PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craken Skulls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dawid Rafal (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.

Skulls
vs
Rafal

182 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craken Skulls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dawid Rafal!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafal moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Craken Skulls has been cut.

Rafal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rafal stalling against the cage.
Skulls tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rafal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rafal manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Skulls tries to pull guard but Rafal holds him up against the cage and eventually Skulls drops back down to his feet.
Rafal gets through Skulls's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Rafal manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Skulls avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Skulls scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rafal managing to control the position.
Skulls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rafal is keeping the position for now.
Rafal controlling Skulls's posture.
Rafal wants to stand and escape but Skulls is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skulls in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Skulls got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rafal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Skulls has managed to get both his arms back between Rafal's legs - danger averted.
Skulls wants to pass the guard but Rafal is keeping the position.
Rafal looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skulls passes Rafal's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Skulls is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rafal works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rafal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skulls working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Skulls would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Skulls makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rafal trying to keep a closed guard but Skulls is proving a slippery customer.
Skulls tries to free his leg and advance position but Rafal is retaining full guard.
Rafal has his hands on Skulls's head, controlling the position.
Rafal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rafal wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rafal is on top in guard.
Rafal wants to pass the guard but Skulls is keeping the position.
Rafal looking to sit in guard and control but Skulls gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rafal can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skulls controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Skulls is one step ahead there.
Rafal working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dawid Rafal dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craken Skulls's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rafal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rafal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rafal won't allow Skulls to get back to his feet.

Rafal gets to his feet - Skulls follows without any prompting.
Rafal lands with a kick to the temple. Skulls shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Rafal moves into range and clinches up with Skulls.

Rafal is trying to trip Skulls. He has hold of a leg but Skulls is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rafal persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rafal slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Skulls's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rafal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Skulls regains half guard.
Rafal is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Skulls is desperately trying to improve his position but Rafal has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Rafal connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Rafal is working for a guillotine from mount but Skulls frees his head quite easily.
BOOM! Rafal connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rafal content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafal looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Skulls regains half guard.
Rafal works his way into side control.
Rafal moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skulls keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rafal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rafal is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Skulls can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rafal is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Skulls has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rafal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dawid Rafal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Craken Skulls's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rafal.
Rafal avoids the head kick by Skulls.
Rafal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Skulls tries to avoid it but Rafal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Skulls to the ground. Skulls escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rafal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skulls manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skulls swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rafal counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Skulls tries to close the distance and clinch but Rafal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rafal has a takedown stuffed.
Craken Skulls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dawid Rafal.

Rafal drives through with a takedown into Skulls's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Skulls had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rafal defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal is stalling in the full guard.

Skulls is working an open guard so Rafal takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rafal throws a head kick that Skulls semi-blocks.

Craken Skulls's cut is getting worse.
Rafal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skulls as he jumps to the side.
Skulls keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skulls tries to sprawl but Rafal drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Rafal there.
Rafal controlling the action here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are battling for position here. Skulls manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rafal looking to pass the guard.
Rafal sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal wants to pass the guard but Skulls is keeping the position.

Dawid Rafal has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rafal dives in and grabs Skulls's left leg, looking for a takedown. Skulls pushes down on Rafal's head and hops out.
Rafal shoots in for a takedown but Skulls shows good takedown defense.

Rafal clinches up with Skulls and pushes him back against the cage.
Skulls is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rafal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Skulls tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rafal smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Skulls's waist but Skulls gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafal off to one side.
Craken Skulls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Skulls shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Skulls wants to control from the top but Rafal keeps moving.
Rafal trying to control the position.
Skulls trying to control the position from guard on top but Rafal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rafal is on top in guard.
Dawid Rafal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rafal stops Skulls from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dawid Rafal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rafal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dawid Rafal!
After winning the bout, Dawid Rafal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.