rafter is controlling Friedhelm's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Friedhelm wants to pass the guard but Rafter is keeping the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rafter can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rafter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Friedhelm wants to control from the top but Rafter keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rafter doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Friedhelm misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Friedhelm scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blitzkrieg Friedhelm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rafter 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.
Rafter lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rafter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Friedhelm is looking for a triangle but Rafter pushes his legs off easily.
Rafter stopping the sweep attempt from Friedhelm.
Rafter throws and elbow that misses. Friedhelm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rafter's guard. Nice move by Friedhelm!
Rafter keeping full guard, as Friedhelm tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafter is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rafter wants to sweep here but Friedhelm controlling him for the moment.
Friedhelm looking to pass the guard.
Rafter trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rafter is trying to control the position but Friedhelm postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Friedhelm defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rafter.
Blitzkrieg Friedhelm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Siduri Rafter.
Rafter waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Friedhelm.
Friedhelm misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Siduri Rafter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rafter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Friedhelm manages to avoid it.
Friedhelm lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Siduri Rafter has been cut.
Friedhelm misses with a wild body shot.
A jab lands there for Rafter.
Rafter throws a looping overhand right but Friedhelm ducks down to avoid it.
Rafter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Friedhelm's waist but Friedhelm gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafter off to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Friedhelm misses the target.
Rafter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Friedhelm defends it nicely.
Friedhelm lands with a cross.
Rafter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Friedhelm fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rafter manages to avoid it.
Friedhelm ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rafter moves away.
Friedhelm swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedhelm is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Rafter shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Friedhelm napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rafter working the ground and pound.
Rafter working away.
Friedhelm on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rafter trying to control the position but Friedhelm is working away.
Rafter sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Friedhelm is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Friedhelm is trying to improve his position.
Rafter working the ground and pound but Friedhelm is defending the strikes.
Friedhelm is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafter cracks Friedhelm with a big right hand but Friedhelm just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rafter is putting a hurting on Friedhelm here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rafter landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rafter scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Friedhelm to see if he's OK.
Rafter working the ground and pound from side control.
Friedhelm takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Friedhelm dodges the ground and pound from Rafter.
Friedhelm taking punishment in the form of punches.
Friedhelm tries to buck Rafter off but Rafter is having none of it.
Friedhelm can't do much from the bottom here.
Rafter lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Friedhelm is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rafter lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Friedhelm down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter cracks Friedhelm with a big right hand but Friedhelm just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Friedhelm taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rafter works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rafter scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Friedhelm to see if he's OK.
Rafter working the head with strikes.
Friedhelm trying to remain calm as Rafter controls from the top position.
Rafter lands a decent elbow from side control.
Friedhelm parries the strikes from Rafter easily there. Rafter is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Friedhelm to escape.
Friedhelm manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rafter's best efforts.
Friedhelm is trying to control but can't.
Rafter is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Friedhelm!
Friedhelm really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rafter lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedhelm is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rafter is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Friedhelm can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rafter has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Friedhelm's face.
Siduri Rafter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rafter putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rafter punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rafter cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Friedhelm is trying to escape the mount.
Rafter looking to control but Friedhelm is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Friedhelm sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siduri Rafter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rafter winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Siduri Rafter!