PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martin Prien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prien comes into the arena with Yellow Submarine blaring out of the sound system. Rourke has chosen Rolling Stones - Paint it black as his entrance music. Martin Prien had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Prien
vs
Rourke

160 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
30
196 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Martin Prien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Prien throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rourke was covering up waiting for the punch and Prien finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Prien looking to pass the guard.
Prien trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Rourke looking for a guillotine here but Prien defends easily.
Prien throws an elbow that misses. Rourke uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Prien's guard. Nice move by Rourke!
Prien might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rourke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rourke distracts Prien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Prien looking for a guillotine here but Rourke defends easily.
Rourke postures up in Prien's guard and throws a big left but Prien blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prien is looking for a triangle here but Rourke uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rourke is working Prien over with some ground and pound from side control.
Prien is looking to regain half guard here but Rourke keeps moving and retains side control.
Prien is working hard here to advance position.
Prien is trying to control Rourke's posture but Rourke avoids it.
Rourke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Prien keeps working.
Prien is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rourke wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Prien, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Prien gets back to half guard.
Rourke is trying to control. Prien wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prien tries to roll over but Rourke keeps him under control.
Rourke looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Prien with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rourke performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Prien keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rourke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Prien defending well though.

Prien is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rourke pulls his head out easily.
Prien wants to improve his position but Rourke is controlling well.
Rourke seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Prien looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Rourke.

Rourke is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke drops an elbow to the side of Prien's head.
Rourke is keen to just control but Prien is a slippery customer.
Prien moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Prien has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rourke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rourke is pushing down on Prien's leg trying to pass to half guard. Prien is fighting to maintain full guard but Rourke has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rourke winds up and cracks Prien with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Prien is defending against the submission attempts here by Rourke.
Rourke takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Prien has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rourke is working away from the top position though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rourke is trying to control the action in half guard but Prien is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prien gets full guard.
Rourke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rourke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Prien is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rourke forces his way into half guard.
Prien is trying to maintain the position but Rourke is very close to passing his half guard.
Rourke tries to pass the half guard into mount. Prien knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Prien wants to control but Rourke is keeping busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Prien looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rourke trying to control the action but Prien is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke 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.

Rourke scoring well with a low kick there.
Rourke looks to land a right hand but Prien moved out of range.
Prien tries to clinch but Rourke is having none of it.
Prien shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rourke defends it nicely.
Prien tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rourke was well out of range. Poor timing from Prien.
Rourke lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nice straight punches there by Rourke. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rourke.
Rourke bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rourke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Prien was well out of range. Poor timing from Rourke.
Prien displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rourke throws out the jab.
Prien on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rourke throws a leg kick but Prien sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Rourke.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Prien gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rourke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke misses with a body kick.
Prien tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rourke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Prien on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rourke connects with a nice looking jab.
Rourke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Prien is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rourke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rourke scoring well with a low kick there.
Rourke turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rourke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Prien is able to avoid easily.
A big left from Rourke misses.
Prien closes the distance and clinches up with Rourke, looking for a takedown. Prien pushes Rourke against the cage but Rourke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Prien. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A lazy left from Rourke finds it's target.
Rourke fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Prien shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rourke as he avoids it easily.
Rourke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rourke wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rourke lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mikko Rourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Prien shoots in looking for a takedown. Rourke tries to sprawl out of it but Prien keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rourke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rourke gets caught napping as Prien dives in and scores a takedown. Rourke manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rourke wants to sweep here but Prien controlling him for the moment.

Rourke looking for a guillotine here but Prien defends easily.
Rourke controls Prien momentarily but Prien frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rourke working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rourke working the head and body with strikes.
Rourke is nestled in close to Prien, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rourke is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rourke is looking to take a break and control but Prien is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Prien looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Prien gets full guard.
Prien 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.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Prien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke throwing strikes but missing.

Rourke thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Prien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prien being controlled here, momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Prien has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rourke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Prien trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Prien has momentary wrist control but Rourke slips an elbow through the middle.
Prien 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.
Prien is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Prien's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Prien moves in looking to clinch but Rourke pushes him off.
Rourke connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Prien.

Prien shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rourke is trying to defend but Prien finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Prien has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rourke working to try and regain half guard.

Prien goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rourke turns into him and now he's in Prien's guard.
Prien trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prien keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.
Prien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Prien is on top in guard.
Prien cracks Rourke with a solid left hand.
Rourke is trying to control the position but Prien postures up.
Rourke keeping moving, preventing Prien from controlling successfully.
Rourke keeping full guard, as Prien tries to pass.
Prien sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rourke's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prien throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Prien throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rourke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Prien.
Rourke is pressing down on Prien's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rourke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Prien.
Prien trying to control but Rourke is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Prien throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rourke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Prien trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prien is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rourke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prien looking to pass the guard.
Prien preventing the sweep.
Prien wants to control from the top but Rourke keeps moving.
Rourke trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Prien accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rourke takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Prien shoots in looking for a takedown. Rourke tries to sprawl out of it but Prien keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rourke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Prien on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Rourke.
Rourke thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Prien if he has to take too many more of those.
Prien dives in and grabs Rourke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rourke pushes down on Prien's head and hops out.
Prien fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Prien. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rourke lands a really nice looking cross but Prien seems unphased.
Mikko Rourke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rourke lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Prien misses with a few strikes there.
Rourke misses with a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rourke lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Prien tries to clinch but Rourke moves away
and Rourke counters with a stiff right hand.
Prien tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rourke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martin Prien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Prien tries to sprawl but Rourke drives through with a takedown into half guard.

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 Martin Prien.
Well Rourke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Rourke!
After the big win, Mikko Rourke made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Perkele! and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.