PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Trane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rourke's entrance music is Rolling Stones - Paint it black. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rourke
vs
Trane

182 cm
34
196 lbs
29 - 15 - 1

192 cm
26
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 29 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Trane!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Trane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rourke lands a head shot.
Trane throws an overhand right that lands on Rourke's shoulder, as Rourke tries to avoid the shot.

Rourke feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Rourke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rourke working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Trane's head.
Rourke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rourke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rourke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rourke content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
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!
Trane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rourke.
Trane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rourke's guard.
Trane slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Trane working the ground and pound.
Trane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trane is trying to get an arm triangle but Rourke is defending well.
Trane looks up at the clock and then as Rourke takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Trane smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rourke is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rourke is not content to let Trane control the position.
Rourke is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trane laying and praying for a moment but Rourke takes advantage and regains half guard.
Rourke is looking to improve his position.
Trane is looking to advance position but Rourke won't allow it.
Trane lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rourke tries to get to full guard but Trane has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trane working Rourke over with strikes.
Trane throws a strike but Rourke avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Trane in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Trane wants to control from the top but Rourke keeps moving.
Trane looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rourke looking for a sweep. Not yet Rourke, not yet.
Trane pushes down on Rourke's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rourke manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Trane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rourke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Trane looking to pass the guard.
Trane trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Trane looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trane trying to control but Rourke is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Trane dominated that round.
That's time! Rourke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Trane throws a lazy body kick
and Rourke counters with a straight right hand.
Rourke swings for the body but Trane moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Rourke lands an impressive looking overhand right. Trane doesn't seem phased though.
Rourke throws a hook to the side of Trane's head but Trane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Trane tries to clinch up but Rourke circles away and keeps his distance.
Trane digs a good hook to Rourke's body.
Rourke misses with a body kick.
Rourke moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Trane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rourke.
A good leg kick by Trane.

Trane pushes Rourke up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trane lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Trane tries to land knees in the clinch but Rourke avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rourke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Trane has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trane missing with knees to the body.
Trane is looking to control Rourke's arms but Rourke gets an underhook and turns him. Now Trane has his back to the cage.
Rourke can't find room to land a body shot as Trane controls the action.
Trane tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Rourke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rourke scores with a leg kick.
Good leg kick by Rourke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rourke misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've been told by Rourke's head coaches at Australian Xtreme Elite Stand Up Training that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Trane with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rourke to score with a decent uppercut.

Trane gets caught flat footed, as Rourke shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rourke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rourke is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rourke throwing strikes but missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Trane looking for a sweep. Not yet Trane, not yet.

Trane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rourke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rourke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke controlling from the top position.
Rourke scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rourke is looking to work some ground and pound but Trane has wrist control.

Trane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rourke is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rourke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rourke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rourke stopping the sweep attempt from Trane.
Rourke postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Trane keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.
Trane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rourke is one step ahead there.
Trane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rourke's guard.
Trane trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Trane with a nice head shot there.
Trane wants to pass the guard but Rourke is keeping the position.

Rourke is looking for a triangle but Trane pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rourke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Trane's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Trane trying to control but Rourke is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Trane looking to sit in guard and control but Rourke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Trane tries a head kick but it misses.
Trane throws a body punch but Rourke moves out of range.
Rourke lands a nice looking body kick.
Trane doesn't manage to clinch there - Rourke circles away.
Rourke throws out a leg kick but Trane moves out of range and Rourke only half commits.
Trane tries to move into range but Rourke moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Trane takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rourke throws a sloppy head kick and Trane moves out of range easily.
Trane checks a low kick from Rourke.
Rourke scores with a body shot.

Trane rushes Rourke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke avoids the elbow strike from Trane, against the cage.
Trane can't find room to land a body shot as Rourke controls the action.
Rourke tries for a takedown but Trane manages to get underhooks.

Rourke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rourke staying out of range there.
Rourke thuds a left hand into Trane's body.
Rourke fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Trane.
John Trane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rourke walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Trane checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rourke cracks the inside of Trane's front leg.
Trane slips a jab from Rourke.
Rourke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rourke connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rourke shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rourke seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Trane looking for a sweep. Not yet Trane, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Trane is on top in guard.
Trane passes Rourke's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rourke is looking for a sweep. Trane is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rourke gets full guard.
Rourke is trying to control the position but Trane postures up.
Rourke wants to hit a switch here but Trane passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rourke there!
Trane landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trane trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rourke is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rourke takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
BOOM! Trane connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rourke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rourke wants to control but Trane is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trane lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
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!
Trane is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Trane landing punches.
Trane controlling from the full mount.

Trane looking to secure an arm triangle but Rourke defends it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rourke is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Trane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Trane has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Trane!
A relieved looking John Trane thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.