PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Elpidio Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kekoa Kawai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawai has chosen Ace of Spades as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rafael
vs
Kawai

163 cm
25
145 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
146 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Elpidio Rafael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kekoa Kawai!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rafael's calf.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rafael.
Kawai tries to improve position but can't.
Kawai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kawai regains half guard.
Kawai is looking for a sweep. Rafael is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kawai trying to hold on to Rafael's head to control him but Rafael postures up.
Kawai gets full guard.
Kawai wants to sweep but no luck.
Rafael trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rafael trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael advances position into side control!
Kawai tries to improve position but can't.
Kawai is not content to let Rafael control the position.

Rafael tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kawai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rafael's best efforts.
Kawai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kawai looking for a sweep. Not yet Kawai, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafael decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A left lands for Kawai.
Kawai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rafael takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rafael blocks a leg kick.
Kawai throws the kick towards the body but Rafael avoids it.
Kawai connects with a single shot there.

Kawai gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rafael to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rafael throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kawai has his foot on Rafael's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rafael works his way back into a safe position though.

Kawai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael wants to control from the top but Kawai keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kawai is on top in guard.
Kawai looking to pass the guard.
Rafael keeping moving, preventing Kawai from controlling successfully.

Rafael working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kawai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kawai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four 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.
Kawai slips nicely into half guard.
Rafael is not content to let Kawai control the position.

Kawai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kawai trying to advance position but Rafael counters by regaining guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Elpidio Rafael will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rafael's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters circling - Rafael throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kawai.
Kawai sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rafael is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rafael manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafael lands strikes from half guard.
Kawai moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rafael pushing down on Kawai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kawai manages to get to full guard.
Rafael won't allow Kawai to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawai working a defensive guard here.
Kawai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rafael trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Kawai isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rafael stacks Kawai on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rafael!
Kawai is breathing heavily.
Rafael is putting a hurting on Kawai here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kawai is trying to get back to half guard.
Kawai is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rafael connects with a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael moves into full mount!
Rafael working Kawai over with strikes here.
Rafael fails to move to back control.
Kawai can't escape the position.

Rafael moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kawai has worked his arm free - good work by Kawai!
Kawai is trying to improve his position.
Kawai taking a bit of punishment here - Rafael scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Kawai works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Kawai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rafael is working away from the top position though.
Kawai tries to roll over but Rafael keeps him under control.
Kawai manages to get to full guard.

Kawai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rafael defends well.
Rafael trying to control but Kawai is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kawai looking for a guillotine here but Rafael defends easily.

Kawai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rafael can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rafael makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kawai looking for a sweep. Not yet Kawai, not yet.
Rafael trying to control but Kawai is working from the bottom.

Kawai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elpidio Rafael dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rafael instigates a clinch.
Kawai lands a left hand.

Rafael gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kawai wants to improve his position but Rafael is controlling well.
Kawai gets back to full guard.
Kawai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rafael manages to get himself to full guard.
Kawai looking to pass the guard.
Elpidio Rafael overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kawai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawai trying to control the position from guard on top but Rafael is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kawai tries to free his leg and advance position but Rafael is retaining full guard.
Kawai prevents Rafael from getting back to his feet.
Kawai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kawai trying to control but Rafael is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Kekoa Kawai has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Rafael takes the fight into the clinch.
Kawai scores with a hook to the body.
Kawai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rafael tightens his grip and picks Kawai up, before dumping him to the ground. Kawai manages to land in guard.
Rafael pushes down on Kawai's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kawai is pressing down on Rafael's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rafael gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kawai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kawai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kekoa Kawai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kawai controls Rafael momentarily but Rafael frees himself.
Rafael wants to control from the top but Kawai keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Kawai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kawai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kawai keeping moving, preventing Rafael from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Kawai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rafael gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Elpidio Rafael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kawai keeping moving, preventing Rafael from controlling successfully.

Kawai has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rafael is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kawai.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elpidio Rafael showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rafael, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elpidio Rafael!