PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between marlo froch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jethro Rayner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). froch's entrance music is Can't be touched. A fine choice. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

froch
vs
Rayner

176 cm
23
168 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

179 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Heavy Weight Nutrition (*Sale prices in effect!!)
LHK Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, marlo froch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jethro Rayner!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
froch loads up on a big right hand but Rayner slips the punch.
Rayner misses with a body shot.
froch throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
froch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rayner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rayner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but froch was well out of range. Poor timing from Rayner.
The fighters circling - froch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rayner slips a jab and a cross from froch.
A swing and a miss from froch.
Rayner slips under a jab.
Rayner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but froch swivels and escapes.
froch missing with a left hand there. Rayner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A telegraphed right hand from froch misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
froch fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rayner is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from froch misses the target.

Rayner gets the takedown into side control.
Rayner trying to control the position but froch is working away.
Rayner in side control, throwing shots but froch defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rayner is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but froch is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rayner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, froch has escaped the position, nice work there.
froch wants to get back to his feet.
froch is not content to let Rayner control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rayner swings around for an armbar but froch sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rayner's guard.

Rayner is looking for a triangle but froch pushes his legs off easily.
Rayner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rayner keeping moving, preventing froch from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
froch stopping the sweep attempt from Rayner.
froch throws a big right hand that misses.
froch is fighting to break Rayner's control of his arms but Rayner is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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

That's four 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.

Rayner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
froch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Rayner had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. froch is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rayner Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take froch's back instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

froch is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Rayner off. It looks like it's working - Rayner slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! froch displaying calm under pressure there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rayner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rayner misses with a hook. froch ducked under it nicely.
froch misses with a few strikes there.
froch ducks under a wild hook from Rayner.
Rayner misses with a head kick.
Rayner throws a nice looking combination but froch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rayner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from froch.
Rayner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from froch.
froch drops his hands momentarily and Rayner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rayner needs to keep his hands up - froch had a free shot at his head there.
No joy there for froch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
marlo froch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
froch misses with an uppercut. Rayner saw that one coming.
froch checks a leg kick.
froch misses with an uppercut. Rayner saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
froch fails to land with a series of punches.
marlo froch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
froch misses with a jab to the body

and Rayner counters with a nice double leg into side control. froch won't be happy with that.
Rayner is looking to take a break and control but froch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rayner throwing strikes but froch manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
You can see the frustration on Rayner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rayner managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by froch.
Rayner tries to bench press froch off him but froch keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
froch remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rayner gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rayner tries to roll over but froch keeps him under control.
Rayner wants to control but froch is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
froch wants to stand up but Rayner has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Rayner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
froch is thwarting Rayner's attempts to control the position.
Rayner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
froch seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
froch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
froch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rayner.
Rayner slips a jab from froch.
Rayner lands with a shot to the body.
froch throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rayner counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rayner has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rayner throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rayner landing shots from mount.

Rayner jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… froch is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by froch and Rayner has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Rayner tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rayner has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rayner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rayner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from froch.
Rayner on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
froch lands a nice shot that snaps Rayner's head back.
froch throws a right and a left that both miss.
froch misses with a few strikes there.
froch thows a left - swing and a miss!
froch misses with a hook. Rayner ducked under it nicely.
froch avoids the body shot from Rayner.
A telegraphed right hand from froch misses the target.
froch misses with a shot to the body
and Rayner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rayner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
froch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rayner ducks under a wild hook from froch.
froch misses with a combination

and Rayner counters with a nice double leg into side control. froch won't be happy with that.
Rayner wants to lay and pray for a moment but froch keeps working.
Rayner throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rayner tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
froch tries to bench press Rayner off him but Rayner keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rayner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. froch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
froch tries to escape but Rayner is in control.

Rayner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by froch, who protects the arm well.

Rayner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
froch regains half guard, as Rayner was trying to land strikes.
Rayner wants to pass the guard but froch is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rayner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rayner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rayner is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for froch!
froch blocking the ground and pound.
Jethro Rayner has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rayner moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, froch has worked his arm free - good work by froch!

Rayner is trying to get an arm triangle but froch is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rayner really dominated that round.
That's time! froch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

froch lands a jab to the head.
froch is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
froch misses with a two punch combination.
froch throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rayner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by froch.
froch is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rayner.
froch looks to land a left hand but Rayner moved out of range nicely.
Rayner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rayner blocks a jab.
froch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rayner.
froch misses with a two punch combination.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
froch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rayner sees it coming and avoids it easily.
froch thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner thuds a left hand into froch's body.
Rayner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from froch.
Rayner thows a body shot but no joy.
Rayner slips a jab from froch.
Rayner throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around froch's waist but froch gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rayner off to one side.
froch misses with a straight left.
froch throws a shot from downtown. Rayner moves away and avoids it.
froch misses with a looping left.
froch throws a jab when Rayner was well out of range.
froch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rayner shoots in but froch avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A combination from froch does no damage.
marlo froch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
froch walks into a straight right hand from Rayner.
Rayner shoots in for a takedown but froch shows good takedown defense.
marlo froch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jethro Rayner.
froch misses with a jab to the body

and Rayner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rayner.
Rayner passes froch's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rayner is looking for a kimura here.

Rayner is working for a submission of some sort.
Rayner trying to mount his opponent but froch defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner wants to lay and pray for a moment but froch keeps working.
froch wants to get back to his feet.
Rayner passes to side control.

That's four 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.
froch tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rayner mounts froch! Really nice guard pass there!
froch is wriggling around trying to escape.

Rayner goes for an armbar but froch turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from froch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rayner dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from froch misses.
froch misses with a looping left.
Rayner throws a hook to the side of froch's head but froch sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
froch fails with an attempt to clinch.
froch takes a swing at Rayner's ribcage but misses.
froch throws the left hand but Rayner avoids the punch easily.
froch cracks Rayner with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
froch takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A slow jab from froch misses its intended target.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
froch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rayner.
Rayner avoids the body shot from froch.

Rayner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner trying to control the position from guard on top but froch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rayner wants to pass the guard but froch is keeping the position.
Rayner trying to control the position from guard on top but froch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rayner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. froch swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Rayner trying to control but froch is working from the bottom.
froch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rayner is controlling him.

Rayner has gone for a leg lock! froch slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rayner's guard.
Rayner trying to keep a closed guard but froch is proving a slippery customer.
marlo froch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rayner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
froch postures up.
froch preventing the sweep.
Rayner controls froch momentarily but froch frees himself.

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.

Rayner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rayner is trying to control the position but froch postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
froch lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rayner circles away quickly and effectively.
Rayner fails with a takedown attempt.
froch misses with a straight left.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rayner blocks a jab.
A combination from froch does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jethro Rayner.
I've got Rayner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 45:50
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jethro Rayner!
Jethro Rayner is the new lightweight champion!