PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl van der Rohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yokuzuna Rikishi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yokuzuna Rikishi has the eye of the tiger tonight.

van der Rohen
vs
Rikishi

225 cm
25
300 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

194 cm
23
300 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl van der Rohen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yokuzuna Rikishi!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
van der Rohen is looking to chop away at Rikishi's legs.
van der Rohen misses with a low kick.

Rikishi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rikishi lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
van der Rohen keeping full guard, as Rikishi tries to pass.
Rikishi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Rohen trying to keep a closed guard but Rikishi is proving a slippery customer.
van der Rohen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rikishi landing with the ground and pound.
Rikishi chips away with some ground and pound.
Rikishi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rikishi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
van der Rohen 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.
Rikishi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rikishi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rikishi cracks van der Rohen with a solid left hand.

It looks like Karl van der Rohen has been cut.
Rikishi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rikishi lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rikishi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rikishi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rikishi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rikishi looks gassed!
van der Rohen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rikishi advances position into side control!
Rikishi 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.
Rikishi throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rikishi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rikishi throws a strike aimed at the side of van der Rohen's head but van der Rohen avoids it well.
Rikishi working the ground and pound but van der Rohen is defending the strikes.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
van der Rohen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
van der Rohen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van der Rohen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rikishi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by van der Rohen. van der Rohen obviously looking to wear him down.
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 Karl van der Rohen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Karl van der Rohen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

van der Rohen feints and then cracks Rikishi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rikishi down.
van der Rohen lands a jab to the nose.
Rikishi is breathing heavily.
van der Rohen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikishi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
van der Rohen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rikishi. That did some damage!
Karl van der Rohen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from van der Rohen, right into the meat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
van der Rohen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rikishi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Rohen with a nice cross.
van der Rohen misses with a two punch combination.

Rikishi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. van der Rohen was covering up waiting for the punch and Rikishi finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van der Rohen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
van der Rohen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rikishi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rikishi throws a big right hand that misses.
van der Rohen controlling the position.
van der Rohen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rikishi is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl van der Rohen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Karl van der Rohen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rikishi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rikishi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
van der Rohen misses with a wild combination.
Karl van der Rohen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Rikishi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by van der Rohen. van der Rohen obviously looking to wear him down.
Yokuzuna Rikishi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Rohen scores with a leg kick.
van der Rohen throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rikishi shoots in for a takedown but van der Rohen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
van der Rohen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rikishi's sensitive parts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rikishi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from van der Rohen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl van der Rohen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for van der Rohen, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl van der Rohen!