PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Rakuuna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakuuna comes to the cage accompanied by Five Finger Death Punch - Bad Company . Hitmonlee comes into a darkened arena with his song building. New York Times?? kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rakuuna
vs
Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee

184 cm
19
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

Valhalla War Gear *** SALE ***

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taisto Rakuuna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rakuuna clinches up with Hitmonlee and pushes him back against the cage.
Hitmonlee tries to land knees in the clinch but Rakuuna avoids the damage to the body.
Hitmonlee blocks an uppercut.
Hitmonlee misses with some punches.
Hitmonlee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rakuuna lands a nice shot to the body.
Hitmonlee trying to land knees to the body.
Rakuuna lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rakuuna doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rakuuna struggles to land a body shot inside as Hitmonlee controls his hands.
Hitmonlee prevents a body shot from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rakuuna misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rakuuna throws a head punch that misses.
Rakuuna misses with some punches.
Hitmonlee creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Hitmonlee breaks from the clinch.
Hitmonlee avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rakuuna throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rakuuna swings for the body but Hitmonlee moves out of range.
Rakuuna walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hitmonlee looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rakuuna throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitmonlee staying out of range there.
Rakuuna moves in looking to clinch but Hitmonlee pushes him off.
Hitmonlee tries a head kick but it misses.
Rakuuna fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hitmonlee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rakuuna throws a right hand that Hitmonlee ducks under and follows up with a left that Hitmonlee also avoids with ease.
Rakuuna throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hitmonlee sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up but Hitmonlee circles away and keeps his distance.
Rakuuna lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rakuuna throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rakuuna throws a body punch but Hitmonlee moves out of range.
Rakuuna scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rakuuna doesn't manage to clinch there - Hitmonlee circles away.
Hitmonlee circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rakuuna clinches up against the cage.
Rakuuna tries to work over Hitmonlee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hitmonlee blocks an uppercut.
Hitmonlee blocks an uppercut.
Rakuuna throws a head punch that misses.
Hitmonlee crunches a lovely knee into Rakuuna's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rakuuna tries to throw a body punch but Hitmonlee avoids it by throwing Rakuuna back against the cage.
Rakuuna softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rakuuna tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rakuuna throws a punch but it's blocked by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna misses with a body punch.
Rakuuna misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hitmonlee tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rakuuna avoids it.
Rakuuna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hitmonlee misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Rakuuna fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna tries a body shot but Hitmonlee blocks it.
Hitmonlee blocks an uppercut.
Hitmonlee tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rakuuna just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hitmonlee managing to block the knees to the body from Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rakuuna lands a left hand.
Rakuuna throws a punch but it's blocked by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna misses with a body punch.
Rakuuna throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hitmonlee breaks the clinch.
Hitmonlee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rakuuna lands with a right hand.
Taisto Rakuuna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hitmonlee is looking to land body kicks.
Hitmonlee keeps the fight on the outside.

Rakuuna clinches up with Hitmonlee and pushes him back against the cage.
Rakuuna tries to throw a body punch but Hitmonlee avoids it by throwing Rakuuna back against the cage.
Rakuuna tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rakuuna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rakuuna lands with a light punch inside.
Rakuuna misses with the head strike.
Hitmonlee prevents a body shot from Rakuuna.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna lands a body punch.
Rakuuna tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hitmonlee's elbow.
Hitmonlee prevents a body shot from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna misses with a punch on the inside.
Hitmonlee is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rakuuna is defending well for now.
Rakuuna on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rakuuna throws a punch but it's blocked by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rakuuna tries to throw a body punch but Hitmonlee avoids it by throwing Rakuuna back against the cage.

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.
Rakuuna tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hitmonlee's elbow.
Hitmonlee throws an elbow but it misses.
Hitmonlee blocking some punches.

Hitmonlee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rakuuna jabs Hitmonlee right on the nose. Hitmonlee blinks but takes it well.
Hitmonlee slips under a jab.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but Hitmonlee is having none of it.
Rakuuna uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rakuuna throws a looping overhand right but Hitmonlee ducks down to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hitmonlee. That's going to slow Rakuuna down.
Rakuuna ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hitmonlee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rakuuna.
Rakuuna misses with a series of wild punches.
Rakuuna throws a series of strikes that have Hitmonlee backpedaling.
Hitmonlee looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch but Hitmonlee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hitmonlee throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rakuuna scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Rakuuna dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rakuuna throws a big shot that misses.
Hitmonlee slips a straight right by Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rakuuna swings for the body but Hitmonlee moves out of range.
Hitmonlee avoids the body shot from Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee throws a head kick that misses.
Rakuuna scores with a punch to the head.
Rakuuna doesn't manage to clinch there - Hitmonlee circles away.
Hitmonlee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hitmonlee in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rakuuna throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hitmonlee on the side of the head.
Rakuuna avoids the head kick by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna lands a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakuuna scores with a one two! Hitmonlee had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rakuuna tries to clinch there but Hitmonlee circles away.
Rakuuna is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rakuuna fails to land with a series of punches.
Rakuuna lands a head shot.
Hitmonlee slips a jab and a cross from Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitmonlee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rakuuna is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hitmonlee moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Taisto Rakuuna is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hitmonlee on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rakuuna fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hitmonlee looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice jab there from Rakuuna.

