PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Siduri Rafter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Fluke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Siduri Rafter could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Luke Fluke's chin.

Rafter
vs
Fluke

168 cm
25
158 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Siduri Rafter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luke Fluke!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafter blocks a jab.
Luke Fluke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fluke throws a jab when Rafter was well out of range.
Rafter fails with a takedown attempt.
Fluke tries to clinch but Rafter is having none of it.
Rafter ducks under a wild hook from Fluke.
Fluke throws out a loose jab but Rafter uses good head movement to avoid it.
A cross from Fluke lands.
Rafter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fluke.
A telegraphed right hand from Fluke misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rafter defending well as Fluke loads up on a big left hand.
Fluke misses with a looping right.
Rafter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fluke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siduri Rafter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafter throws the left hand but Fluke avoids the punch easily.
Fluke tries to clinch up.

Rafter scores with a takedown into Fluke's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fluke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fluke keeping full guard, as Rafter tries to pass.
Fluke keeping moving, preventing Rafter from controlling successfully.
Fluke is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rafter is controlling him.
Fluke wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafter is looking to work some ground and pound but Fluke has wrist control.
Rafter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rafter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rafter misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Fluke ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fluke misses the jab.

Rafter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rafter lands in his opponent's guard.
Rafter connects with a couple of short punches.

Fluke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rafter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fluke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rafter is one step ahead there.
Fluke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rafter throws a strike but Fluke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Fluke is looking to stand up but Rafter won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fluke must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fluke throws and elbow that misses. Rafter uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fluke's guard. Nice move by Rafter!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rafter cracks Fluke with a solid left hand.
Fluke is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rafter is controlling him.
Rafter working some strikes from top position.
Rafter 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.
Rafter trying to control but Fluke is working from the bottom.

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.
Rafter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fluke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rafter manages to get himself to full guard.
Rafter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fluke is one step ahead there.
Rafter controls Fluke momentarily but Fluke frees himself.
Rafter has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Fluke has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Siduri Rafter will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rafter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fluke just misses with a punch to the body.
Fluke throws a hook but Rafter blocks it.

Fluke gets caught flat footed, as Rafter shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fluke wants to sweep here but Rafter controlling him for the moment.
Fluke manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fluke controlling the pace for now.
Rafter tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fluke tries to control but Rafter wriggling away.
Rafter wants to control but Fluke is having none of it.
Fluke trying to control but Rafter is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rafter working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fluke controlling from the full mount.
Fluke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rafter is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
Fluke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rafter is working to get back to half guard.
Fluke controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Siduri Rafter will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Fluke throws a right hand that Rafter ducks under and follows up with a left that Rafter also avoids with ease.
Rafter looks for a takedown but Fluke sprawls well.
Fluke lands a body shot.
Fluke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rafter.
Nice uppercut lands for Fluke. That snapped Rafter's head back.

It looks like Siduri Rafter has been cut.
Nice uppercut there from Rafter.
A telegraphed right hand from Rafter misses the target.
Fluke throws a shot from downtown. Rafter moves away and avoids it.
Rafter scores with a jab to the body.
Fluke connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rafter's hands.
Fluke throws a hook but Rafter avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafter slips a jab from Fluke.
Fluke throws an overhand right that lands on Rafter's shoulder, as Rafter tries to avoid the shot.

Fluke gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Fluke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rafter defends well.
Rafter thows a big elbow that misses.
Rafter postures up in Fluke's guard and throws a big left but Fluke blocks it.
Rafter content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Fluke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rafter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rafter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rafter stands and throws Fluke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Luke Fluke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fluke gets back to half guard.
Rafter is looking to advance position but Fluke won't allow it.
Fluke trying to control but Rafter postures up.
Rafter lands with a punch from half guard.
Rafter stops Fluke from getting back to his feet.
Fluke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fluke gets full guard.
Rafter stands up over Fluke, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter landing with the ground and pound.
Rafter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rafter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fluke's head.

Rafter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fluke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rafter has managed to get both his arms back between Fluke's legs - danger averted.
Fluke has momentary wrist control but Rafter slips an elbow through the middle.
Fluke trying to strike off his back.
Rafter trying to control but Fluke is working from the bottom.
Rafter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fluke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rafter paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four 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.
Fluke throws an overhand right that lands on Rafter's shoulder, as Rafter tries to avoid the shot.
Fluke throws a shot from downtown. Rafter moves away and avoids it.
Rafter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fluke tries to avoid it but Rafter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fluke to the ground. Fluke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rafter throws a hook but Fluke avoids it easily.
Fluke misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Rafter to counter with a crisp jab.
Rafter lands a jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rafter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siduri Rafter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fluke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fluke takes a swing at Rafter's ribcage but misses.
Siduri Rafter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rafter fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fluke sprawls well initially but Rafter persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siduri Rafter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rafter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:28

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