PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Rauhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiro Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rauhala's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Blue moon. Tanaka has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rauhala
vs
Tanaka

196 cm
21
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

218 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jaakko Rauhala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masahiro Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rauhala clinches up against the cage.
Rauhala is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stalling in the clinch from Rauhala.

Rauhala pulls guard.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Rauhala keeps moving.
Tanaka looks gassed!
Rauhala trying to control the position here.
Rauhala wants to sweep here but Tanaka controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rauhala holds on and takes a little breather.
Tanaka trying to control but Rauhala is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauhala is pulling down on Tanaka's head. It's preventing any offense from Tanaka, at least for the moment.
Tanaka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rauhala wants to stand and escape but Tanaka is having none of it.
Rauhala 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tanaka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rauhala drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rauhala moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala scoring with punches and elbows.
Tanaka struggling a bit here.
Rauhala is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Tanaka will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Tanaka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rauhala wants to stand but Tanaka is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is looking to regain half guard here but Rauhala keeps moving and retains side control.
Rauhala content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka is trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Rauhala controls the position from side control.
Tanaka tries to bench press Rauhala off him but Rauhala keeps the position.

Rauhala decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tanaka to his feet.

Rauhala feints and as Tanaka raises his hands in defense, Rauhala changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rauhala sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rauhala trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tanaka's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanaka gets a takedown into half guard.
Rauhala controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Rauhala tries to get to full guard but Tanaka has control of the leg.
Tanaka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rauhala is not content to let Tanaka control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka prevents Rauhala from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rauhala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rauhala wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rauhala shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rauhala forces Tanaka back against the cage and clinches.
Rauhala tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.
Tanaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rauhala smiles and moves away.
Tanaka throws a series of punches but Rauhala moves out of range.

Tanaka gets a takedown into half guard.
Rauhala is not content to let Tanaka control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tanaka is working away from the top position though.
Tanaka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rauhala does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rauhala wants to get back to full guard.
Rauhala wants to get back to his feet.
Rauhala trying to control but Tanaka postures up.
Rauhala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rauhala controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rauhala misses with a takedown attempt - Tanaka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Rauhala. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rauhala closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rauhala lands in his opponent's guard.
Tanaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Tanaka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rauhala showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rauhala won't allow Tanaka to sweep him here.
Rauhala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tanaka on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala wants to pass the guard but Tanaka is keeping the position.
Rauhala controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rauhala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masahiro Tanaka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rauhala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tanaka thows a body shot but no joy.
Rauhala doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tanaka counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rauhala!

Tanaka looking to secure an arm triangle but Rauhala defends it well.
Rauhala wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tanaka.
Tanaka thowing shots but they're missing.
Rauhala regains half guard.
Rauhala is controlling Tanaka's trapped leg to prevent Tanaka from advancing to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to control the action but Rauhala is working from the bottom.
Tanaka is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rauhala wants to improve his position but Tanaka is controlling well.
Rauhala wants to control but Tanaka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tanaka is looking to take a break and control but Rauhala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

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.
Rauhala is trying to get back to full guard.
Rauhala might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rauhala looks for a takedown but Tanaka sprawls well.

Rauhala drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rauhala won't allow Tanaka to sweep him here.
Tanaka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rauhala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rauhala tries to get out of the position.
Tanaka wants to pass to mount but Rauhala is defending the position.
Tanaka wants to control but Rauhala is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala moves into full guard.
Rauhala trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rauhala has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Tanaka has passed into side control.
Tanaka is looking to take a break and control but Rauhala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Rauhala's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Tanaka.

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.
Rauhala wants to control but Tanaka postures up.
Tanaka laying and praying for a moment but Rauhala takes advantage and regains half guard.
Tanaka wants to free his trapped foot but Rauhala is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rauhala bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tanaka is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rauhala is chipping away with strikes.
Tanaka is trying to improve his position.
Rauhala 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jaakko Rauhala.
I think Rauhala 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Masahiro Tanaka!