PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Bard (ranked 2630 p4p, 3916 weight class) and Tarmo Rajantaka (ranked 347 p4p, 495 weight class). Mike Bard could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tarmo Rajantaka's chin.

Bard
vs
Rajantaka

188 cm
27
205
4 - 3 - 0

187 cm
21
205
4 - 4 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Bard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarmo Rajantaka!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Bard misses.
Bard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rajantaka circles away quickly and effectively.
Bard throws a jab but it's blocked by Rajantaka.
Rajantaka thuds his shin into the meat of Bard's side.
Rajantaka takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bard throws a lazy uppercut
and Rajantaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rajantaka scores with a push kick.
Bard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rajantaka dodges the punch combination from Bard.
Bard jabs at Rajantaka's body.

Rajantaka has managed to clinch.
Rajantaka lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rajantaka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Mike Bard has been cut.
Rajantaka has Bard pressed against the cage, preventing Bard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Bard successfully pulls guard.
Rajantaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Bard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bard trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bard is on top in guard.

Bard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rajantaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bard has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bard trying to control the position from guard on top but Rajantaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rajantaka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bard.
Rajantaka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rajantaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rajantaka keeping moving, preventing Bard from controlling successfully.
Bard 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bard throws a big elbow that misses.
Bard trying to control but Rajantaka is working from the bottom.
Bard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bard postures up in Rajantaka's guard and throws a big left but Rajantaka blocks it.
Bard postures up in Rajantaka's guard and throws a big left but Rajantaka blocks it.
Bard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rajantaka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rajantaka controls Bard momentarily but Bard frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice shot lands for Bard.
Bard throws a right and a left that Rajantaka avoids nicely.

Rajantaka drives through and clinches with Bard against the cage.
Rajantaka lands a right hand.
Rajantaka landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rajantaka.
Rajantaka with a knee to the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rajantaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bard is breathing heavily.
Rajantaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bard blocks it with crossed arms.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rajantaka leaning against his opponent.
Rajantaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bard throws a punch but it's blocked by Rajantaka.
Rajantaka tries to work over Bard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rajantaka slowing the pace effectively.
Rajantaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajantaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bard is trying to push Rajantaka away but Rajantaka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Bard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rajantaka. That's going to slow Bard down.
Bard's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bard duly obliges.
Rajantaka throws a head kick but Bard moves out of range.
Bard ducks under a wild hook from Rajantaka.
Rajantaka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Rajantaka closes the distance and clinches.
Rajantaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rajantaka tries a knee to the head but Bard blocks it.
Bard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rajantaka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rajantaka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bard jumps guard but Rajantaka stands there with Bard around his waist. Bard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Bard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Bard fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tarmo Rajantaka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Bard's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rajantaka is looking to land body kicks.
Bard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Rajantaka counter with a right hand.
Rajantaka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rajantaka needs to keep his hands up - Bard had a free shot at his head there.
Bard misses with a body shot.
Rajantaka misses with a kick to the body.
Bard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rajantaka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bard scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rajantaka misses with a body kick.
Rajantaka connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bard tries to bum rush Rajantaka with a series of wild strikes but Rajantaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rajantaka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rajantaka wants it to stay on the feet.
Bard scores with a nice strike.
Bard defending well as Rajantaka loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rajantaka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mike Bard is winning the standup battle so far.
Bard throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajantaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bard throws a leg kick
and Rajantaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Rajantaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bard moves away.
Rajantaka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tarmo Rajantaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rajantaka works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bard tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rajantaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from Bard misses its intended target.
Some bone on bone action there as Rajantaka checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rajantaka keeps Bard at a distance using the push kick.
Bard throws a leg kick
and Rajantaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rajantaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Rajantaka has closed the distance and engaged Bard in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rajantaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rajantaka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rajantaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rajantaka lands an elbow inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rajantaka smiles and moves away.
Rajantaka tries to clinch but Bard is having none of it.
Bard shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Bard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rajantaka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rajantaka lands a nice looking body shot.
Bard takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rajantaka.

Rajantaka moves into the clinch successfully.
Rajantaka lands a nice knee to the body.
Bard tries to pull guard but Rajantaka won't allow it.
Bard can't break the clinch.
Rajantaka prevents a body shot from Bard.
Bard is trying to drag Rajantaka to the mat but Rajantaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rajantaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rajantaka scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajantaka scores a nice knee to the body.
Rajantaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bard blocks it with crossed arms.
Rajantaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rajantaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rajantaka gets through Bard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rajantaka just leaning against Bard, taking a breather.
Rajantaka connects with a knee to the head.
Rajantaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rajantaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rajantaka stalling against the cage.
Bard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rajantaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bard's face.
Bard is trying to pull guard but Rajantaka has him pressed against the cage.
Bard fails to pull guard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rajantaka.
Rajantaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice elbow from Rajantaka.

Bard is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajantaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Oh Bard is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rajantaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rajantaka working the clinch nicely. Bard is working for position but Rajantaka cracks him with a big knee to the head! Bard crumples up against the cage and Rajantaka lands two more shots before the ref can save Bard! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). Tarmo Rajantaka!
After winning the bout, Tarmo Rajantaka thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.