PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Raiser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Conway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Raiser
vs
Conway

196 cm
20
300 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
300 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tony Raiser!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Conway!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raiser drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Raiser slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Raiser postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raiser stops Conway from standing up.
Raiser postures up in Conway's guard and throws a big left but Conway blocks it.
Raiser won't allow Conway to get back to his feet.
Raiser seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Raiser has gone for a leg lock! Conway slips out almost immediately though and dives into Raiser's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conway would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Raiser has his foot on Conway's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Conway works his way back into a safe position though.
Conway trying to stand up but can't free himself from Raiser's guard.

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

Raiser working for a triangle but Conway defends it easily.
Raiser is trying to control the position but Conway postures up.
Raiser tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raiser wants to get back to his feet but Conway is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Raiser decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Raiser is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conway tries to kick Raiser off but Raiser keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Raiser is looking to take a break and control but Conway is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Raiser looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Raiser throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.

Raiser is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raiser wants to control but Conway is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Raiser dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Raiser shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Conway sprawls well. Conway wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Raiser gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters circling - Conway throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Raiser.
Raiser slips a jab from Conway.
Some wild striking there from Conway.
Raiser shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Conway but Conway pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Raiser. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conway throws a body punch but Raiser moves out of range.
Conway misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conway displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Raiser.
Raiser takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Raiser fails with the takedown.
Good exchange - Conway coming out on top.

It looks like Tony Raiser has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raiser darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raiser thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Conway to regain full guard.
Raiser stops Conway from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raiser accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raiser advances position into side control!
Raiser trying to control the action but Conway is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raiser looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Raiser happy to just control the position for now.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conway is pushing Raiser's head away, looking to escape. Raiser manages to hold on to the position though.
Raiser misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Raiser wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Conway, who protects the arm well.
Raiser creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Conway sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Conway scores with a jab to the body.
Conway lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Raiser backs up against the cage.
Conway looks to land a combination but Raiser avoids it well.
No joy there for Conway, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Conway misses.
Conway misses with a jab, cross combination.
Raiser shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Conway pinned against the cage. Conway gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Raiser closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Conway is not content to let Raiser control the position.

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

James Conway showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tony Raiser's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Raiser tries for a takedown but Conway sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Conway lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Raiser slips a jab and a cross from Conway.
Raiser walks into a straight right hand from Conway.

Raiser changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Conway looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Raiser is looking to take a break and control but Conway is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Raiser looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Raiser is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Conway has escaped the position, nice work there.
Conway takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raiser tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Raiser has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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

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.
Conway wants to stand but Raiser is controlling his posture from full guard.

Raiser looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raiser takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Conway throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raiser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conway misses with the combination.
Horrible takedown by Raiser or perhaps it was just good defense by Conway which made him look bad.
Some wild striking there from Conway.
Raiser fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Conway avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Raiser. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raiser dodges the punch combination from Conway.
Raiser fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Some wild striking there from Conway.
Conway uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Raiser.
Conway thows a body shot but no joy.
Conway misses with a double jab

and Raiser counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Raiser there.
Raiser is keen to just control but Conway is a slippery customer.
Conway avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Raiser.
Raiser wants to take a breather but Conway is having none of it.

Conway is defending against the submission attempts here by Raiser.

Raiser is trying to work for a kimura but Conway is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Raiser showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raiser 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 Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Raiser!