Rakuuna moves into the clinch successfully.
Rakuuna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rakuuna on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hitmonlee lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Hitmonlee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rakuuna, as that shot connected.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hitmonlee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hitmonlee misses with a head kick.
A solid body kick from Hitmonlee.
Hitmonlee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hitmonlee walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rakuuna checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rakuuna swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna throws a body punch but Hitmonlee moves out of range.
Rakuuna misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rakuuna swinging wildly here.
Rakuuna wants to clinch up but Hitmonlee keeps it at a distance.
Rakuuna lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hitmonlee misses with a head kick.
Rakuuna lands with a good body shot.
Rakuuna is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rakuuna scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rakuuna tests Hitmonlee's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hitmonlee displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rakuuna throws out the jab.
Rakuuna scores with a shot to the body.
Rakuuna moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hitmonlee lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rakuuna's sensitive parts.

Rakuuna forces Hitmonlee back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hitmonlee breaks the clinch.
Hitmonlee keeps the fight on the outside.
Hitmonlee throws a sloppy head kick and Rakuuna moves out of range easily.
Rakuuna fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A jab from Rakuuna misses.

Rakuuna darts in and clinches Hitmonlee up against the cage.
Rakuuna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rakuuna misses with some punches.
Rakuuna tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Hitmonlee breaks the clinch.
Rakuuna lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hitmonlee pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rakuuna is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hitmonlee doesn't seem bothered though.
Rakuuna is looking to clinch.
A combination from Rakuuna does no damage.
Rakuuna scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna misses with a body shot.
Rakuuna takes a swing at Hitmonlee's ribcage but misses.
Hitmonlee throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hitmonlee has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rakuuna lands an overhand right.
Rakuuna throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hitmonlee stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rakuuna dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taisto Rakuuna is winning the standup battle so far.
Rakuuna avoids the head kick by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna works Hitmonlee's body with a nice hook.
Rakuuna misses with a looping left.
Hitmonlee showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rakuuna.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but Hitmonlee moves out of range.
Rakuuna looks to score with a jab to the body but Hitmonlee is just out of range.
Hitmonlee throws the kick towards the body but Rakuuna avoids it.
Rakuuna moves in looking to clinch but Hitmonlee pushes him off.
Rakuuna tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Rakuuna dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Rakuuna.
A jab from Rakuuna finds it's way through Hitmonlee's defenses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hitmonlee.
Hitmonlee throws a body kick that misses.
Rakuuna stalks Hitmonlee and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hitmonlee's face. Hitmonlee staggers backwards, shaken.
Hitmonlee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rakuuna is looking to clinch.
Rakuuna fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hitmonlee takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hitmonlee swats away the attempt to clinch by Rakuuna.
Rakuuna ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hitmonlee moves away.
Rakuuna avoids the head kick by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna lands a jab to the nose.

Rakuuna has managed to clinch.
Rakuuna avoiding damage as Hitmonlee throws knees to the body.
Hitmonlee tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rakuuna avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakuuna takes an elbow to the forehead.

Hitmonlee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rakuuna fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rakuuna throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but Hitmonlee is having none of it.
Hitmonlee throws a head kick but Rakuuna moves out of range.
Rakuuna fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rakuuna misses with the combination.

Rakuuna clinches with his opponent.
Hitmonlee tries a knee to the head but Rakuuna blocks it.
Hitmonlee blocks an uppercut.
Rakuuna tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rakuuna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hitmonlee misses with a punch to the body.
Rakuuna blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hitmonlee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rakuuna cracks Hitmonlee with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rakuuna scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hitmonlee takes one to the chin there.
Hitmonlee tries a head kick but it misses.
Rakuuna wants to clinch.
Hitmonlee misses with a low kick.
Rakuuna dips to his left and cracks Hitmonlee with an uppercut!
Rakuuna misses with a wild body shot.
Hitmonlee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hitmonlee throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rakuuna stuns Hitmonlee with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rakuuna wants to clinch.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up.
Rakuuna looks to throw the jab but Hitmonlee is out of range.
A head kick misses from Hitmonlee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitmonlee attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Jab from Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee misses with a body kick.
Rakuuna throws a hook but Hitmonlee avoids it easily.
Hitmonlee throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hitmonlee takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rakuuna takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Taisto Rakuuna has been cut.
Hitmonlee lands a high kick!
Hitmonlee takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rakuuna stuns Hitmonlee with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hitmonlee slips a straight right by Rakuuna.
Hitmonlee slips a jab and a cross from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up but Hitmonlee circles away and keeps his distance.
Rakuuna tries to bum rush Hitmonlee with a series of wild strikes but Hitmonlee uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rakuuna is looking to clinch.
Hitmonlee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rakuuna throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hitmonlee stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rakuuna takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hitmonlee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hitmonlee takes one on the button.
Rakuuna wants to clinch up but Hitmonlee keeps it at a distance.
Hitmonlee is looking to slow Rakuuna down with leg kicks.
No joy there for Rakuuna, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rakuuna stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rakuuna avoids the head kick by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna just misses with a punch to the body.
Rakuuna is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hitmonlee.
Rakuuna is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rakuuna looks to score with a jab to the body but Hitmonlee is just out of range.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hitmonlee paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice combination there by Rakuuna.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rakuuna, as that shot connected.
Rakuuna fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taisto Rakuuna is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hitmonlee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

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 Taisto Rakuuna.
Well Rakuuna 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Rakuuna!