PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Rourk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Rakusaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakusaba is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by David Bowie - Suffragette City. Michael Rourk had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Rourk
vs
Rakusaba

190 cm
23
176 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

183 cm
29
181 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Rourk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Rakusaba!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rourk drives through with a takedown into Rakusaba's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rourk trying to control but Rakusaba is working from the bottom.
Rakusaba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rakusaba wants to sweep here but Rourk controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rourk looking to sit in guard and control but Rakusaba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rakusaba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Rourk looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rakusaba has picked Rourk up and slammed him! Rourk can't keep hold of the triangle and Rakusaba manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Rakusaba trying to control the position but Rourk is working away.
Rourk is trying to work for a sweep but Rakusaba has mounted him!
Rourk can't escape the position.
Rourk tries to hold on but Rakusaba postures up.
Rakusaba is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rakusaba fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Rakusaba is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rourk is surviving well by controlling Rakusaba's body position as best he can.
Rakusaba wants to control the pace but Rourk is squirming around nicely.
Rakusaba landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rakusaba wants to control the pace but Rourk is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Rakusaba has control of Rourk's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rourk regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rakusaba lands a big elbow.
Rakusaba content just to control the position here.
Rourk tries to hold on but Rakusaba pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba working the ground and pound effectively.
Rourk working to try and regain half guard.
Rakusaba controlling the pace for now.
Rourk tries to hold on but Rakusaba pushes him away.
Rakusaba raining down shots from the mount!

Rakusaba with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rourk tries to hold on but Rakusaba pushes him away.
Rourk is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba looking to control but Rourk is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rourk is desperately trying to improve his position but Rakusaba has a good base and remains in mount.
Rourk wants to control but Rakusaba is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rakusaba trying to control but Rourk is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rakusaba putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rakusaba controlling from mount.
Rourk tries to lock up and control but Rakusaba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Rakusaba dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rourk tries to land a leg kick but Rakusaba saw it coming and moves away.

Rourk manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rakusaba on his heels. He'll look to pass Rakusaba's guard now, I'm sure.
Rakusaba wants to sweep but no luck.
Rourk trying to control but Rakusaba is working from the bottom.
Rakusaba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rourk's guard.
Rourk looking to control.
Rakusaba trying to control but Rourk is working from the bottom.
Rakusaba advances to half guard.
Rakusaba is looking to take a break and control but Rourk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rourk tries to get to full guard but Rakusaba has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakusaba wants to take a breather but Rourk is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rakusaba in particular looking to stall.

Rakusaba seems to be looking for submissions.
Rakusaba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rourk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rakusaba pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rakusaba prevents Rourk from improving his position.
Rakusaba throwing shots but Rourk is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rourk tries to get to full guard but Rakusaba has control of the leg.

Rourk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rakusaba seems to be looking for submissions.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rakusaba in particular looking to stall.

Rakusaba seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Rourk is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Kazushi Rakusaba!