PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Requina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Rankine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Requina
vs
Rankine

167 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Boondock Fightwear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Requina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Rankine!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rankine shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Requina's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rankine prevents Requina from getting back to his feet.
Requina is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rankine dives into side control.
Rankine moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Requina wants to get back to his feet but Rankine is dominant here and he's now got Requina's back!
Requina is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Rankine has taken his back!
Requina is trying to stand back up.
Rankine avoiding Requina 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rankine controlling from the back.
Requina wants to get back to his feet.
Requina tries to roll but Rankine sticks to his back.
Rankine is riding his opponent, not letting Requina buck him off.
Requina is trying to get back to his feet but Rankine has full control of the position and if anything, Requina has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Requina is breathing heavily.
Rankine slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rankine lands shots from the back.
Requina trying to get back to his feet but Rankine is in full control for now.

Requina preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rankine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Requina is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Requina controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Rankine lands a shot to the head.
Rankine loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Requina hold on?
Rankine is riding his opponent, not letting Requina buck him off.
Requina tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rankine keeps control of the position easily here as Requina tries to buck him off.
Requina can't escape the position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Rankine's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Requina is trying to break free.

That's four 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.
Rankine just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mike Rankine just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rankine closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rankine lands in his opponent's guard.
Requina keeping full guard, as Rankine tries to pass.
Requina is looking to stand up but Rankine isn't so interested in that idea.
Requina wants to get back to his feet but Rankine passes into half guard.

Rankine escapes and gets back to his feet.
Rankine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Requina's waist but Rankine gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rankine off to one side.
A combination from Requina does no damage.
Rankine lands a nice looking body kick.
Rankine throws a series of strikes that have Requina backpedaling.
Requina lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rankine lands a nice looking body kick.
Requina throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Rankine holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rankine misses with a short punch on the inside.

Requina escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Rankine as Requina shoots in.
Requina misses with a double jab.
Requina cracks Rankine with a right hand to the side of the head.
Requina bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rankine's head backwards.
Left hook, right uppercut from Requina.
Decent striking displayed by Requina there.

Rankine is rocked!
Requina swinging wilding here.
Michael Requina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Requina shoots in for a takedown but Rankine shows good takedown defense.
Requina tries for a takedown but Rankine sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Requina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Requina.
Requina throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rankine counters with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rankine is looking to clinch.
Rankine looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Requina throws a nice looking combination but Rankine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Michael Requina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Requina misses with the combination.
Requina looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rankine is breathing heavily.
Rankine slips a jab and a cross from Requina.
Some wild striking there from Requina.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick misses from Requina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rankine.
A head kick misses from Requina.
Rankine thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Requina if he has to take too many more of those.
Rankine fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Requina misses with a combination
and Rankine counters with an outside leg kick.
Rankine slips under a jab from Requina.
A solid body kick from Rankine.
A punch combination from Requina misses.
Rankine lands with a kick to the ribs.
Requina misses with a combination
and Rankine counters with a slapping leg kick.
Requina misses with a wild combination.
Requina fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Requina swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rankine counters with a takedown into side control.
Requina pushes Rankine away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rankine gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Requina throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Requina swinging wilding here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Requina.
Rankine tries to move into range but Requina moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Requina throws a sloppy head kick
and Rankine counters with a good, hard body kick but Requina shrugs it off.
Requina throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rankine looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rankine prevents Requina from standing back up.

Rankine escapes and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rankine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Requina throws a combination that misses
and Rankine counters with a nice body kick.
Requina scores with a leg kick.
Requina goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Requina throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rankine scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mike Rankine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Requina is trying to stand.

Requina makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rankine moves away from the strike by Requina.

