PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Brokholc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Brokholc

180 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tomi Rajala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Magnus Brokholc!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rajala shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brokholc is trying desperately to improve position.
Rajala controlling the pace for now.
Rajala prevents Brokholc from getting the reversal.
Brokholc wants to control but Rajala is having none of it.
Rajala tries to control but Brokholc wriggling away.
Brokholc wants to control but Rajala is having none of it.
Rajala breaks from Brokholc's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rajala in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brokholc wants to control but Rajala is having none of it.
Brokholc is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rajala trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rajala avoids the attempt from Brokholc to control.
Rajala wants to control but Brokholc has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Rajala wants to pass the guard but Brokholc is defending well.
Brokholc trying to control from the bottom.
Rajala is taking a breather. Brokholc says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rajala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Brokholc misses with a takedown

and Rajala counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Brokholc regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rajala looking to pass the guard.
Rajala is breathing heavily.
Brokholc wants to stand but Rajala is controlling the position.

Brokholc has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rajala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rajala is in close to Brokholc's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rajala might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rajala showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rajala trying to control but Brokholc is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rajala has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Brokholc is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A solid body kick from Brokholc.
Tomi Rajala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brokholc with a poor takedown

and Rajala counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Brokholc controlling the position for now.
Brokholc is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rajala's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rajala's back!
Rajala staying busy and making it hard for Brokholc to control.
Rajala rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rajala trying to hold on to Brokholc's head to control him but Brokholc postures up.
Brokholc wants to pass the guard but Rajala is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brokholc passes the guard and advances to mount!
Brokholc lands a big shot there that rocks Rajala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Brokholc.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brokholc tries to take his opponent's back but Rajala turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Brokholc has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rajala trying to control the position from guard on top but Brokholc is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rajala throwing strikes from guard but Brokholc blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Rajala dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rajala fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rajala looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brokholc is fending him off so far but Rajala persists. Nope, Brokholc circles away and we're back to standing.
Rajala avoids the head kick by Brokholc.

Rajala scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rajala fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Brokholc is trying to get back to half guard.
Brokholc controls the position for a moment.
Brokholc is trying to control Rajala's posture but Rajala avoids it.
Brokholc manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rajala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Brokholc trying to control the action but Rajala is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brokholc controlling the action here.
Brokholc working over Rajala with some ground and pound. Rajala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Brokholc is looking for a kimura but Rajala is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Brokholc to get the leverage.
Rajala misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rajala slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rajala is trying to keep Brokholc in close.
Rajala keeping full guard, as Brokholc tries to pass.
Brokholc with a nice head shot there.
Rajala tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rajala thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rajala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Brokholc looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rajala wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Brokholc, who protects the arm well.
A lull in the action here.
Brokholc is trying to improve his position.
Brokholc is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rajala connects with a decent elbow.
Rajala lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rajala looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rajala working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Brokholc stops Rajala from passing to mount.
Brokholc is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rajala trying to control the position but Brokholc is working away.
Rajala tries to move into full mount but can't pass Brokholc's legs.
Brokholc is looking to reverse the position.
Rajala creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rajala gets the takedown into side control.
Brokholc is trying to control Rajala's posture but Rajala avoids it.

Rajala is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Brokholc is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Brokholc tries to buck Rajala off but Rajala is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Brokholc's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Brokholc is trying to improve his position.
Brokholc is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Rajala dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rajala blocks a jab.

Brokholc gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rajala trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Brokholc manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Brokholc with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brokholc trying to control but Rajala is working from the bottom.
Brokholc slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Brokholc trying to control but Rajala is working from the bottom.
Rajala wants to sweep but no luck.
Rajala keeping moving, preventing Brokholc from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rajala fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Brokholc fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rajala sprawls well initially but Brokholc persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Brokholc tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rajala controls his leg.
Tomi Rajala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rajala wants to get back to full guard.
Rajala makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rajala.
Rajala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Brokholc wants to control from the top but Rajala keeps moving.
Rajala trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brokholc is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Brokholc misses with a takedown

and Rajala counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Brokholc regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rajala.
Brokholc throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rajala tries to free his leg and advance position but Brokholc is retaining full guard.
Brokholc trying to control the position here.
Brokholc doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rajala won't allow Brokholc to sweep him here.
Brokholc keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.
Rajala cracks Brokholc with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rajala shoots in looking for a takedown. Brokholc tries to sprawl out of it but Rajala keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brokholc manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Brokholc lands a head kick. Rajala smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Rajala looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rajala scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Brokholc is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rajala pulls his head out easily.
Rajala is pressing down on Brokholc's thigh, looking to free his foot. Brokholc is holding on for now.
Brokholc tries to roll over but Rajala keeps him under control.
Brokholc regains full guard. Nicely done.

Brokholc working for a triangle but Rajala defends it easily.
Rajala throws a strike but Brokholc rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajala bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brokholc's guard.
Rajala trying to control the position from guard on top but Brokholc is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Brokholc is looking for a triangle but Rajala pushes his legs off easily.

Brokholc escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rajala gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rajala wants to control from the top but Brokholc keeps moving.
Magnus Brokholc has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Brokholc looking for a guillotine here but Rajala defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomi Rajala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rajala, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

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