PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Rakitic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Tr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rakitic
vs
Tr

182 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ivan Rakitic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stefan Tr!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rakitic did well to prevent Tr getting side control.
Rakitic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tr is working away from the top position though.
Rakitic is trying is best to control the position here.
Tr is thwarting Rakitic's attempts to control the position.

Rakitic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rakitic is trying to stand back up but Tr is controlling him
Rakitic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakitic trying to control the position here.
Tr has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rakitic is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rakitic pulls Tr in to control the position.
Tr trying to control but Rakitic is working from the bottom.
Tr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rakitic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rakitic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Rakitic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rakitic looking to pass the guard.
Tr keeping moving, preventing Rakitic from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakitic passes Tr's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rakitic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rakitic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rakitic moves nicely into side control.
Tr is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakitic throwing strikes but Tr manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Rakitic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tr throwing strikes but Rakitic manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Rakitic creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rakitic working away.
Rakitic 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.
Rakitic wants to control but Tr is keeping him busy.

Rakitic in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Tr is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ivan Rakitic!