Rankine has managed to clinch.
Requina takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rankine gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rankine keeps control of Requina as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Requina is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Requina wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rankine landing knees to the head.
Rankine throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Requina takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rankine lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rankine prevents Requina from breaking the clinch.
Rankine lands a hook that snaps the head of Requina backwards.
Requina is trying to break free.
Rankine landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rankine lands a nice elbow.
Rankine has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Requina avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rankine gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Requina regains guard.
Requina wants to stand but Rankine is controlling the position.
Requina is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rankine dives into side control.
Requina wants to get back to his feet but Rankine is dominant here and he's now got Requina's back!
Requina is trying to stand up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Requina throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rankine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Requina.
Danga de danga de dang - Requina scores with a four punch combination!
Rankine takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Requina throws the kick towards the body but Rankine avoids it.
Rankine fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Requina.
Requina throws a sloppy head kick and Rankine moves out of range easily.
Rankine throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Requina throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A punch combination from Requina misses.

Rankine scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Requina wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Requina wants to improve his position but Rankine is controlling well.
Rankine stops Requina from getting back to his feet.
Rankine wants to take a breather but Requina is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Rankine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch combination from Requina misses.
Rankine throws a nice looking combination but Requina bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Requina misses with a kick to the body.
Requina misses with the combination.
Rankine looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Requina lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rankine has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rankine and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rankine dodges the punch combination from Requina.

Rankine instigates a clinch.
Requina is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rankine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rankine is working for takedown but Requina is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rankine works on Requina's body with a couple of short punches.
Rankine lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rankine lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rankine lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Requina takes an elbow to the temple.
Requina has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rankine is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rankine lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Requina is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Requina is trying to stand up here but Rankine is controlling him well.

Requina manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A slapping leg kick lands for Rankine.
Rankine avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Requina misses with a takedown attempt
and Rankine counters with a good, hard body kick but Requina shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Requina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Requina misses with a looping left.
Rankine throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rankine.

Rankine clinches with his opponent.
Requina takes an elbow to the temple.
Rankine looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Rankine breaks the clinch.

Rankine moves into the clinch.
Requina wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rankine has him pressed against the cage.
Rankine lands a nice knee to the body.
Rankine lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rankine lands an elbow inside.
Requina can't break the clinch.
Rankine landing knees to the head.
Rankine gets underhooks to prevent Requina's takedown attempt.
Requina can't break the clinch.
Requina wants to break the clinch but can't.
Requina has Rankine pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rankine manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rankine throws an elbow but misses.
Rankine misses with an elbow strike.
Rankine looking to throw knees to the head but Requina is blocking nicely.
Requina has had enough of the clinch but Rankine keeps him there for the moment.

Requina wants the takedown. Rankine is fighting it off but Requina persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rankine's guard against the cage.
Rankine has a closed guard, preventing Requina from standing up.
Michael Requina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rankine has his feet on Requina's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Requina cracks Rankine with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Requina gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rankine makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Requina really felt that one!
Requina looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Requina feints and as Rankine raises his hands in defense, Requina changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Requina wants to stand but Rankine has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rankine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requina wanted to stand there but Rankine had control of the position.
Requina might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rankine pushes Requina off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nice shot lands for Requina.
Requina lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
No joy there for Requina, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Requina misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Requina, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rankine lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Requina swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Requina walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rankine.

Rankine shoots in and bounces Requina off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Requina wants to stand up but Rankine is controlling him.

Rankine decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Requina, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rankine has taken the fight to the clinch.
Requina wants to break the clinch but can't.

Requina breaks from the clinch.
Rankine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rankine slips a jab and a cross from Requina.
Requina misses with a head kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Requina crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rankine - the referee stops the clock and Requina gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rankine. Requina manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Rankine clinches up with Requina and pushes him back against the cage.

Requina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Requina fails to land with a series of punches.
Requina throws a right and a left that Rankine avoids nicely.
Rankine scores with the left hand. Requina knows he should have avoided that one.
Requina throws a jab when Rankine was well out of range.
Rankine fakes the leg kick and cracks Requina in the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Requina moves out of range of the body kick from Rankine.
Requina swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Requina misses with a double jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Requina.
Rankine is looking to slow Requina down with leg kicks.
Requina takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rankine throws a nice outside leg kick.
Requina will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Rankine drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rankine slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Rankine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rankine 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Rankine!