PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ravi Raja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Jefferies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Raja
vs
Jefferies

190 cm
23
222 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
217 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Supersize Me

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ravi Raja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Jefferies!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jefferies throws a lazy right hand but Raja sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Raja fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jefferies sprawls well initially but Raja persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jefferies is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Raja looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Raja prevents Jefferies from improving his position.
Jefferies is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Raja working over Jefferies with some ground and pound. Jefferies looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Raja looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Raja slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raja scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferies has hold of Raja's hands but Raja slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Raja slows the pace down in half guard.
Raja landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jefferies has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Raja is working away from the top position though.

Jefferies looking for submissions off his back.
Raja knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jefferies on the ground.
Jefferies tries to get to full guard but Raja has control of the leg.
Raja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Raja seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Raja lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Raja thows a huge punch but Jefferies dodges it nicely.
Jefferies tries to get to full guard but Raja has control of the leg.
Raja working over Jefferies with some ground and pound. Jefferies looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jefferies manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Jefferies escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Raja gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jefferies is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jefferies is one step ahead there.
Raja is pulling down on Jefferies's head to control his posture.
Raja looking for a sweep. Not yet Raja, not yet.
Jefferies looking to pass the guard.
Jefferies wants to stand but Raja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Raja is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jefferies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raja is keeping the position for now.
Jefferies working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Raja's head.
Raja looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Jefferies puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Raja wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jefferies moves into the clinch successfully.
Raja drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jefferies gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Raja wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Jefferies is trying to trip Raja. He has hold of a leg but Raja is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jefferies persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Jefferies preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jefferies throwing strikes but missing.
Jefferies wants to control from the top but Raja keeps moving.

Jefferies gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raja 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.
Jefferies doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Raja lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jefferies is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jefferies working a defensive guard here.

Raja got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jefferies has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Raja has managed to get both his arms back between Jefferies's legs - danger averted.
Jefferies is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jefferies looking for a guillotine here but Raja defends easily.
Raja postures up and lands a big shot to Jefferies's brow.
Raja not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Raja missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raja trying to control the position from guard on top but Jefferies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jefferies looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Raja is working Jefferies over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja landing with the ground and pound.
Jefferies keeping moving, preventing Raja from controlling successfully.
Jefferies manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Raja manages to get himself to full guard.
Jefferies wants to control from the top but Raja keeps moving.
Raja keeping full guard, as Jefferies tries to pass.
Jefferies wants to stand but Raja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Jefferies trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raja has a closed guard, preventing Jefferies from standing up.
Jefferies trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jefferies trying to control the position from guard on top but Raja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jefferies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raja is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raja scores with a hook to the body. Jefferies takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ravi Raja will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

An inside leg kick from Jefferies misses.
Jefferies wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Raja with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jefferies takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Raja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Raja in particular looking to stall.
Raja is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Raja lands a nice shot to the head.
Jefferies is looking to improve his position but Raja isn't that keen on the idea.
Jefferies tries to lock up and control but Raja gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Raja is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Jefferies can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ravi Raja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raja pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferies is looking to get to half guard.
Jefferies wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Raja looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Jefferies regains half guard.

Jefferies is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Raja pulls his head out easily.
Raja drops an elbow to the side of Jefferies's head.
Jefferies is staying active underneath Raja, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jefferies is trying to stand up here but Raja is controlling him well.
Raja scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two 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.
Raja working Jefferies over with strikes.
Jefferies on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Raja looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Jefferies pushes Raja off looking to stand but Raja dives back in and keeps control.
Ground and pound from Raja.
Raja is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Jefferies wants to control but Raja is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jefferies tries to roll over but Raja keeps him under control.
Raja is controlling the pace.
Raja not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferies gets full guard.
Jefferies keeping full guard, as Raja tries to pass.
Jefferies looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Raja puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Jefferies tries to roll over but Raja keeps him under control.
Raja tries to pass to full mount but Jefferies defends it.
Raja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jefferies's head.
Jefferies tries to get to full guard but Raja has control of the leg.

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.
Raja trying to control from half guard but Jefferies is working away.
Jefferies is looking for a sweep. Raja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brian Jefferies has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raja thows a body shot but no joy.
Jefferies scores with a hook.
Raja tries to clinch but Jefferies is having none of it.
Jefferies swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Raja shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Raja with good strikes from the mount here!
Raja wants to control the pace but Jefferies is squirming around nicely.
Raja misses with a head shot.
Jefferies blocking the ground and pound.
Jefferies is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ravi Raja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raja, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ravi Raja!