PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taine Raharuhi (ranked 318 p4p, 42 weight class) and Tony Hibbert (ranked 302 p4p, 38 weight class). Tony Hibbert has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Raharuhi
vs
Hibbert

180 cm
26
165 lbs
19 - 6 - 2

172 cm
26
160 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taine Raharuhi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Hibbert!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hibbert will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raharuhi scores with a decent looking hook.
Hibbert scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A telegraphed right hand from Hibbert misses the target.
Hibbert fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Raharuhi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hibbert throws a big shot that misses.
Raharuhi throws a looping overhand right but Hibbert ducks down to avoid it.
Raharuhi throws a hook to the side of Hibbert's head but Hibbert sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Raharuhi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hibbert to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Raharuhi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hibbert is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A short right from Raharuhi on the inside.
Hibbert has a couple of punches blocked by Raharuhi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hibbert.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Raharuhi.
Raharuhi misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Raharuhi throws an elbow but misses.
Raharuhi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Raharuhi scores with a shoulder strike.
Hibbert swings wildly with an uppercut but Raharuhi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raharuhi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hibbert prevents a body shot from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Raharuhi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hibbert lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Raharuhi or not.
Raharuhi throws an elbow that misses.
Hibbert gets through Raharuhi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Raharuhi digs a right hand into Hibbert's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hibbert's gas tank.
A short right from Hibbert on the inside.
Raharuhi scores with a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raharuhi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hibbert misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Raharuhi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Hibbert fails to land.
Raharuhi lands a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Raharuhi.
Hibbert has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Raharuhi seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hibbert can turn it around.

Raharuhi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raharuhi misses with a looping right.
Hibbert throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raharuhi.
Hibbert scores with a jab. Raharuhi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hibbert swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Raharuhi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Raharuhi throws a leg kick which misses Hibbert's front leg but catches the back leg as Hibbert tries to avoid it.
Hibbert throws a poor cross that misses
and Raharuhi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Raharuhi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hibbert counters with an inside leg kick.
We've been told by Raharuhi's head coaches at Runts Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Raharuhi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hibbert will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raharuhi tried to counter with a leg kick but Hibbert avoided it.

Hibbert throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Raharuhi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hibbert is in Raharuhi's guard.
Raharuhi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Raharuhi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hibbert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hibbert slips nicely into half guard.
Hibbert throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Raharuhi wants to improve his position but Hibbert is controlling well.
Hibbert tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raharuhi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Hibbert wants to work for an arm triangle but Raharuhi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Raharuhi wants to control but Hibbert is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hibbert is trying to control the action in half guard but Raharuhi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Raharuhi wants to improve his position but Hibbert is controlling well.
Hibbert performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hibbert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Raharuhi keeps working.
Raharuhi is trying to get back to full guard.

