PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cokorda Raka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gitmo Gamma (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.

Raka
vs
Gamma

172 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cokorda Raka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gitmo Gamma!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gamma tries to clinch

and Raka counters by clinching up.
Raka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gamma after a bit of a struggle.
Gamma is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gamma swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gamma jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Raka walks away with a smile on his face. Gamma gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gamma closes the distance and clinches up with Raka, looking for a takedown. Gamma pushes Raka against the cage but Raka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gamma shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raka as he avoids it easily.
Cokorda Raka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gitmo Gamma.
Raka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gamma shoots in but no luck this time.
Gamma looks to clinch

and Raka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gamma is trying to break free.

Raka jumps guard and drags Gamma to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Gamma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gamma wants to control from the top but Raka keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raka will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Raka pulls Gamma in close to prevent any damage.
Raka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Raka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Raka stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamma wants to improve his position but Raka is controlling well.
Gamma is looking to control Raka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gamma avoid being mounted?
Raka slows the pace down in half guard.
Raka's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Cokorda Raka wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Raka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raka.
Raka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Gamma.
Gamma tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gamma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raka goes for a double leg but Gamma avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gamma continues to drive forward.
Raka wants a takedown but no success here.
Gamma is trying to pull guard but Raka has him pressed against the cage.
Raka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gamma pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Raka jumps guard and drags Gamma to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gamma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raka has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gamma has managed to get both his arms back between Raka's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamma throwing strikes from guard but Raka blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raka keeping moving, preventing Gamma from controlling successfully.
Gamma would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gamma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raka pushes Gamma off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cokorda Raka dominated that round.
That's time! Raka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gamma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Raka tries for a takedown but Gamma sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gamma shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raka as he avoids it easily.
Gamma goes for a double leg but Raka avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Raka continues to drive forward.
Gamma wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gamma keeps control of Raka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gamma is trying to pull guard but Raka has him pressed against the cage.
Cokorda Raka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gitmo Gamma.
Raka controlling the action here for a moment.
Raka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raka is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Raka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gamma's efforts to push away.

Raka has clasped his hands together around Gamma's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gamma tries to improve position but can't.
Gamma is still trying to improve position.
Gamma struggling a bit here.
Gamma tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gamma looking for a sweep but Raka has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raka sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gamma is trying to escape the mount.

Raka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Raka controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Raka cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Raka wants to finish this one by submission but Gamma is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Raka.
Raka controlling the pace for now.
Raka lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamma looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Raka controls the action.

Raka is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Raka misses with punches from the back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raka controls the position.
Gamma is trying to remain composed but Raka is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cokorda Raka dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Raka throws a head kick but Gamma moves out of range.

Raka darts in and clinches Gamma up against the cage.
Gamma trying to stall but Raka improves his position.
Raka has Gamma pressed against the cage, preventing Gamma from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gamma tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gamma jumps guard but Raka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gamma is trying to stall.
Gamma lands a body punch.
Raka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gamma pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gamma has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gamma there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamma closes this distance looking for a takedown but Raka circles away.
Cokorda Raka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gitmo Gamma.

Raka clinches up with Gamma and pushes him back against the cage.

Raka breaks the clinch.
Raka slaps away a takedown attempt from Gamma, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gamma avoids the head kick by Raka.
Gamma wants to clinch.
Raka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gamma tries to avoid it but Raka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gamma to the ground. Gamma escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gamma shoots for a double leg takedown but Raka sprawls well. He's pushed Gamma's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gamma throws a head kick but Raka moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raka dives in for a single leg takedown but Gamma sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Raka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Raka tries to circle away but Gamma has him pinned against the cage.
Raka is looking to break free of the clinch but Gamma has double underhooks.
Gamma tries to stall but Raka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Raka gets control of Gamma's arms and successfully pulls guard. Raka will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cokorda Raka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gamma being controlled here momentarily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamma wants to control from the top but Raka keeps moving.

Raka scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Raka closes the distance and clinches up with Gamma, looking for a takedown. Raka pushes Gamma against the cage but Gamma circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gamma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Raka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gamma shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Raka sprawls well. Raka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gamma gets slowly back to his feet.
Raka lands with a nice combination. Gamma backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamma tries to clinch up.
Gamma misses with a takedown attempt - Raka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Raka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gamma prevents Raka from breaking the clinch.
Gamma looking to stall.
Raka lands a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raka jumps guard and drags Gamma to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gamma wants to stand and escape but instead Raka has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cokorda Raka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raka has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Cokorda Raka!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Cokorda Raka!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Cokorda Raka!

Cokorda Raka wins by unanimous decision!