PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Faustin Mondogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rajala comes into the arena with For Whom the Bell Tolls blaring out of the sound system. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rajala
vs
Mondogo

180 cm
25
195 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

178 cm
21
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Tomi Rajala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Faustin Mondogo!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rajala circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rajala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mondogo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mondogo.
Rajala wants to pass the guard but Mondogo is keeping the position.
Mondogo 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.
Mondogo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mondogo has an active guard here but Rajala has managed to pass into half guard.
Rajala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala content to control rather than advance.
Rajala scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rajala winds up and cracks Mondogo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Mondogo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rajala is looking to take a break and control but Mondogo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mondogo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rajala looks to land a strike but Mondogo avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rajala preventing the sweep.
Rajala working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rajala lands a couple of elbows.
Rajala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mondogo keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.
Mondogo looking for a sweep. Not yet Mondogo, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mondogo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rajala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Mondogo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rajala slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mondogo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rajala connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajala works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Mondogo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rajala presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Mondogo taking shots to the head.
Rajala tries to control but Mondogo wriggling away.
Rajala fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rajala with shots to the head and body - Mondogo looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mondogo shoots and misses

and Rajala counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mondogo keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.

Mondogo has an active guard here but Rajala has managed to pass into half guard.
Rajala tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mondogo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mondogo is looking to improve his position.
Rajala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala lands with a punch from half guard.
Rajala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mondogo's head.
Rajala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rajala winds up and cracks Mondogo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rajala working over Mondogo with some ground and pound. Mondogo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rajala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mondogo's head.
Mondogo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajala not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rajala is looking to take a break and control but Mondogo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rajala lands with a punch from half guard.
Mondogo wants to improve his position but Rajala is controlling well.
Rajala thows a huge punch but Mondogo dodges it nicely.
Rajala is trying to control. Mondogo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala trying to mount his opponent but Mondogo defends it.
Rajala stalling away here and it's allowed Mondogo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rajala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rajala working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mondogo's head.
Rajala throwing strikes but missing.
Rajala has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mondogo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tomi Rajala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mondogo is trying to keep Rajala in close.
Rajala tries to free his leg and advance position but Mondogo is retaining full guard.
Mondogo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rajala manages to get himself to full guard.
Mondogo tries to free his leg and advance position but Rajala is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rajala is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Rajala dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rajala throws a leg kick but Mondogo sees it coming and moves out of range.

Rajala feints and as Mondogo raises his hands in defense, Rajala changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rajala landing some decent shots from guard.
Rajala wants to control from the top but Mondogo keeps moving.
Mondogo keeping full guard, as Rajala tries to pass.
Rajala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rajala throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala wants to control from the top but Mondogo keeps moving.
Rajala is standing up over Mondogo. Mondogo looks to escape but Rajala dives into side control.
Rajala lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mondogo prevents Rajala from improving position.

Rajala is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mondogo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two 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.
Mondogo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Faustin Mondogo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mondogo gets back to full guard.
Rajala trying to control the position from guard on top but Mondogo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mondogo looking for a guillotine here but Rajala defends easily.

Mondogo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rajala has passed into half guard!
Mondogo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mondogo won't allow Rajala to pass to mount.

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.
Mondogo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mondogo has momentary wrist control but Rajala slips an elbow through the middle.
Rajala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rajala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mondogo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rajala lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tomi Rajala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mondogo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rajala looking to sit in guard and control but Mondogo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomi Rajala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rajala has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomi Rajala!