PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cokorda Raka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magomed Guseinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cokorda Raka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raka
vs
Guseinov

172 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Determined

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 Rio de Janeiro, Cokorda Raka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Magomed Guseinov!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Raka blocks the elbow strike.
Raka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guseinov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Guseinov lands an elbow inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Guseinov throws an elbow but misses.
Raka is trying to drag Guseinov to the mat but Guseinov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Raka can't break the clinch.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Guseinov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it misses.
Raka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guseinov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cokorda Raka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Guseinov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Guseinov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Guseinov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Raka's defenses.
Raka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Raka avoids the elbow strike from Guseinov, against the cage.
Guseinov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Guseinov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Raka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Guseinov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raka circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guseinov has managed to clinch.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it misses.
Guseinov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Guseinov lands a nice elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Guseinov.
Guseinov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Guseinov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Guseinov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Guseinov is pressed up against the cage. Raka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Guseinov down to the mat. Guseinov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Raka rushes Guseinov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raka tries to pull guard but Guseinov won't allow it.
Raka tries to pull guard but Guseinov won't allow it.
Raka is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Guseinov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Guseinov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Raka's brow.
Guseinov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Raka blocks an elbow strike.
Guseinov lands an elbow just above Raka 's eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Guseinov throws an elbow but misses.
Guseinov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Guseinov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the fighters up against the cage, Guseinov throws an elbow but misses.
Raka jumps guard but Guseinov stands there with Raka around his waist. Raka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raka blocks the elbow strike.
Raka dodges an elbow strike from Guseinov.
Nice elbow from Guseinov.
Guseinov lands an elbow just above Raka 's eye.
Raka blocks an elbow strike from Guseinov.
Guseinov misses with an elbow strike.
Raka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Guseinov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Guseinov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Raka's defenses.
Guseinov misses with an elbow strike.
Guseinov misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Guseinov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Magomed Guseinov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guseinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Guseinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raka swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Guseinov moves into the clinch.
Guseinov lands an elbow inside that Raka shrugs off.
Guseinov throws an elbow that misses.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it misses.
Raka dodges an elbow strike from Guseinov.
Raka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Guseinov misses with an elbow over the top.
Guseinov lands an elbow inside.
Magomed Guseinov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Raka tries to break free but Guseinov pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raka blocks an elbow strike from Guseinov.
Raka blocks the elbow strike.
Guseinov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Raka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raka takes an elbow to the forehead.
Guseinov keeps control of Raka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raka tries to pull guard but Guseinov holds him up against the cage and eventually Raka drops back down to his feet.
Guseinov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it misses.
Guseinov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Guseinov lands an elbow just above Raka 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guseinov lands an elbow inside.
Raka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Guseinov smiles and moves away.
Guseinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raka shoots in but Guseinov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cokorda Raka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guseinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Guseinov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Raka clinches.
Guseinov lands a damaging elbow.
Guseinov throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guseinov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Guseinov lands a nice elbow.
Guseinov misses with an elbow strike.
Guseinov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Guseinov lands a damaging elbow.
Raka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guseinov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raka jumps guard but Guseinov stands there with Raka around his waist. Raka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Guseinov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Guseinov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Guseinov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Raka's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Raka jumps guard but Guseinov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Raka is trying to pull guard but Guseinov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Guseinov.

It looks like Cokorda Raka has been cut.
Guseinov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Raka avoids a wild elbow strike from Guseinov.
Guseinov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Raka avoids a wild elbow strike from Guseinov.
Nice elbow from Guseinov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Guseinov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Guseinov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Guseinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cokorda Raka's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Guseinov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Raka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Raka misses with a head kick.
Guseinov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Guseinov moves in looking to clinch but Raka pushes him off.
Guseinov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Guseinov gets a clinch.
Raka tries to pull guard but Guseinov holds him up against the cage and eventually Raka drops back down to his feet.
Guseinov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Guseinov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Guseinov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Guseinov pushes off an throws an elbow but Raka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Guseinov to keep the fight standing.
Guseinov lands an elbow inside.
Guseinov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Guseinov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Raka blocks an elbow strike.
Guseinov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Guseinov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Raka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cokorda Raka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guseinov lands a damaging elbow.
Guseinov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Raka takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Raka avoids the elbow strike from Guseinov, against the cage.
Guseinov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Raka dodges an elbow strike from Guseinov.
Raka wants to take the fight to the mat but Guseinov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Raka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Guseinov to keep the fight standing.
Guseinov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Raka avoids the elbow strike from Guseinov, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Guseinov throws an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Guseinov.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guseinov pushes off an throws an elbow but Raka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Guseinov lands an elbow inside.
Raka has had enough of the clinch but Guseinov keeps him there for the moment.
Raka takes an elbow to the forehead.
Raka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guseinov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raka blocks the elbow strike.
Raka tries to pull guard but Guseinov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Guseinov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Raka's brow.
Raka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Guseinov walks away with a smile on his face. Raka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Guseinov darts in trying to clinch

and Raka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Raka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guseinov lands an elbow that stopped Raka in his tracks for a moment.
Raka jumps guard but Guseinov stands there with Raka around his waist. Raka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Guseinov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Raka blocks an elbow strike from Guseinov.
Raka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Guseinov lands an elbow that stopped Raka in his tracks for a moment.
Guseinov misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Guseinov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Guseinov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Guseinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Guseinov 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight for Magomed Guseinov!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Magomed Guseinov!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Magomed Guseinov!

Magomed Guseinov wins by unanimous decision!