PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kulma Rauta (ranked 2134 p4p, 1359 weight class) and Keith Chegwin (ranked 286 p4p, 182 weight class). Keith Chegwin told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rauta
vs
Chegwin

190 cm
21
178
4 - 0 - 1

176 cm
21
174
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Kulma Rauta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Keith Chegwin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chegwin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Chegwin ducks under a wild hook from Rauta.
Rauta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chegwin throws out a counter right but Rauta avoids it with no problem.
Chegwin has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Chegwin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rauta.
Rauta misses with an uppercut
and Chegwin counters with a straight right hand.
Chegwin misses with a body shot.
Chegwin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rauta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chegwin moves away.
Chegwin throws a shot from downtown. Rauta moves away and avoids it.
Chegwin scores with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chegwin moves away from the strike by Rauta.
A head kick by Rauta misses
and Chegwin counters with a nice uppercut.
Chegwin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Kulma Rauta has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chegwin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rauta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Chegwin throws a hook but Rauta blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Chegwin's head backwards.
Rauta scores with a head kick.

It looks like Keith Chegwin has been cut.
A jab from Chegwin misses.
Kulma Rauta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rauta lands a nice looking body kick.
We've been told by Rauta's head coaches at Jorzi GYM that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Chegwin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Chegwin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Chegwin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rauta's hands.
Rauta throws a nice looking combination but Chegwin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chegwin misses with a looping right.
Chegwin misses the shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Rauta as he connects with a hook.
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!
Chegwin misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chegwin misses with a wild body shot.
Chegwin misses with a straight right.
Rauta with the inside leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Rauta. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rauta.
Rauta lands a nice looking body kick.
Rauta lands a jab.
Rauta is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rauta is looking to slow Chegwin down with leg kicks.
Chegwin throws a poor cross that misses
and Rauta cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chegwin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Chegwin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rauta works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The fighters circling - Rauta throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauta throws a leg kick which misses Chegwin's front leg but catches the back leg as Chegwin tries to avoid it.
Rauta throws a leg kick that misses.
A good leg kick by Rauta.
Chegwin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rauta lands a leg kick that knocks Chegwin off balance momentarily.
Rauta defending well as Chegwin loads up on a big left hand.
Chegwin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chegwin misses with a wild body shot.
Rauta is looking to counter punch.
Rauta moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rauta misses with a body punch
and Chegwin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chegwin moves out of range as Rauta strikes.
Donk. Chegwin catches Rauta right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chegwin misses with an uppercut.
Chegwin looks to throw the jab but Rauta is out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rauta misses with a hook.
Chegwin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Chegwin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Chegwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chegwin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rauta misses with a body shot
and Chegwin counters with a left and a right that stings Rauta.
Rauta throws a big shot that misses.
Chegwin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rauta comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rauta slips a straight right by Chegwin.
Rauta tests Chegwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kulma Rauta dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Chegwin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rauta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Chegwin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rauta lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Chegwin at a distance.
Rauta bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rauta throws a looping overhand right but Chegwin ducks down to avoid it.
A nice side step and Chegwin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rauta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chegwin can do to turn this around?
Rauta looks to score with a jab to the body but Chegwin is just out of range.
Rauta takes one to the side of the head.
Rauta waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chegwin.
Despite the aggression on Chegwin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rauta swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Chegwin counters with a left to the body.
Rauta comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rauta gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rauta on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rauta is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta tests Chegwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Chegwin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rauta fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chegwin.
Kulma Rauta is winning the standup battle so far.
Rauta looks for the body kick but Chegwin saw that one coming.
Chegwin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rauta lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheers as Rauta lands an impressive looking overhand right. Chegwin doesn't seem phased though.
Rauta takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rauta pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Chegwin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A punch combination from Chegwin misses.
Rauta fires out a quick counter leg kick but Chegwin just manages to avoid it.
