PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bela Rakosi (ranked 1491 p4p, 3702 weight class) and Ethan Danaher (ranked 218 p4p, 497 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rakosi
vs
Danaher

190 cm
27
222
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
225
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bela Rakosi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ethan Danaher!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danaher shoots for a double leg takedown but Rakosi sprawls well. He's pushed Danaher's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rakosi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Ethan Danaher has been cut.
Rakosi tries to close the distance and clinch but Danaher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rakosi throws a big shot that misses.
And Danaher tries to counter it with a takedown but Rakosi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Danaher shoots in for a takedown but Rakosi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Rakosi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Danaher.
Danaher fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bela Rakosi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Danaher.
Rakosi leaves Danaher with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Rakosi as Danaher shoots in.
Rakosi is looking to counter punch.
Danaher shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rakosi as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danaher fails with a takedown attempt.
Danaher shoots in and drives through. Rakosi sprawls well.

Rakosi takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rakosi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Danaher tries to move into range but Rakosi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bela Rakosi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rakosi scores with a nice strike.
Danaher fails with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Rakosi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rakosi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Danaher misses with a takedown
and Rakosi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Danaher closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rakosi circles away.
Rakosi throwing a counter right hand but Danaher manages to avoid it.
Rakosi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Danaher at a distance.
Danaher doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Danaher looks winded!
Rakosi lands a nice looking body shot.
Rakosi throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rakosi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Danaher.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakosi misses with a wild body shot.
Rakosi cracks Danaher with an open hand slap.
Rakosi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Rakosi clinches with his opponent.
Rakosi prevents a takedown attempt there.
A shot in the inside from Rakosi.
Nice body punch from Rakosi.
Rakosi is pressed up against the cage. Danaher has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rakosi down to the mat. Rakosi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Rakosi cracks Danaher with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Rakosi has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Danaher to stand back up!

Danaher is rocked!
Danaher tries for a takedown but Rakosi circles away easily
and Rakosi counters with a huge right that knocks Danaher out cold! Rakosi is running around with a crazed look on his face - you can see how much that meant to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Bela Rakosi!
An out of breath Bela Rakosi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.