PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Noah Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fou Rthihovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noah Ho could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Fou Rthihovsky's chin.

Ho
vs
Rthihovsky

170 cm
23
140 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
135 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Noah Ho!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Fou Rthihovsky!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ho throws a looping overhand right but Rthihovsky ducks down to avoid it.
Rthihovsky pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ho is out of range and Rthihovsky settles back down.
Rthihovsky misses the shot to the body.

Rthihovsky feints and as Ho raises his hands in defense, Rthihovsky changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ho keeping moving, preventing Rthihovsky from controlling successfully.

Ho working for a triangle but Rthihovsky defends it easily.
Rthihovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Ho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rthihovsky can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rthihovsky looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rthihovsky trying to move into half guard but instead Ho has managed to sweep!
Ho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rthihovsky is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rthihovsky is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rthihovsky is keen to just control but Ho is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho is trying to maintain the position but Rthihovsky is very close to passing his half guard.

Rthihovsky is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ho doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ho is trying to maintain the position but Rthihovsky is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky is taking a breather. Ho says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rthihovsky lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Well, if Rthihovsky is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ho on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ho is controlling Rthihovsky's trapped leg to prevent Rthihovsky from advancing to side control.
Ho moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky wants to control from the top but Ho keeps moving.
Rthihovsky might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ho kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rthihovsky distracts Ho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Ho looking for a guillotine here but Rthihovsky defends easily.
Rthihovsky is looking to work some ground and pound but Ho has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky dominated that round.
That's time! Ho's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rthihovsky defending well as Ho loads up on a big left hand.
A punch combination from Ho misses.
Ho fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rthihovsky lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ho's sensitive parts.
Ho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ho shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ho showed some decent athleticism there.
Rthihovsky is looking to control Ho's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rthihovsky avoid being mounted?
Rthihovsky gets back to full guard.
Ho throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rthihovsky tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rthihovsky keeping moving, preventing Ho from controlling successfully.
Fou Rthihovsky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rthihovsky keeping full guard, as Ho tries to pass.
Ho loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ho trying to control the position from guard on top but Rthihovsky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ho is looking to work some ground and pound but Rthihovsky has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rthihovsky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ho throws a big elbow that misses.
Rthihovsky is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ho scores with a decent looking hook.
Ho closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ho changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rthihovsky tries to avoid it but Ho manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rthihovsky to the ground. Rthihovsky escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ho misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho misses with a hook. Rthihovsky ducked under it nicely.
Rthihovsky cracks the inside of Ho's front leg.
Rthihovsky throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ho on the side of the head.

Rthihovsky scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rthihovsky working away.
Ho tries to buck Rthihovsky off but Rthihovsky is having none of it.
Rthihovsky scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ho to see if he's OK.
Rthihovsky controls the position.
Ho managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rthihovsky is looking to take a break and control but Ho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho parries the strikes from Rthihovsky easily there. Rthihovsky is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ho to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rthihovsky is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ho has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rthihovsky throwing shots but missing, from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ho is looking to reverse the position.
Ho wants to control but Rthihovsky postures up.
Rthihovsky in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fou Rthihovsky will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rthihovsky closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ho fails to pull guard.
Ho has had enough of the clinch but Rthihovsky keeps him there for the moment.
Rthihovsky tries to throw a body punch but Ho avoids it by throwing Rthihovsky back against the cage.

Ho turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ho working away.
Rthihovsky is trying to get back to half guard.
Ho throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rthihovsky is trying to control Ho's posture but Ho avoids it.
Ho tries to advance to mount but Rthihovsky denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rthihovsky's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ho working the ground and pound but Rthihovsky is defending the strikes.
Ho creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rthihovsky sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rthihovsky is trying to control Ho's posture but Ho avoids it.
Rthihovsky is looking for a sweep.

Ho working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ho is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rthihovsky reverses the position - he's now on top in Ho's guard.
Rthihovsky works over Ho with some ground and pound from guard.
Rthihovsky postures up.
Rthihovsky trying to control but Ho is working from the bottom.
Ho trying to keep a closed guard but Rthihovsky is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho keeping full guard, as Rthihovsky tries to pass.
Rthihovsky postures up in Ho's guard and throws a big left but Ho blocks it.
Rthihovsky controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rthihovsky throwing strikes but missing.
Rthihovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Ho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ho swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rthihovsky content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rthihovsky postures up and lands a big shot to Ho's brow.
Rthihovsky throws a big elbow that misses.
Rthihovsky stays in close to Ho's body and controls the position.
Rthihovsky wants to control from the top but Ho keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ho fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rthihovsky is defended easily by Ho.
Ho throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rthihovsky sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rthihovsky dodges the punch combination from Ho.

Rthihovsky shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rthihovsky thows a huge punch but Ho dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho trying to control here.
Rthihovsky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ho keeps working.
Rthihovsky perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rthihovsky tries to pass to full mount but Ho defends it.
Rthihovsky missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rthihovsky trying to control the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ho keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rthihovsky throwing shots but Ho is blocking nicely.
Ho makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ho.
Rthihovsky throws a big right hand that misses.
Rthihovsky throws an elbow that misses. Ho uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rthihovsky's guard. Nice move by Ho!
Rthihovsky is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ho missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rthihovsky makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rthihovsky wants to pass the guard but Ho is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky is keen to just control but Ho is a slippery customer.
Rthihovsky controlling the action here.

Ho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rthihovsky passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rthihovsky is landing with some decent strikes but Ho is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ho throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rthihovsky counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ho thinking.
Rthihovsky displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ho.
Ho throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ho misses with a wild combination.

Ho scores a takedown into full mount!
Rthihovsky regains half guard.
Rthihovsky regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rthihovsky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rthihovsky holds on and takes a little breather.
Ho throwing strikes but missing.
Rthihovsky is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rthihovsky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rthihovsky wants to sweep but no luck.
Ho throws an elbow that misses. Rthihovsky uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ho's guard. Nice move by Rthihovsky!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rthihovsky trying to control but Ho is working from the bottom.
Ho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ho wants to control but Rthihovsky passes easily into half guard.
Rthihovsky misses with a head shot. Ho uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky postures up.
Rthihovsky advances to half guard.
Rthihovsky drops an elbow to the side of Ho's head.
Rthihovsky is taking a breather. Ho says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ho keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rthihovsky scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rthihovsky works his way into side control.
Rthihovsky is putting a hurting on Ho here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rthihovsky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ho keeps working.
Ho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rthihovsky's best efforts.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rthihovsky is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ho blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rthihovsky.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fou Rthihovsky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rthihovsky 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 46:49
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 45:50
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fou Rthihovsky! Fou Rthihovsky retains his bantamweight title!
Fou Rthihovsky decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.