PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Osama Hussein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Popek Rak (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.

Hussein
vs
Rak

184 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 St Petersburg, Osama Hussein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Popek Rak!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rak closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rak lands in his opponent's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rak postures up.
Hussein being controlled here, momentarily.
Rak stands and throws Hussein's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rak 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.
Hussein knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rak on the ground.
Rak wants to stand but Hussein is controlling his arm.
Rak working the ground and pound but Hussein is defending the strikes.
Rak throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rak avoids the strikes from the bottom by Hussein.

Rak decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rak moves out of range as Hussein throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Osama Hussein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rak slips a jab and a cross from Hussein.
Hussein looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hussein connects with the punch.
Hussein lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hussein throws a series of punches but Rak moves out of range.

Rak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hussein sprawls well initially but Rak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Rak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rak is looking for a kimura here.
Rak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hussein throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rak blocks the strikes from Hussein.
Rak is taking a breather. Hussein 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.
Hussein tries to roll over but Rak keeps him under control.
Rak with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hussein flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rak keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Popek Rak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A punch combination from Hussein misses.
The fighters circling - Rak throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Rak shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hussein manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rak won't allow Hussein to sweep him here.
Hussein is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rak passes Hussein's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hussein throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hussein misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hussein is trying to maintain the position but Rak is very close to passing his half guard.
Rak passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hussein!
Hussein tries to hold on but Rak pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rak throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rak takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hussein is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hussein takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hussein holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rak tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rak avoids the attempt from Hussein to control.
Rak controlling from the full mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hussein throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popek Rak dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hussein pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Osama Hussein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hussein throws a head kick that misses.
Hussein throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rak shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hussein is trying to defend but Rak finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rak controlling the pace.
Hussein flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Popek Rak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hussein avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rak.
Hussein misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rak slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Popek Rak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hussein throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hussein misses with a body kick.
Hussein throws a series of punches but Rak avoids them all with ease.

Hussein gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hussein working a defensive guard here.

Hussein working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rak has passed into half guard!
Hussein trying to control from the bottom.
Rak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rak is taking a breather. Hussein 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.

Hussein is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rak pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussein punching from the bottom.
Hussein blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rak.
Rak wants to get back to his feet.
Rak controlling the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rak is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hussein!
Rak misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rak content just to control the position here.
Hussein throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
Rak slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Hussein avoids the strikes from Rak.
Hussein looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Rak controlling the position well here. Hussein rolled but Rak kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Rak is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Hussein. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein trying to control the hands but Rak won't let him.
Rak keeps control of the position easily here as Hussein tries to buck him off.
Rak throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Good control from Rak.
Hussein covering up well under a barage of strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rak controls the action.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rak is persistently looking for the submission but Hussein is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popek Rak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rak dodges the punch combination from Hussein.
Osama Hussein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rak showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hussein.
Hussein scores with a three punch combo!
No joy there for Hussein, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hussein is looking to land body kicks.
Rak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussein swats away the attempt to clinch by Rak.

Rak gets a takedown into half guard.
Hussein is looking to control Rak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hussein avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Rak seems content to control.
Hussein is trying to control but Rak passes into side control!

Rak has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rak walks into a straight right hand from Hussein.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hussein.
Rak misses with a wild combination.

Rak closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hussein quickly recovers to half guard.
Rak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Hussein looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussein wants to improve his position but Rak is controlling well.
Rak passes to full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hussein wants to hold on but Rak pushes him away.
Hussein looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rak throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Hussein can't escape the position.
Rak biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rak has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Hussein is in real trouble here. Rak gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Hussein is tapping out! Rak wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Popek Rak!