PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dallas Rainwater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Congo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Rainwater
vs
Congo

172 cm
26
140 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
135 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dallas Rainwater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joe Congo!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Congo wants to clinch but Rainwater slips to the side
and Rainwater counters with a nice uppercut.
Congo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Congo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Congo misses with the combination.
Rainwater circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rainwater swats away the attempt to clinch by Congo.
Rainwater avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Congo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rainwater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Congo misses with an uppercut.
Rainwater definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Congo wants to clinch
and Rainwater counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Joe Congo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Congo tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Rainwater to counter with a crisp jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Congo misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rainwater is trying to pull guard but Congo has him pressed against the cage.

Rainwater turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rainwater manages to end up in side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Congo can't do much from the bottom here.

Rainwater is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Congo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rainwater swings around for an armbar but Congo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rainwater's guard.
Congo throws a big elbow that misses.
Rainwater utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rainwater throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Congo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rainwater preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Congo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rainwater works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rainwater utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rainwater wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Congo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rainwater swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Congo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Congo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Congo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Congo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rainwater is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Congo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Congo looks to clinch
enabling Rainwater to counter with a crisp jab.
Congo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rainwater avoids a punch combination nicely.
Congo closes the distance but Rainwater moves to the side
and Rainwater counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rainwater sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Congo swings for the body but Rainwater moves out of range.
Congo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rainwater counters with a two punch combo.
Rainwater is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Congo wants to clinch.
Congo tries to clinch up but Rainwater circles away and keeps his distance.
Congo tries to clinch but Rainwater is having none of it.
Congo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Congo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rainwater counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Congo misses the shot to the body.
Congo misses with a takedown attempt

and Rainwater counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Congo!
Congo bucks up and tries to throw Rainwater off but instead Rainwater has got his back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rainwater tightening his grip on Congo, looking for the choke.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rainwater is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Congo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Congo tries to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rainwater is looking for the choke from the back position but Congo is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dallas Rainwater dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Congo throws a sloppy head kick and Rainwater moves out of range easily.
Congo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rainwater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Congo tries to clinch there but Rainwater circles away.
Congo tries to clinch but Rainwater is having none of it.
Congo wants to clinch
and Rainwater counters with a nice uppercut.
Congo throws a series of punches but Rainwater avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Congo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joe Congo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Congo tries to clinch up
and Rainwater counters with a nice body shot.

Congo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rainwater to the mat! Rainwater manages to get full guard.
Rainwater keeping moving, preventing Congo from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rainwater pulls Congo in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Congo moves in looking to clinch but Rainwater pushes him off.
Congo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rainwater sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Congo somewhat.
Congo throws a nice looking combination but Rainwater bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Congo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Congo tries to clinch
letting Rainwater counter with a right hand.
Joe Congo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Congo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rainwater manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Congo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Congo moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Congo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Congo tries to score a body lock takedown but Rainwater shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Congo misses with a punch to the body.

Rainwater gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rainwater stops Congo from getting back to his feet.
Rainwater throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rainwater is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Rainwater is looking for a kimura here.

Congo is defending against the submission attempts here by Rainwater.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rainwater trying to control the action but Congo is working from the bottom.

Rainwater wants to work for an arm triangle but Congo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Congo tries to roll over but Rainwater keeps him under control.
Rainwater stalling away here and it's allowed Congo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Congo looking for a guillotine here but Rainwater defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rainwater trying to control but Congo is working from the bottom.
Rainwater is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dallas Rainwater overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rainwater looking to sit in guard and control but Congo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dallas Rainwater will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Congo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rainwater defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Congo.
Rainwater keeps the fight on the outside.
Congo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rainwater is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rainwater with a nice cross.
Congo shoots in but Rainwater avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rainwater sizes up Congo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Congo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rainwater counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo tries to clinch there but Rainwater circles away.
Congo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rainwater circles away quickly and effectively.
Congo is looking to clinch but Rainwater is avoiding it.
Congo shoots in for a takedown but Rainwater shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dallas Rainwater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Congo.
Rainwater scores with a crisp jab that stopped Congo in his tracks.
Congo lands a nice shot to the body.
Rainwater is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rainwater lands with an uppercut that bounces Congo off the cage and back into range.
Rainwater fails with a takedown attempt.
Congo throws a head kick but Rainwater moves out of range.
Congo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rainwater paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rainwater displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Congo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rainwater as he avoids it easily.
Congo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Congo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Congo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Congo moves in looking to clinch but Rainwater pushes him off.
Congo throws a right hand that misses
and Rainwater counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Congo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Congo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Congo is rocked!
Congo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rainwater cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Congo is still on wobbly legs! Can Rainwater finish him?
Congo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Congo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Congo looks up at the clock. Bad move! Rainwater lands a right hand from hell, dropping Congo. Rainwater pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dallas Rainwater!
A relieved looking Dallas Rainwater thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.