PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Siduri Rafter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Acker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerard Acker will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rafter
vs
Acker

168 cm
30
158 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Siduri Rafter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gerard Acker!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafter defending well as Acker loads up on a big left hand.
Rafter thows a body shot but no joy.
Rafter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Acker as he jumps to the side.

Rafter gets a double leg takedown into Acker's guard.
Acker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rafter is controlling him.
Acker keeping moving, preventing Rafter from controlling successfully.
Rafter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rafter trying to control the position from guard on top but Acker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rafter content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rafter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Acker's guard.
Acker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rafter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rafter is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Acker is trying to stand up here but Rafter is controlling him well.
Rafter tries to pass to full mount but Acker defends it.
Acker keeping control of the position.
Acker wants to get back to his feet.
Rafter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rafter.
Acker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rafter.
Rafter trying to mount his opponent but Acker defends it.
Rafter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rafter wants to pass to mount but Acker is defending the position.
Acker is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rafter is just content to waste time from the top position. Acker takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rafter trying to control the position from guard on top but Acker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter stops Acker from standing up.
Rafter throwing strikes but missing.
Rafter trying to control the position from guard on top but Acker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Acker pulls Rafter in close to prevent any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Acker misses with a double jab
and Rafter counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Acker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Acker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Acker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rafter.
A jab from Acker does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Acker's waist but Acker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafter off to one side.
Siduri Rafter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rafter ducks under a wild hook from Acker.
Rafter looks to throw the jab but Acker is out of range.
Acker keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Acker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rafter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Acker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Acker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rafter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Some wild striking there from Acker.
Acker takes a swing at Rafter's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siduri Rafter dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rafter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Acker's waist but Acker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafter off to one side.
Acker throws a series of punches but Rafter moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Acker as Rafter shoots in.
Rafter throws a jab when Acker was well out of range.
Rafter ducks under a wild hook from Acker.
Acker looks to land a right hand but Rafter moved out of range.
Rafter takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice body punch from Acker.
Acker slips under a jab.
Acker takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gerard Acker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Acker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rafter finds it's way round the side to connect with Acker's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Rafter.
A big left from Rafter misses.
A jab lands there for Acker.
Acker throws a right hand that misses
and Rafter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Acker misses with a hook.
Rafter shoots in looking for a takedown. Acker tries to sprawl out of it but Rafter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Acker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siduri Rafter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left lands for Acker.
Gerard Acker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rafter throws a lazy uppercut
and Acker counters with a three punch combo that has Rafter backing up. Rafter nods at Acker to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafter ducks right into an uppercut from Acker.
Acker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rafter moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rafter throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Acker counters with a one-two to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rafter slips under a jab from Acker.
Rafter scores with a sloppy right hand. Acker should have avoided that one.
Acker punishes Rafter's body with a nice straight punch.
Rafter misses with a hook. Acker ducked under it nicely.

Rafter drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Acker is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter not doing much here.
Siduri Rafter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Acker looks like he's trying to stand up.
Acker tries to get to full guard but Rafter has control of the leg.
Rafter thows a huge punch but Acker dodges it nicely.

Rafter is looking for a kimura but Acker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rafter to get the leverage.
Acker is holding on to half guard well.
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.
Acker is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acker on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rafter content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rafter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rafter lands strikes from half guard.
Rafter works his way into full mount!
Rafter controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Acker tries to buck Rafter off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gerard Acker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rafter throws a hook to the side of Acker's head but Acker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Acker swings for the body but Rafter moves out of range.
A combination from Acker does no damage.
Acker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Acker misses with an uppercut.
Acker throws a big shot that misses.
Nice uppercut there from Rafter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rafter is defended easily by Acker.
Jab from Acker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafter looks for a takedown but Acker sprawls well.
Acker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Acker misses with a two punch combination.
Rafter fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rafter misses with a right hand
and Acker counters with a one-two to the body.
Acker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Acker lands a two punch combo.
A jab from Rafter misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Acker.
Rafter looks to land a left hand but Acker moved out of range nicely.
Rafter misses with a hook.
Acker throws a hook to the side of Rafter's head but Rafter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rafter scores with a decent looking hook.
Acker throws a right and a left that Rafter avoids nicely.
Rafter misses with a left hand
and Acker counters with a stiff right hand.
Acker ducks under a wild hook from Rafter.

Rafter gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rafter misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter 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.
Acker managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rafter.
Acker is not content to let Rafter control the position.
Rafter is putting a hurting on Acker here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rafter creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Acker sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Acker regains half guard, as Rafter was trying to land strikes.
Acker looks like he's trying to stand up.
Acker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Acker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rafter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acker trying to control from the bottom.
Rafter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rafter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Acker's head.
Rafter prevents Acker from improving his position.
Acker moves into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rafter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rafter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siduri Rafter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rafter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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