PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Rack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Panther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rack
vs
Panther

185 cm
27
205 lbs
5 - 8 - 1

191 cm
36
205 lbs
9 - 19 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Brandon Rack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Panther!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rack on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rack darts in trying to clinch

and Panther counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rack tries to get to full guard but Panther has control of the leg.
Panther is nestled in close to Rack, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Panther lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Panther throws a strike but Rack avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Rack is looking for a triangle but Panther pushes his legs off easily.

Rack scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Panther scores with a sloppy right hand. Rack should have avoided that one.
Rack tries to close the distance and clinch up but Panther swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Panther swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rack dives in and grabs Panther's left leg, looking for a takedown. Panther pushes down on Rack's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rack shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Panther but Panther pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rack.

Rack is trying to get an arm triangle but Panther is defending well.
Panther isn't going anywhere.
Rack in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Rack tries for a kimura but Panther is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rack in the domination position with Panther hanging on.

Rack tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Panther is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Rack.
Panther dodges the ground and pound from Rack.
Panther really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rack. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rack looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Panther managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rack.

Rack working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Panther can do anything to dispel that myth.

Rack working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Panther tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Rack tries for a kimura but Panther is defending well.
Rack throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Panther avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rack.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rack lands some shots froms side control.
Rack misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Rack dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Panther.

Rack clinches up with Panther and pushes him back against the cage.
Rack is pressed up against the cage. Panther has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rack down to the mat. Rack avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Rack has Panther up against the cage in a clinch.
Rack is pressed up against the cage. Panther has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rack down to the mat. Rack avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Brandon Rack has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Panther.

Panther shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rack manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rack pushes Panther off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rack goes for a double leg but Panther avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Panther continues to drive forward.
Panther misses with a low kick.
Rack seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rack shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rack looks for a takedown but Panther sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Panther shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rack pinned against the cage. Rack gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rack doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Panther counter with a right hand.
Rack moves to clinch but Panther breaks away

and Panther counters with a shoot takedown. Rack fights it but they end up in guard.
Panther is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Brandon Rack overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Panther prevents Rack from getting back to his feet.
Panther connects with a couple of short punches.
Panther connects with a couple of short punches.
Panther must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panther is working Rack over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rack will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Panther chips away with some ground and pound.
Panther connects with a couple of short punches.
Panther is working Rack over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Panther throws a strike but Rack rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rack won't allow Panther to sweep him here.
Rack pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Panther is keeping the position for now.
Panther avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rack throwing strikes but missing.
Rack throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panther tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rack throws a big right hand that misses.
Rack loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Panther lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rack escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Panther gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Panther lands a couple of elbows.
Rack is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rack pushes Panther off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panther scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rack has been working on his balance at DaJet Conditioning, Transition, Escape School, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Panther.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Panther.
It looked like Rack was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rack tries to clinch but Panther moves away
and Panther connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Panther tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rack defends well and Panther ends up having to push Rack into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rack dives in and grabs Panther's left leg, looking for a takedown. Panther pushes down on Rack's head and hops out.
Rack fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Panther avoids it really well and circles away.
Panther is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brandon Rack will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Panther scores with a takedown into Rack's guard.

Rack manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rack shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Panther defends it nicely.

Panther gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rack postures up in Panther's guard and throws a big left but Panther blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rack in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Panther preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Panther working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rack.
Panther 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.
Rack has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Rack postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Panther is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rack, into his guard.

Panther is in close to Rack's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Panther is in close to Rack's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rack 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panther stands up over Rack, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Panther is working Rack over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Panther with a nice head shot there.
Panther lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Panther working some strikes from top position.

Rack had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Panther defends it easily.
Panther stands up over Rack, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rack is rocked!
Panther lands a couple of digs.
Oh Rack is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Panther cracks Rack with a solid left hand.
Panther gets to his feet and stands over Rack, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Rack felt that one! Panther unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Rack from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Panther!