PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kono Notaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miues Rafki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miues Rafki is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Notaku
vs
Rafki

179 cm
23
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

158 cm
19
138 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Machine Fight Gear
Zipp Zapp

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kono Notaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miues Rafki!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rafki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Notaku was covering up waiting for the punch and Rafki finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rafki wants to pass the guard but Notaku is keeping the position.
Rafki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rafki drops back looking for a leg! Notaku is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Notaku manages to kick Rafki off! Rafki jumps back into Notaku's guard.
Notaku on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Notaku tries to get out of the position.
Notaku tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rafki trying to control but Notaku is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafki postures up.
Notaku knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rafki on the ground.
Notaku keeping moving, preventing Rafki from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Notaku holds on and takes a little breather.

Rafki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Notaku looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rafki trying to control the position from guard on top but Notaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rafki is pushing down on Notaku's leg trying to pass to half guard. Notaku is fighting to maintain full guard but Rafki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Notaku keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rafki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Notaku does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rafki wants to stand up but Notaku is controlling the position.
Notaku is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rafki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Notaku sees it coming and defends easily.

Rafki is looking for a kimura here.
Notaku is trying to get back to full guard.
Notaku is working hard here to advance position.

Rafki wants to work for an arm triangle but Notaku is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Notaku is looking for a sweep. Rafki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Notaku does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Notaku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rafki is looking for a kimura but Notaku is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rafki to get the leverage.

Rafki decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Notaku is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Miues Rafki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rafki dives in and scores a takedown into Notaku's guard.

Rafki gets to his feet. Notaku looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rafki fails to land the takedown.

Rafki shoots in and gets a takedown into Notaku's guard.
Rafki tries to free his leg and advance position but Notaku is retaining full guard.
Rafki is looking to stand up but Notaku won't let him.
Notaku is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rafki wants to control from the top but Notaku keeps moving.
Notaku wants to sweep here but Rafki controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafki postures up.
Notaku looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rafki wants to stand but Notaku is controlling his posture from full guard.

Rafki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rafki trying to control but Notaku is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rafki wanted to stand there but Notaku had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Notaku closes the distance and clinches.
Notaku pushes off an throws an elbow but Rafki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Notaku with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Notaku just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rafki's brow.
Notaku landing knees to the body.
Notaku gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rafki.
Notaku is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rafki looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notaku lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Notaku with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Notaku misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Notaku is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rafki is defending well for now.
Rafki dodges an elbow strike from Notaku.
Notaku trying to land knees to the body.
Notaku lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rafki avoiding damage as Notaku throws knees to the body.
Rafki dodges an elbow strike from Notaku.
Rafki wants a takedown but no success here.
Notaku tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rafki avoids it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Notaku.
Rafki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Notaku is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kono Notaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miues Rafki.
Notaku throws an elbow but it misses.
Notaku tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rafki avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rafki avoiding damage as Notaku throws knees to the body.
Rafki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Notaku fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rafki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Notaku.
Notaku is looking to slow Rafki down with leg kicks.

Rafki gets tackled into the cage by Notaku. Notaku maintains the clinch.
Notaku stops a takedown attempt from Rafki.
Notaku looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Notaku pushes off an throws an elbow but Rafki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Notaku pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Notaku lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notaku lands an elbow inside.
Rafki avoids the elbow strike from Notaku, against the cage.
Notaku misses with an elbow over the top.
Notaku gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Notaku with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Notaku misses with an elbow strike.
Rafki avoiding damage as Notaku throws knees to the body.
Rafki tries for a takedown but Notaku manages to get underhooks.
Notaku missing with knees to the body.
Rafki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Notaku creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rafki's defenses.
Notaku working Rafki over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Notaku.
Rafki tries for a takedown but Notaku manages to get underhooks.
Notaku tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rafki avoids it.
Rafki takes an elbow to the forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Notaku misses with an elbow strike.
Notaku missing with knees to the body.
Rafki blocks the elbow strike.
Notaku lands a knee to the head.
Notaku pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Notaku misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rafki.
Notaku creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rafki's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kono Notaku dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Notaku throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Notaku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rafki can do to turn this around?
A kick lands to the mid section there for Notaku.
Rafki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Notaku.
Notaku stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Notaku wants it to stay on the feet.
Notaku thumps Rafki with a low kick.
Rafki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Notaku's waist but Notaku gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafki off to one side.

Rafki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Notaku's guard.
Notaku wants to sweep here but Rafki controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Notaku looking for a guillotine here but Rafki defends easily.
Rafki trying to control but Notaku is working from the bottom.
Miues Rafki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rafki trying to control the position from guard on top but Notaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rafki passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rafki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Notaku manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rafki's best efforts.
Rafki tries to stand but can't do so whilst Notaku controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notaku makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Notaku.

Rafki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rafki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Notaku pulls Rafki in to control the position.
Notaku controls Rafki momentarily but Rafki frees himself.

Notaku looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rafki passes into half guard.

Rafki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rafki is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Notaku is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Miues Rafki!