PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taine Raharuhi (ranked 686 p4p, 87 weight class) and Kostya Tszyu (ranked 586 p4p, 74 weight class). Tszyu has chosen Till the End of Time as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Raharuhi
vs
Tszyu

180 cm
28
165 lbs
22 - 9 - 2

185 cm
33
160 lbs
25 - 10 - 4

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Kore Fight Nutrition
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 22 - 9 - 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 25 - 10 - 4, fighting out of New York, Kostya Tszyu!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raharuhi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tszyu takes a step back to recover.
Tszyu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raharuhi was well out of range. Poor timing from Tszyu.
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.
Tszyu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Raharuhi.
Tszyu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jab by Raharuhi.
Tszyu avoids the body shot from Raharuhi.
Tszyu is trying to counter with his kicks.
Raharuhi swings for the body but Tszyu moves out of range.
Raharuhi lands with a cross.
Raharuhi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Raharuhi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tszyu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tszyu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Raharuhi throws a low kick but Tszyu moves out of range easily.
Raharuhi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tszyu lands a high kick!
Tszyu looks to land a right hand but Raharuhi moved out of range.
Jab by Tszyu.
Tszyu misses with a body shot.
Raharuhi throwing a counter right hand but Tszyu manages to avoid it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Raharuhi tries a low kick but Tszyu avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raharuhi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Raharuhi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tszyu throws a series of punches but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Tszyu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tszyu connects with a nice looking jab.
Tszyu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tszyu misses with a hook. Raharuhi ducked under it nicely.
Raharuhi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tszyu.
Raharuhi misses the shot to the body.
Tszyu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Raharuhi.
Tszyu misses with a hook. Raharuhi ducked under it nicely.
Tszyu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tszyu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Raharuhi.
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!
Raharuhi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tszyu has time to react.
Raharuhi cracks Tszyu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Raharuhi tries a head kick but it misses.
Raharuhi lands with an overhand left.
Raharuhi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tszyu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice body punch from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi misses with a two punch combination.
Raharuhi throws a front kick aimed at Tszyu's knee but Tszyu avoids it well.
A chopping leg kick lands by Raharuhi.
Raharuhi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tszyu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Raharuhi checks a leg kick nicely.
Raharuhi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tszyu moves away.
Raharuhi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Raharuhi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tszyu was well out of range. Poor timing from Raharuhi.
A punch combination from Tszyu misses.
Tszyu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tszyu throws a right hand that Raharuhi ducks under and follows up with a left that Raharuhi also avoids with ease.
Raharuhi needs to keep his hands up - Tszyu had a free shot at his head there.
Raharuhi avoids the body shot from Tszyu.
Tszyu looks to throw the jab but Raharuhi is out of range.
Tszyu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raharuhi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tszyu moves away from the strike by Raharuhi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Raharuhi wants to land a leg kick but Tszyu is out of range.
Tszyu throws a poor cross that misses
and Raharuhi counters with a nice uppercut.
Tszyu scores with a shot to the body.
Raharuhi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tszyu is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Raharuhi with a body shot.
Tszyu misses with a head kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Raharuhi misses the target.
Tszyu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tszyu jabs at Raharuhi's body.
Raharuhi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tszyu.
Raharuhi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Raharuhi works the jab nicely.
Tszyu throws a right hand that Raharuhi ducks under and follows up with a left that Raharuhi also avoids with ease.
Tszyu throws a push kick but Raharuhi slaps the foot to one side.
Nice shot by Raharuhi.
Raharuhi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
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!
Raharuhi throws a jab but it's blocked by Tszyu.
Tszyu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Raharuhi connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raharuhi.
Tszyu throws the kick towards the body but Raharuhi avoids it.
Tszyu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raharuhi.
A right-left combo lands from Tszyu.
Raharuhi ducks under a wild hook from Tszyu.
Tszyu checks a leg kick nicely.
Tszyu looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tszyu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good work by Raharuhi as he checks the leg kick.
Raharuhi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tszyu throws a leg kick
and Raharuhi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tszyu is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Tszyu misses with a body kick.
Raharuhi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tszyu. Raharuhi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tszyu wants to slow Raharuhi down by chopping away at his legs.
Raharuhi looks to land a body kick but Tszyu moved away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tszyu throws a big shot that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tszyu.
Tszyu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
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' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tszyu looks to land a combination. Raharuhi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tszyu lands a lovely overhand right.
Taine Raharuhi is winning the standup battle so far.
Tszyu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Raharuhi backs up against the cage.
Raharuhi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tszyu misses with a body punch
and Raharuhi counters with a good low kick that Tszyu was not able to check.
Raharuhi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tszyu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tszyu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tszyu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Raharuhi.
Tszyu throws a body shot but no joy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tszyu lands a nice shot that snaps Raharuhi's head back.
Good standup being displayed there by Tszyu as he connects with a hook.

