PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jethro Rayner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Denn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Rayner
vs
Denn

179 cm
25
165 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jethro Rayner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, DJ Denn!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rayner throws a push kick but Denn slaps the foot to one side.
Denn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rayner lands a right hook to the body.

Denn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rayner to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Rayner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rayner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rayner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rayner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Denn has his foot on Rayner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rayner works his way back into a safe position though.

Denn looking for a guillotine here but Rayner defends easily.

Denn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rayner is aware though and is defending well.
Denn looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denn looking for a guillotine here but Rayner defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rayner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Denn looking for a guillotine here but Rayner defends easily.

Denn working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rayner has passed into half guard!

Rayner is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rayner uses his free foot to push down on Denn's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Denn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayner trying to control but Denn is having none of it.
Rayner lands with some strikes.

Rayner working for a guillotine from mount but Denn is in no mood to give up.
Rayner working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rayner lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rayner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Rayner looking to secure an arm triangle but Denn defends it well.
Rayner prevents Denn from getting the reversal.
Rayner trying to control but Denn is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rayner is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Denn has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rayner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Denn regains half guard.
Rayner trying to pass the guard but Denn defending well.

Rayner seems to be working for a kimura but Denn defends the submission attempt.

Denn looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denn throws a strike from the bottom but Rayner passes into side control!
Denn is looking for a sweep.
Denn is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rayner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Denn looking for submissions off his back.
Rayner moves into full mount! Denn won't be happy about that!
Rayner moves to the back position.
Will Rayner go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rayner. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rayner slips a jab and a cross from Denn.
Rayner throws a push kick but Denn slaps the foot to one side.

Rayner shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Denn is trying to defend but Rayner finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rayner is looking to take a break and control but Denn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Denn looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rayner trying to pass the guard but Denn defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rayner is working for a submission of some sort.

Denn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Denn is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner is looking to advance position but Denn won't allow it.

Denn looking for submissions off his back.
Rayner drops an elbow to the side of Denn's head.

Denn looking for a kimura from the bottom but Rayner passes into side control!
Denn tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Denn tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Rayner is trying to get an arm triangle but Denn is defending well.
Denn regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rayner is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Denn is just riding it out for now. Rayner eventually gives up the hold.
Rayner is trying to control the action in half guard but Denn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Denn looking for submissions off his back.

Denn is defending against the submission attempts here by Rayner.
Rayner is looking to take a break and control but Denn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Denn is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rayner wants to free his trapped foot but Denn is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Denn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rayner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Denn sees it coming and defends easily.
Rayner passes the guard and advances to mount!
Denn is trying desperately to improve position.
Denn throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rayner. What's that going to do exactly?
Rayner scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Denn is in a horrible position here. Rayner smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rayner landing strikes, looking to finish!
Denn is squirming around, avoiding Rayner's attempts to control the action.

Rayner working for a guillotine from mount but Denn is in no mood to give up.
Rayner prevents Denn from getting the reversal.
Denn flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
A nice elbow there by Rayner.
Denn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rayner looking to control but Denn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Rayner working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Denn regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rayner dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Denn misses with a takedown

and Rayner counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Denn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rayner is one step ahead there.
Denn trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Denn working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rayner has passed into half guard!
Rayner trying to control from half guard but Denn is working away.
Jethro Rayner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rayner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rayner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Denn keeps working.
Denn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Denn actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rayner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rayner passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Denn!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rayner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Denn throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rayner. What's that going to do exactly?
Rayner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The referee warns Denn that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Rayner is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Rayner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jethro Rayner!