PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Kuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pratipar Rapcheep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kuraba
vs
Rapcheep

180 cm
22
170 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

184 cm
26
180 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Kuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pratipar Rapcheep!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuraba fails to land the takedown.
Rapcheep throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuraba.

Rapcheep gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kuraba won't allow Rapcheep to sweep him here.

Kuraba is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rapcheep is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rapcheep has escaped and now he's on top!
Rapcheep trying to control but Kuraba is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rapcheep working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rapcheep wants to control from the top but Kuraba keeps moving.

Kuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rapcheep looking to sit in guard and control but Kuraba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kuraba stays in close to Rapcheep's body and controls the position.
Kuraba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rapcheep works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rapcheep wants to stand up but Kuraba is controlling him.
Kuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuraba throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuraba slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rapcheep keeping moving, preventing Kuraba from controlling successfully.
Rapcheep looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuraba blocks a head kick by Rapcheep.
Rapcheep looks to score with a jab to the body but Kuraba is just out of range.

Kuraba fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rapcheep sprawls well initially but Kuraba persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kuraba working Rapcheep over with strikes.
Kuraba content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kuraba scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuraba thows a huge punch but Rapcheep dodges it nicely.
Rapcheep is trying to control but can't.
Kuraba looks to land a strike but Rapcheep avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kuraba wants to control from the top but Rapcheep keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rapcheep preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Kuraba dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rapcheep jabs at Kuraba's body.
Kuraba moves out of range of the body kick from Rapcheep.
Kuraba shoots for a takedown but Rapcheep saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kuraba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rapcheep swivels and escapes.
Kuraba defending well as Rapcheep loads up on a big left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuraba misses the target.
A head kick misses from Rapcheep.
Kuraba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rapcheep throws a head kick but Kuraba moves out of range.

Kuraba changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rapcheep looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Kuraba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rapcheep knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rapcheep wants to control but Kuraba postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapcheep is not content to let Kuraba control the position.
Rapcheep gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kuraba is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rapcheep reverses the position - he's now on top in Kuraba's guard.
Rapcheep wants to control from the top but Kuraba keeps moving.

That's two 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.

Kuraba looking for a guillotine here but Rapcheep defends easily.
Rapcheep working some strikes from top position.
Rapcheep thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Rapcheep is proving a slippery customer.
Rapcheep throwing strikes but missing.
Rapcheep cracks Kuraba with a solid left hand.

Kuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rapcheep wants to control from the top but Kuraba keeps moving.
Kuraba on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kuraba tries to get out of the position.

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.
Kuraba wants to get back to his feet but Rapcheep is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rapcheep looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kuraba keeping moving, preventing Rapcheep from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pratipar Rapcheep showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rapcheep throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuraba.

Kuraba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kuraba decides to stand back up. Kuraba steps back and let's Rapcheep get back to his feet.
Kuraba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rapcheep circles away.
Rapcheep tries to land a front kick but Kuraba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rapcheep stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rapcheep wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck for Kuraba with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Kuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuraba tries to close the distance and clinch but Rapcheep swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rapcheep tries a head kick but it misses.
Rapcheep stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rapcheep wants it to stay on the feet.
Rapcheep tries a head kick but it misses.
Kuraba shoots in for a takedown but Rapcheep shows good takedown defense.
Kuraba avoids the body shot from Rapcheep.
Kenji Kuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Rapcheep misses.
Kuraba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rapcheep pinned against the cage. Rapcheep gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kuraba fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Kuraba or perhaps it was just good defense by Rapcheep which made him look bad.

Rapcheep has Kuraba up against the cage in a clinch.
Rapcheep is pressed up against the cage. Kuraba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rapcheep down to the mat. Rapcheep avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kuraba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rapcheep stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuraba. Kuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Rapcheep moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapcheep thuds his right hand into Kuraba's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Kenji Kuraba has been cut.
Rapcheep connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuraba's hands.

Rapcheep fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuraba, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rapcheep presses Kuraba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rapcheep lands a damaging elbow.
A short uppercut from Rapcheep.
Rapcheep lands an elbow just above Kuraba 's eye.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rapcheep obliges.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rapcheep.

Rapcheep breaks from the clinch.
Rapcheep misses with the combination.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rapcheep. Kuraba shrugs it off though.

Rapcheep drops Kuraba with a beautiful combination! Kuraba stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Rapcheep is looking for the KO!

Kuraba is rocked!
Rapcheep tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Oh Kuraba is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Rapcheep! Kuraba is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pratipar Rapcheep!