PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomi Murkiel Rautaharava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber comes to the cage accompanied by California Love - Tupac. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Faber
vs
Murkiel Rautaharava

173 cm
21
153 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

170 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie Faber!
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, Tomi Murkiel Rautaharava!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Faber. No joy for Rautaharava on that attempt.
Faber shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rautaharava sprawls well. Rautaharava wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Faber gets slowly back to his feet.

Rautaharava gets caught flat footed, as Faber shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Faber throws a big right hand that misses.

Rautaharava has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Faber off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rautaharava shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Faber counters with a takedown into side control.
Rautaharava is trying to get back to his feet.
Faber trying to control the position but Rautaharava is working away.
Rautaharava is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Faber has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rautaharava prevents Faber from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rautaharava is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Faber throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Faber 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.
Faber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rautaharava is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Faber showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Faber missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Faber postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber lands a couple of digs.
Rautaharava is trying to keep Faber in close.
Faber tries to free his leg and advance position but Rautaharava is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Faber shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rautaharava's guard.
Faber controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Faber throwing strikes but missing.
Faber is stalling in the full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Faber's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber trying to control but Rautaharava is working from the bottom.
Rautaharava avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Faber looking to pass the guard.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Rautaharava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faber throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rautaharava is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rautaharava shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Faber napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rautaharava works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Faber sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rautaharava is looking to take a break and control but Faber is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rautaharava lands with a punch from half guard.
Faber trying to control but Rautaharava postures up.
Faber is pressing down on Rautaharava's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rautaharava lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rautaharava missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Faber dominated that round.
That's time! Faber's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rautaharava keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Faber scores a takedown into full mount!
Rautaharava is looking to get to half guard.
Rautaharava blocking the ground and pound.
Rautaharava avoids a series of strikes thrown by Faber.
Faber is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rautaharava can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Poor strikes thrown by Faber there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rautaharava is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Faber sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber trying to control but Rautaharava is having none of it.
Faber misses with a head shot.
Faber lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Faber tries to control but Rautaharava wriggling away.
Rautaharava is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rautaharava is in all sorts of trouble here.
Faber throwing strikes here but Rautaharava is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
A nice elbow there by Faber.
Faber misses with a head shot.
Rautaharava is squirming around, avoiding Faber's attempts to control the action.
Faber punching from mount but Rautaharava doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Faber lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber avoids the attempt from Rautaharava to control.
Faber punching from mount but Rautaharava doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Faber throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Faber misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Faber controlling his opponent.
Rautaharava is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Rautaharava takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Faber looking to ground and pound but Rautaharava is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Faber scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Faber looking to ground and pound but Rautaharava is blocking nicely.
Faber throws a sloppy strike and Rautaharava uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Rautaharava has ended up in Faber's guard.
Faber thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rautaharava loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rautaharava cracks Faber with a solid left hand.
Faber is trying to keep Rautaharava in close.
Rautaharava working some strikes from top position.
Rautaharava lands a couple of digs.
Rautaharava is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rautaharava is breathing heavily.
Faber is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rautaharava gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Faber to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Faber dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Faber misses with a takedown

and Rautaharava decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Faber's guard.
Rautaharava won't allow Faber to sweep him here.
Rautaharava wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Rautaharava works over Faber with some ground and pound from guard.
Rautaharava with a nice head shot there.
Rautaharava postures up.
Rautaharava trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Faber has his takedown stuffed

and Rautaharava counters with a single leg into guard. Faber didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faber looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Faber is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber wants to take a breather but Rautaharava is having none of it.
Rautaharava is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Faber's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Faber's back!
Rautaharava is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Faber. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Faber trying to control the action but Rautaharava just sinks the hooks in.
Rautaharava gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Rautaharava scores with punches from the back.
Faber takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Faber is taking damage to the body and head.
Rautaharava gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Faber rolls, trying to escape but Rautaharava keeps control of the position.
The referee is taking a good look at Faber as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Rautaharava!
Faber breaks Rautaharava's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rautaharava has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber wants to control from the top but Rautaharava keeps moving.
Faber stopping the sweep attempt from Rautaharava.
Rautaharava looking to control.
Faber slips nicely into half guard.
Faber is looking to take a break and control but Rautaharava is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber wants to pass the guard but Rautaharava is defending well.
Faber is trying to control. Rautaharava wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tomi Murkiel Rautaharava 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.
Faber tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rautaharava swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rautaharava closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rautaharava creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rautaharava throws a punch but it's blocked by Faber.
Rautaharava lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rautaharava wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rautaharava fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Faber blocking some punches.
Faber is working for takedown but Rautaharava is calmly controlling the position for now.
Faber misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rautaharava misses with some punches.
Rautaharava doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Faber.
Rautaharava gets underhooks to prevent Faber's takedown attempt.
Rautaharava lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rautaharava doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rautaharava working aggressively here.
Faber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rautaharava misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rautaharava misses with some punches.
Rautaharava swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rautaharava swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Faber tries for a takedown but Rautaharava manages to get underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rautaharava.
Rautaharava misses with some punches.
Rautaharava swings wildly with an uppercut but Faber uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rautaharava.
Faber blocks an uppercut.
Rautaharava lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Faber blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rautaharava working aggressively here.
Rautaharava prevents the takedown attempt.
Rautaharava lands an uppercut.
Faber goes for a takedown attempt but Rautaharava pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Eddie Faber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rautaharava will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomi Murkiel Rautaharava comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faber has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Faber!