Hibbert is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hibbert passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Raharuhi!
Hibbert trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taine Raharuhi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raharuhi misses with an uppercut. Hibbert saw that one coming.
Tony Hibbert seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hibbert is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raharuhi.
Tony Hibbert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raharuhi throws a lazy right hand but Hibbert sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A lazy body kick from Hibbert
and Raharuhi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Raharuhi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hibbert misses with a double jab
and Raharuhi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hibbert uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Raharuhi.
Hibbert staying out of range there.
Hibbert throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Raharuhi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hibbert has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hibbert tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hibbert clinches with his opponent.
Raharuhi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A hook to the body from Raharuhi.
Hibbert taking a breather.
Raharuhi lands a hook that snaps the head of Hibbert backwards.
Raharuhi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hibbert throws a punch but it's blocked by Raharuhi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hibbert.
A body shot lands from Raharuhi.
Hibbert is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Raharuhi misses with a punch on the inside.
Hibbert goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Raharuhi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Raharuhi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hibbert prevents a body shot from Raharuhi.
Hibbert has a couple of punches blocked by Raharuhi.
Hibbert misses with a hook from the clinch.
Raharuhi tries a knee to the head but Hibbert blocks it.
Raharuhi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hibbert has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Raharuhi scores with a shoulder strike.
Hibbert blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Raharuhi is leaning against Hibbert and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Raharuhi lands with a right to the head.
Hibbert is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Raharuhi misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raharuhi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hibbert lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Raharuhi blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hibbert.
Raharuhi is leaning against Hibbert and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Raharuhi breaks from the clinch.
Hibbert misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Raharuhi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A low kick from Hibbert misses
and Raharuhi counters with a straight right hand.
Raharuhi dodges the punch combination from Hibbert.
It looked like Raharuhi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hibbert throws a series of punches but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Hibbert misses with a body shot.
Hibbert lands a really nice looking cross but Raharuhi seems unphased.
Raharuhi scores with a jab.
Hibbert throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raharuhi appears to be looking for a big counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raharuhi. Hibbert does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hibbert attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raharuhi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hibbert is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Raharuhi slips a jab and a cross from Hibbert.
Hibbert throws a low kick but Raharuhi moves out of range easily.
Hibbert looks for the body kick but Raharuhi saw that one coming.
Raharuhi avoids the body shot from Hibbert.
Raharuhi misses with a straight left.
Hibbert throws a low kick but Raharuhi moves out of range easily.
Raharuhi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hibbert tries to clinch up.
Tony Hibbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raharuhi throws a low kick but Hibbert moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Hibbert on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Raharuhi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hibbert throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A big right from Raharuhi misses.
Raharuhi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hibbert has time to react.
Raharuhi lands a body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Raharuhi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raharuhi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hibbert throws a low kick but it's checked well by Raharuhi.
Nice body punch from Raharuhi.
Hibbert goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hibbert swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A jab from Raharuhi finds it's way through Hibbert's defenses.
Raharuhi digs a good body shot into Hibbert's ribs.
Raharuhi catches Hibbert with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hibbert swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raharuhi slips under a jab.
Hibbert misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi is looking to counter punch.
Hibbert misses with a jab to the body
and Raharuhi counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raharuhi lands with a kick to the temple. Hibbert shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A decent looking cross lands there for Raharuhi.
Raharuhi throws a head kick that misses.
Hibbert throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taine Raharuhi dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Hibbert drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Raharuhi throws a leg kick but Hibbert sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hibbert jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hibbert fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Raharuhi throws a shot from downtown. Hibbert moves away and avoids it.
Raharuhi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hibbert swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Hibbert shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Raharuhi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hibbert throws a big elbow that misses.
Hibbert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raharuhi trying to control the position.
Raharuhi wants to sweep here but Hibbert controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hibbert is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hibbert stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raharuhi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raharuhi controlling the position.
Hibbert wants to control from the top but Raharuhi keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hibbert drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Hibbert drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Raharuhi dives on top into guard.

Raharuhi trying to control but Hibbert is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert looking to control.
Raharuhi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hibbert's guard.
Hibbert is pressing down on Raharuhi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Hibbert is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hibbert takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raharuhi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Hibbert throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hibbert trying to keep a closed guard but Raharuhi is proving a slippery customer.
Tony Hibbert has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raharuhi won't allow Hibbert to sweep him here.
Hibbert not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Raharuhi wants to pass the guard but Hibbert is keeping the position.
Raharuhi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raharuhi stops Hibbert from standing up.
Raharuhi wants to control from the top but Hibbert keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raharuhi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hibbert looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The crowd cheers as Raharuhi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hibbert doesn't seem phased though.
Raharuhi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hibbert throws a series of punches but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Hibbert avoids the body shot from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi throws a right hand that Hibbert ducks under and follows up with a left that Hibbert also avoids with ease.
Raharuhi cracks a nice hook into Hibbert's ribs.
Raharuhi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hibbert scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Raharuhi misses with a left hand

and Hibbert counters by clinching up.
Raharuhi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hibbert tries to work over Raharuhi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Raharuhi pushes Hibbert back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hibbert swings wildly with an uppercut but Raharuhi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raharuhi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hibbert backwards.
Raharuhi swings wildly with an uppercut but Hibbert uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tony Hibbert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hibbert tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

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 Taine Raharuhi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raharuhi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taine Raharuhi!
A very excited looking Taine Raharuhi rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.