PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kuol Riak (ranked 1954 p4p, 2275 weight class) and Jona Qarase (ranked 213 p4p, 246 weight class). Riak comes to the cage accompanied by Eye Of The Tiger. Qarase has chosen Tavaka by Voqa Kei Munia as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Riak
vs
Qarase

170 cm
26
152
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
149
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Hoarse Pills
BE Younick

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kuol Riak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jona Qarase!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riak misses with a hook.
Riak looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Riak moves out of range of the strikes.
Riak loads up on a big right hand but Qarase slips the punch.

Riak is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Qarase's half guard.
Qarase is looking to get back to is feet but Riak passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Riak tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Riak has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Riak is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Qarase has escaped the position, nice work there.
Qarase can't do much from the bottom here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riak is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Qarase knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Qarase really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Riak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Riak tries for a kimura but Qarase is defending well.
Qarase is looking to reverse the position.

Riak has an Americana. Qarase didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Riak is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Riak hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Kuol Riak!
Kuol Riak gave a mention to Bondi MMA 🏝️ in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).