PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rathman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rathman comes to the cage accompanied by Nothing Else Matters - Metallica. Freeman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Its goin down kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jake Freeman has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tom Rathman's chin.

Rathman
vs
Freeman

185 cm
19
255 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rathman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Freeman.
Freeman throws a body punch but Rathman moves out of range.
Rathman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rathman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Freeman.

It looks like Tom Rathman has been cut.
Freeman lands a head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freeman digs a good body shot into Rathman's ribs.
Rathman slips a jab from Freeman.
A solid leg kick lands there for Freeman.
Freeman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman throws a right and a left that Rathman avoids nicely.
Rathman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Freeman.
Freeman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jake Freeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rathman avoids the head kick by Freeman.
Freeman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rathman blocks a head kick by Freeman.
Freeman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rathman manages to avoid it.

That's two 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.
Freeman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rathman moves out of range as Freeman throws a body kick.
Freeman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Freeman lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Freeman throws a push kick but Rathman slaps the foot to one side.
Rathman takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Good work by Rathman as he checks the leg kick.
Freeman throws a series of punches but Rathman moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Freeman lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rathman has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rathman and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throws a right and a left that Rathman avoids nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Freeman.
Rathman avoids the head kick by Freeman.
Rathman closes the distance and clinches up with Freeman, looking for a takedown. Rathman pushes Freeman against the cage but Freeman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Freeman scores with a head kick.
Rathman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Freeman circles away.
Freeman throws a right hand that Rathman ducks under and follows up with a left that Rathman also avoids with ease.
Freeman throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rathman manages to avoid it.
Freeman lands with a slapping head kick.
Freeman tries a head kick but it misses.
Freeman misses with a two punch combination.
Rathman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Freeman avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rathman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rathman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Freeman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Freeman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Rathman's cut.
That's time! Rathman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck for Rathman with that takedown attempt.
Freeman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Freeman just misses with a punch to the body.
Freeman throws the left hand but Rathman avoids the punch easily.
Rathman doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman throws a right hand that Rathman ducks under and follows up with a left that Rathman also avoids with ease.
Freeman misses with a series of wild punches.
Rathman blocks a head kick by Freeman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman cracks the inside of Rathman's front leg.
Freeman misses with a body kick.
Rathman moves out of range as Freeman throws a body kick.
Freeman slaps away a takedown attempt from Rathman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rathman. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Freeman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jake Freeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rathman takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Freeman finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Freeman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Freeman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rathman blocks a head kick by Freeman.
Freeman thows a body shot but no joy.
Rathman blocks a head kick by Freeman.
Freeman throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Freeman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rathman.
Freeman leaves Rathman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rathman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman fails to land with a series of punches.
Freeman will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rathman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Freeman sprawls well. Freeman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rathman gets slowly back to his feet.
Freeman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Freeman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rathman circles away quickly and effectively.
Freeman tries to bum rush Rathman with a series of wild strikes but Rathman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rathman slips a straight right by Freeman.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rathman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Freeman - the referee stops the clock and Rathman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Freeman. Rathman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Freeman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Freeman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Freeman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Freeman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tom Rathman's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rathman moves out of range of the body kick.
Freeman lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Rathman might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Freeman throws a right hand that Rathman ducks under and follows up with a left that Rathman also avoids with ease.
Rathman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Freeman misses with a series of wild punches.
Rathman avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Freeman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jake Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Freeman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Freeman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Freeman throws a leg kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Freeman.
Rathman moves out of range of the leg kick from Freeman.
Rathman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Freeman leaves Rathman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rathman checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rathman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freeman but Freeman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rathman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Freeman misses.
Rathman slips a jab and a cross from Freeman.

Rathman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rathman prevents Freeman from getting back to his feet.
Freeman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rathman has gone for a leg lock! Freeman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rathman's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rathman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rathman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rathman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Freeman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Freeman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Freeman gets to his feet - Rathman follows without any prompting.
Freeman tries to land a front kick but Rathman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tom Rathman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Freeman.
Rathman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Freeman avoids it really well and circles away.
Rathman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Freeman tries a head kick but it misses.
Jake Freeman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Freeman throws a series of punches but Rathman moves out of range.

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 Tom Rathman.
I think Freeman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 25:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Freeman!