Tszyu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tszyu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tszyu tries to work over Raharuhi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tszyu prevents a body shot from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi digs a right hand underneath Tszyu's ribcage. Tszyu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Raharuhi scores with a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Raharuhi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu struggles to land a body shot inside as Raharuhi controls his hands.
Tszyu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Raharuhi lands a shot to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Raharuhi.
Raharuhi lands with a short shot to the head.
Tszyu throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short body shot lands from Raharuhi as the two fighters clinch.
Tszyu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tszyu tries a body shot but Raharuhi blocks it.
Tszyu misses with a knee strike.
Tszyu tries to throw a body punch but Raharuhi avoids it by throwing Tszyu back against the cage.
Raharuhi lands with a right to the head.
Tszyu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch on the inside from Raharuhi fails to land.
Tszyu has a couple of punches blocked by Raharuhi.
Tszyu trying to land knees to the body.
Raharuhi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tszyu backwards.
Tszyu misses with a knee to the head.
Taine Raharuhi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tszyu is looking to break free of the clinch but Raharuhi has double underhooks.

Raharuhi breaks the clinch.
Raharuhi cracks the inside of Tszyu's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raharuhi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Raharuhi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tszyu. That did some damage!
Raharuhi scores with a nice strike.
Kostya Tszyu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tszyu avoids the body shot from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi lands a nice hook to Tszyu's body. Tszyu takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tszyu misses with a double jab
and Raharuhi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tszyu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tszyu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raharuhi is looking to chop away at Tszyu's legs.
Raharuhi throws a leg kick
and Tszyu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Raharuhi scores with a one two! Tszyu had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Raharuhi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice defenses there by Tszyu.
Raharuhi blocks a head kick by Tszyu.
Tszyu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raharuhi.
Despite the aggression on Tszyu's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Tszyu swinging wildly here.
Raharuhi throws a quick counter head kick but Tszyu was just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tszyu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tszyu throws a shot to the body.
Raharuhi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tszyu manages to avoid it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tszyu. Raharuhi shrugs it off though.
Raharuhi takes a swing at Tszyu's ribcage but misses.
Raharuhi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tszyu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Raharuhi missing with a left hand there. Tszyu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Raharuhi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Raharuhi scores with a hook.

Tszyu darts in and clinches Raharuhi up against the cage.
Raharuhi misses with the head strike.
Tszyu throws a head punch that misses.
Tszyu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tszyu prevents a body shot from Raharuhi.
Tszyu misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Raharuhi backwards.
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!
A left hand lands to the body for Tszyu.
Tszyu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tszyu throws a head punch that misses.
Raharuhi blocking some punches.
Tszyu struggles to land a body shot inside as Raharuhi controls his hands.
Raharuhi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tszyu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Raharuhi fails to land.
Tszyu tries to circle away but Raharuhi has him pinned against the cage.
Raharuhi misses with a hook to the ribs.

