PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roman Vitali (ranked 3060 p4p, 2992 weight class) and Jukka Raikkonen (ranked 333 p4p, 328 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vitali might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to ULKENDER - Machenskii. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vitali
vs
Raikkonen

180 cm
25
180
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
177
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Vitali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jukka Raikkonen!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raikkonen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vitali!
Vitali is not content to let Raikkonen control the position.
Vitali is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vitali is not content to let Raikkonen control the position.
Vitali definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vitali is trying to improve his position.
Raikkonen is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Vitali's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's two 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.
Vitali is not content to let Raikkonen control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vitali shoots in for a takedown but Raikkonen shows good takedown defense.

Vitali gets caught napping as Raikkonen dives in and scores a takedown. Vitali manages to retain guard.
Raikkonen is fighting to break Vitali's control of his arms but Vitali is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Raikkonen wants to control from the top but Vitali keeps moving.
Raikkonen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raikkonen is looking to take a break and control but Vitali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitali tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Raikkonen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vitali prevents Raikkonen from improving position.
Raikkonen is looking to take a break and control but Vitali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vitali controls the position for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raikkonen is looking to take a break and control but Vitali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jukka Raikkonen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Raikkonen shoots in but Vitali avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Raikkonen shoots in and gets a takedown into Vitali's guard.
Vitali seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Raikkonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Raikkonen trying to control but Vitali is working from the bottom.
Raikkonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raikkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vitali swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikkonen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikkonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Raikkonen trying to control but Vitali is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raikkonen shoots in for a takedown but Vitali shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Vitali drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vitali postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vitali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Raikkonen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raikkonen wants to control from the top but Vitali keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitali keeping full guard, as Raikkonen tries to pass.
Jukka Raikkonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raikkonen trying to control but Vitali is working from the bottom.
Vitali pulls Raikkonen in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen trying to control but Vitali is working from the bottom.
Raikkonen preventing the sweep.
Raikkonen trying to control but Vitali is working from the bottom.
Raikkonen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Raikkonen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's four 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.
Vitali preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Vitali tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Raikkonen defends well and Vitali ends up having to push Raikkonen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vitali has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raikkonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vitali is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Raikkonen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Vitali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vitali has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raikkonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Raikkonen gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Raikkonen throwing shots but Vitali is blocking nicely.
Raikkonen trying to control the action but Vitali is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jukka Raikkonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Raikkonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Raikkonen wants to control from the top but Vitali keeps moving.
Raikkonen looking to sit in guard and control but Vitali gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikkonen controls Vitali momentarily but Vitali frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikkonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vitali's guard.

Vitali tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raikkonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raikkonen trying to control but Vitali is working from the bottom.
Vitali keeping full guard, as Raikkonen tries to pass.
Raikkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Vitali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Vitali pulls Raikkonen in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Raikkonen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vitali sprawls well initially but Raikkonen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vitali does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raikkonen content to control rather than advance.
Raikkonen trying to control from half guard but Vitali is working away.
Raikkonen wants to free his trapped foot but Vitali is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Raikkonen is keen to just control but Vitali is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Raikkonen is stalling here. Vitali is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Raikkonen seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vitali has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Raikkonen is looking to reverse the position.
Raikkonen wants to control but Vitali postures up.
Raikkonen is looking for a sweep.
Vitali working away.
Raikkonen is trying to improve his position.
Vitali working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raikkonen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Roman Vitali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitali is staying active underneath Raikkonen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jukka Raikkonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raikkonen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jukka Raikkonen!