PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Issa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lui Ken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken has chosen Mortal Kombat as his entrance music. Lui Ken is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Issa
vs
Ken

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafa Issa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lui Ken!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ken misses with a takedown attempt - Issa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ken rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Issa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Issa lunges at Ken with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ken's hand.
Ken moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ken misses with the combination.
Ken shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Issa defends it nicely.
Ken throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Issa.
Issa lands with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ken!
Ken shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Issa sprawls well. Issa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ken gets slowly back to his feet.
Rafa Issa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lui Ken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ken connects with a good right hand that stumbles Issa. Issa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ken throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ken tries to pull guard but Issa won't allow it.
Ken tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Issa smiles and moves away.
No joy there for Ken, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Issa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ken will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheers as Issa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ken doesn't seem phased though.

Ken closes the distance and clinches.
Ken can't get the takedown.
Issa tries a body shot but Ken blocks it.
The referee calls for Issa to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ken takes a shot to the head.
Issa can't find room to land a body shot as Ken controls the action.
Ken using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Issa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Issa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Issa holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Issa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ken is defending well for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Issa tries a body shot but Ken blocks it.
Issa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ken is trying to pull guard but Issa has him pressed against the cage.
Issa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Issa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Issa is working Ken over against the cage.
Ken goes for a takedown in the clinch but Issa prevents it.
Issa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ken backwards.
Issa lands with a left to the head.
Ken wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ken tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Issa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ken backwards.
Ken changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Issa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice shot lands for Issa.
Rafa Issa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ken goes for a double leg but Issa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Issa continues to drive forward.
Ken looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Issa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Issa lands a jab to Ken's midsection.
Ken darts in looking for a takedown but Issa gets double underhooks and turns Ken into the cage.
Ken clobbers Issa with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Issa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Issa defending well as Ken loads up on a big left hand.
Issa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ken's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ken fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ken throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Issa's waist but Issa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ken off to one side.
Ken looks winded!

Ken has Issa up against the cage in a clinch.
Issa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Issa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Issa pressing his opponent against the cage.

Ken drags the fight down to the ground.
Issa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Ken manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ken swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Issa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ken.
Issa ducks under a wild hook from Ken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafa Issa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ken dives in and grabs Issa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Issa pushes down on Ken's head and hops out.

Issa forces Ken back against the cage and clinches.

Ken works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Issa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Issa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ken is controlling him.
Ken passes Issa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Issa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Issa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Issa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ken is working away from the top position though.

Ken decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Issa connects with a leg kick. Ken looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ken shoots in for a takedown but Issa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rafa Issa is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice combination there by Ken.

Ken instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Issa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ken backwards.
Ken can't break the clinch.
Issa is working Ken over against the cage.
Ken looking to throw knees to the head but Issa is blocking nicely.
Rafa Issa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Issa lands a body punch.
Issa pressing his opponent against the cage.
Issa lands with a light punch inside.
Issa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ken's elbow.
Ken is trying to pull guard but Issa has him pressed against the cage.
Rafa Issa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lui Ken.
Issa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ken blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Issa.
Ken is trying to force a seperation but Issa has the dominant position.

Ken's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Issa stuffs the takedown attempt from Ken. Ken gets slowly back to his feet.
It looked like Issa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lui Ken is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ken throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ken is breathing heavily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Issa.

Ken darts in and clinches Issa up against the cage.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Ken.
Ken has had enough of the clinch but Issa keeps him there for the moment.
Issa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ken's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Issa.
Ken has had enough of the clinch but Issa keeps him there for the moment.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ken prevents a body shot from Issa.
A body shot lands from Issa.
Issa pushes Ken back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Issa.
Issa misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Issa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ken's efforts to push away.
Ken's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A hook to the body from Issa.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Issa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ken can do to turn this around?
Issa stalling the fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ken.
Issa lands a shot to the body.
Ken tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Issa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Issa misses with a punch to the body.
Issa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Issa.

Ken breaks from the clinch.
Ken throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Issa.
Issa is looking to counter punch.
Issa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ken misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Issa tries to close the distance and clinch but Ken swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ken throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Issa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Issa misses the target.

Issa closes the distance and pushes Ken back into the cage.

Ken pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ken moves into range and clinches up with Issa.

Ken breaks from the clinch.
Lui Ken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Issa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ken lands a lovely overhand right.
Ken tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Issa defends well and Ken ends up having to push Issa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ken shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Issa eats them both and turns towards Ken to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ken misses with a series of wild punches.
Ken feints a jab promting Issa to slip. Ken then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Issa slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lui Ken will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Issa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ken misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Ken.
Some wild striking there from Ken.
Ken misses with a head kick.
Issa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Ken is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Issa's half guard.
Issa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ken is trying to control the action in half guard but Issa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Issa wants to get back to full guard.
Ken is trying to control. Issa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ken blocks the strikes from Issa.
Ken takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ken wants to take a breather but Issa is having none of it.
Ken blocks the strikes from Issa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Issa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Issa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ken is looking to take a break and control but Issa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Issa trying to control but Ken postures up.
Ken works his foot free and advances to mount.

Ken get's back to his feet.
A left lands for Issa.
Ken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Issa manages to avoid it.
Ken throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ken or perhaps it was just good defense by Issa, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ken shoots in looking for a takedown. Issa tries to sprawl out of it but Ken keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Issa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ken takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Issa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ken.
Issa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ken under the eye.

Ken closes the distance and pushes Issa back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ken tries to pull guard but Issa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rafa Issa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lui Ken.
Issa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Issa tries to land knees in the clinch but Ken avoids the damage to the body.
Ken throws a knee to the head but misses.
Issa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ken goes for a takedown in the clinch but Issa prevents it.
Ken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Issa lands a left hand.
Issa tries to throw a body punch but Ken avoids it by throwing Issa back against the cage.
Ken jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Issa walks away with a smile on his face. Ken gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Issa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ken.
Ken fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Issa scores with a push kick.
Issa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ken takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ken darts in looking for a takedown but Issa gets double underhooks and turns Ken into the cage.
Issa throws a push kick but Ken slaps the foot to one side.
Issa sets himself, and Ken steps forward looking for the clinch! Issa avoids it this time.

Ken has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Issa lands a hook that snaps the head of Ken backwards.
Issa misses with a punch on the inside.
Ken tries to circle away but Issa has him pinned against the cage.
Issa trying to control the position but instead, Ken has worked for underhooks and has pushed Issa into the cage.
Ken tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Issa's elbow.
Issa struggles to land a body shot inside as Ken controls his hands.
Ken is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ken is trying to drag Issa to the mat but Issa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short left from Issa.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafa Issa.
I think Issa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafa Issa!
Lui Ken spoke after the fight, saying 'I thank everyone one that watched this good fight and i will be better next time my opponent has been better and i respect it.'.