Chegwin lands a jab to the nose.
Rauta swings widly with a right hand
and Chegwin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Chegwin takes a swing at Rauta's ribcage but misses.
Nice cross by Chegwin.
Rauta scores with a hook.
Chegwin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rauta connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Chegwin scrambles back to his feet.
Chegwin misses with a straight right.
Rauta with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rauta scores with a leg kick.
Rauta moves away from the strike by Chegwin.
Chegwin throws a body punch but Rauta moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Rauta.
An inside leg kick lands from Rauta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chegwin.
Rauta lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rauta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chegwin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chegwin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rauta uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chegwin.
Chegwin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rauta moves out of range of the strikes.
Chegwin misses with a jab to the body
and Rauta counters with an inside leg kick.
Chegwin misses with a right hand
letting Rauta counter with a right hand.
Rauta throws an off balance right hand
and Chegwin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rauta throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rauta.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chegwin lands a nice shot to the body.
Chegwin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rauta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chegwin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Chegwin blocks a leg kick.
Chegwin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Chegwin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rauta - the referee stops the clock and Chegwin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rauta. Chegwin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Jab, jab by Rauta - just one landing.
Chegwin misses the body punch
enabling Rauta to counter with a crisp jab.
Chegwin throws a sloppy body shot
and Rauta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rauta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chegwin.
Rauta lands with a good body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chegwin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rauta looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kulma Rauta dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Chegwin misses with a straight right.
Rauta swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The fighters circling - Chegwin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rauta has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rauta there as he acknowledges the shot.
A jab from Chegwin finds it's way through Rauta's defenses.
Rauta lands a glancing blow to the side of Chegwin's head.
A big right from Chegwin misses.
Chegwin throws a nice looking combination but Rauta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chegwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rauta manages to avoid it.
Rauta throws a big counter combination but Chegwin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauta throws a body punch but Chegwin moves out of range.
Chegwin misses the shot to the body.
Rauta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chegwin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rauta with a body shot.
Chegwin throws a lazy uppercut
and Rauta counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Chegwin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rauta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chegwin.
Chegwin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Chegwin ducks under a wild hook from Rauta.
Chegwin throws a hook but Rauta blocks it.
Rauta avoids the body shot from Chegwin.
Rauta appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Chegwin lands with a shot to the body.
Chegwin throws a sloppy body shot
and Rauta counters with a leg kick.
Chegwin throws a hook but Rauta avoids it easily.
Rauta ducks under a wild hook from Chegwin.
Rauta scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rauta pivots, looking for a leg kick but Chegwin is out of range and Rauta settles back down.
Chegwin lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rauta.
Chegwin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rauta. That's going to slow Chegwin down.
Rauta throws a hook to the side of Chegwin's head but Chegwin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rauta uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rauta lands with a hook. Chegwin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Chegwin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rauta throws a lazy uppercut
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Chegwin counters with a straight right hand.
Chegwin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Chegwin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rauta on the side of the head.
Chegwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Keith Chegwin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chegwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Rauta throws a push kick but Chegwin slaps the foot to one side.
Rauta misses with a left hand
and Chegwin counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice uppercut there from Rauta.
Nice body punch from Rauta.
Chegwin throws a series of strikes that have Rauta backpedaling.
A shot to the body from Rauta misses
and Chegwin counters with a nice body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Chegwin misses the target.
Rauta works Chegwin's body with a nice hook.
Chegwin loads up on a big right hand but Rauta slips the punch.
Chegwin needs to keep his hands up - Rauta had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rauta scores with the left hand. Chegwin knows he should have avoided that one.
Chegwin lands with a hook. Rauta tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Kulma Rauta's cut is getting worse.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rauta.
Rauta throws a shot to the body.
Chegwin misses with a hook
and Rauta connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rauta connects with a leg kick.
Chegwin swings widly with a right hand
and Rauta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rauta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chegwin.
Rauta was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice uppercut there from Rauta.
Rauta connects with a solid leg kick.
Rauta lands a nice shot to the body.

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 Kulma Rauta.
Well Rauta 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kulma Rauta!