Raharuhi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Raharuhi ducks under a wild hook from Tszyu.
Raharuhi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tszyu throws a chopping leg kick but Raharuhi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tszyu fails to land with a series of punches.
Tszyu avoids the body shot from Raharuhi.
Tszyu throws a big counter head kick but Raharuhi avoids it with no problem.
Raharuhi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tszyu is looking to slow Raharuhi down with leg kicks.
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 Taine Raharuhi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tszyu throws a lazy right hand but Raharuhi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Raharuhi tries a head kick but it misses.
Tszyu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A counter left hand to the body from Raharuhi misses its target.
Tszyu blocks a jab.
Tszyu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A left lands for Tszyu.
Raharuhi is looking to wear down Tszyu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Raharuhi misses the body punch
and Tszyu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tszyu looks to throw the jab but Raharuhi is out of range.
Tszyu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Raharuhi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sloppy strikes from Tszyu. Those never looked like landing.
Raharuhi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Tszyu just manages to avoid it.
Tszyu feints a jab promting Raharuhi to slip. Tszyu then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Raharuhi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Raharuhi staying out of range there.

Raharuhi gets tackled into the cage by Tszyu. Tszyu maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raharuhi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tszyu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Raharuhi is defending well for now.
Tszyu working aggressively here.
Raharuhi pushes Tszyu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Raharuhi.
Tszyu misses with some punches.
Tszyu blocks an uppercut.

Tszyu breaks the clinch.
Raharuhi misses with a low kick.
Raharuhi looks to throw the jab but Tszyu is out of range.
Tszyu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tszyu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A shot to the liver by Raharuhi. Beautiful body shot.
Raharuhi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tszyu.
A slapping leg kick lands for Raharuhi.
Tszyu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A shot to the liver by Raharuhi. Beautiful body shot.
Tszyu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Tszyu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raharuhi takes a swing at Tszyu's ribcage but misses.
Raharuhi clobbers Tszyu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tszyu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raharuhi. Tszyu does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tszyu 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.
Kostya Tszyu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Tszyu misses.
Tszyu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tszyu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raharuhi catches Tszyu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tszyu throws a head kick but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Raharuhi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tszyu doesn't seem bothered though.
Raharuhi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tszyu's head backwards.
Raharuhi connects with a body shot.
Raharuhi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tszyu.
Tszyu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Raharuhi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tszyu walks into a stiff left hand from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tszyu was well out of range. Poor timing from Raharuhi.
Tszyu scores with a shot to the body.
Raharuhi misses with an uppercut.
Tszyu throws a series of punches but Raharuhi moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu throws a big shot that misses.
Tszyu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Raharuhi slips a jab and a cross from Tszyu.
Tszyu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tszyu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raharuhi lands a nice shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Raharuhi.
Jab, jab by Raharuhi - just one landing.
Tszyu lands a right hook to the body.
Tszyu tries a head kick but it misses.
Raharuhi connects with a body shot.
Raharuhi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tszyu throws out the jab.
Raharuhi digs a good body shot into Tszyu's ribs.
A head kick misses from Tszyu.
Raharuhi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raharuhi stuns Tszyu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Raharuhi tests Tszyu's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raharuhi just misses with a punch to the body.
Tszyu throws a head kick that misses.
As Tszyu backs away, Raharuhi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Raharuhi takes a swing at Tszyu's ribcage but misses.
Tszyu misses with a low kick.
Tszyu lands a right hook to the body.
Tszyu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tszyu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Raharuhi with a hook.
Raharuhi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Raharuhi catches Tszyu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Raharuhi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tszyu.
Raharuhi misses with a body shot.
Raharuhi lands a lovely overhand right.
Raharuhi lands a jab to Tszyu's midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tszyu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi fails to land with a series of punches.
Raharuhi throws a good cross that connects.
Raharuhi sizes up Tszyu with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taine Raharuhi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raharuhi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taine Raharuhi!
Taine Raharuhi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Kostya Tszyu spoke after the fight, saying 'We thought we changed the game plan enough to sneak out a victory, well fought by Duffy. I hope he makes a tough challenge for the champion. '.