PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benisato Rage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Praegitzer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Praegitzer struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Rage
vs
Praegitzer

170 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
166 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Benisato Rage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Praegitzer!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rage tries to close the distance and clinch but Praegitzer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rage tries to clinch up but Praegitzer circles away and keeps his distance.
Praegitzer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rage doesn't manage to clinch there - Praegitzer circles away.
Rage misses with a head kick.
Rage tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Praegitzer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Praegitzer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Rage. No joy for Praegitzer on that attempt.

Praegitzer shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Praegitzer was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Praegitzer tries to control but Rage wriggling away.
Rage wants to hold on but Praegitzer pushes him away.
Praegitzer wants to take his opponent's back but Rage doesn't allow it.

Praegitzer moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rage has worked his arm free - good work by Rage!
Rage is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praegitzer prevents Rage from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Praegitzer seems content to control.
Praegitzer is trying to control the action in half guard but Rage is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rage gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Praegitzer prevents Rage from getting back to his feet.
Praegitzer tries to free his leg and advance position but Rage is retaining full guard.
Rage being controlled here, momentarily.
Praegitzer won't allow Rage to sweep him here.
Rage keeping moving, preventing Praegitzer from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rage is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rage wants to control from the top but Praegitzer keeps moving.

Praegitzer looking for a guillotine here but Rage defends easily.
Praegitzer looks gassed!
Rage is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Rage stands and steps away. Praegitzer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rage feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rage cracks Praegitzer with a solid left hand.
Rage trying to control the position from guard on top but Praegitzer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Praegitzer is on top in guard.
Praegitzer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rage looking to control.

Rage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Praegitzer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Praegitzer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Praegitzer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rage controls Praegitzer momentarily but Praegitzer frees himself.
Praegitzer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rage wants to stand and escape but Praegitzer is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Praegitzer is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rage with a poor takedown

and Praegitzer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rage won't be happy with that.
Praegitzer has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rage!
Praegitzer content just to control the position here.
Rage keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Praegitzer tries to control but Rage wriggling away.
Rage is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Praegitzer will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick by Rage misses

and Praegitzer counters with a shoot takedown. Rage fights it but they end up in guard.
Praegitzer trying to control but Rage is working from the bottom.
Rage wants to sweep but no luck.
Praegitzer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Praegitzer prevents Rage from getting back to his feet.
Rage keeping moving, preventing Praegitzer from controlling successfully.

Rage has his feet on Praegitzer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Praegitzer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rage's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rage sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praegitzer content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Rage manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rage shoots and misses

so Praegitzer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Praegitzer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rage wants to stand up but Praegitzer is controlling him.
Josh Praegitzer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rage tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rage wants to stand and escape but Praegitzer is having none of it.

Praegitzer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Praegitzer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praegitzer trying to control but Rage is working from the bottom.
Praegitzer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rage kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Praegitzer looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rage tries to clinch up

and Praegitzer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rage is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rage tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praegitzer postures up.
Praegitzer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Praegitzer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Praegitzer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rage is keeping the position for now.

Rage has his foot on Praegitzer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Praegitzer works his way back into a safe position though.
Praegitzer controlling from the top position.
Rage doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Praegitzer prevents Rage from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Praegitzer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rage seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Praegitzer is one step ahead there.

Praegitzer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Praegitzer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rage is keeping the position for now.
Praegitzer trying to control but Rage is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Rage does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Praegitzer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Praegitzer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Praegitzer fails with the takedown

and Rage counters with a single leg into guard. Praegitzer didn't expect that.

Rage gets to his feet - Praegitzer follows without any prompting.
Praegitzer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rage counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rage throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rage moves in looking to clinch but Praegitzer pushes him off.
Rage looks to clinch

and Praegitzer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rage's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Praegitzer prevents Rage from getting back to his feet.

Rage kicks Praegitzer off and gets to his feet.
Rage tries for a takedown but Praegitzer circles away easily

and Praegitzer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rage won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rage is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Praegitzer asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rage wants to control but Praegitzer postures up.

Praegitzer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rage has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rage is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Praegitzer trying to control the action but Rage is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rage gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rage gets full guard.
Praegitzer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Praegitzer wants to control from the top but Rage keeps moving.
Praegitzer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rage swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rage manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rage misses with a takedown attempt

and Praegitzer counters with a shoot takedown. Rage fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rage trying to strike off his back.
Rage wants to get back to his feet but Praegitzer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Praegitzer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Praegitzer stops Rage from standing up.
Praegitzer sitting in guard here, content to control.

Rage manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Praegitzer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rage sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Praegitzer not doing much here.
Rage is trying to stand up here but Praegitzer is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Praegitzer is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rage has managed to free his arm - good work.
Praegitzer wants to free his trapped foot but Rage is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Praegitzer prevents Rage from improving his position.
Rage wants to control but Praegitzer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Praegitzer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rage is trying to maintain the position but Praegitzer is very close to passing his half guard.
Benisato Rage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Praegitzer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rage looks to clinch

and Praegitzer counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Praegitzer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Praegitzer 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Praegitzer!