PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hitsomiru Tamaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rajala's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Hitsomiru Tamaka will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rajala
vs
Tamaka

180 cm
27
195 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

195 cm
27
202 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tomi Rajala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hitsomiru Tamaka!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rajala looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tamaka misses with an uppercut. Rajala saw that one coming.
Rajala checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tamaka throws a jab when Rajala was well out of range.
Rajala shoots in for a takedown but Tamaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rajala decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rajala looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tamaka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rajala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rajala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tamaka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rajala.
Rajala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tamaka's head.
Rajala is thwarting Tamaka's attempts to control the position.
Rajala with the ground and pound but Tamaka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rajala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tamaka keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rajala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tamaka is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tamaka is looking to slow Rajala down with leg kicks.
Tamaka lands with a hook. Rajala tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hitsomiru Tamaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rajala has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomi Rajala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tamaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hitsomiru Tamaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tamaka swivels and escapes.
Rajala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tamaka.
Tamaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rajala.
Tamaka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rajala tries to move into range but Tamaka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rajala tries for a takedown but Tamaka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rajala fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamaka tries to bum rush Rajala with a series of wild strikes but Rajala uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rajala shoots in for a takedown but Tamaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tamaka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rajala takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tamaka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rajala shoots in for a takedown but Tamaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tamaka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rajala looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitsomiru Tamaka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tamaka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rajala.
Tamaka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Rajala bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rajala sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tamaka is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Tamaka regains half guard.
Rajala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Rajala is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tamaka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rajala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamaka has hold of Rajala's hands but Rajala slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rajala thows a huge punch but Tamaka dodges it nicely.
Rajala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rajala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tamaka defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rajala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rajala with the ground and pound but Tamaka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rajala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rajala scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rajala thows a big elbow that misses.
Rajala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tamaka is trying to control the position but Rajala postures up.
Tamaka keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala looking to sit in guard and control but Tamaka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rajala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tamaka is one step ahead there.
Tamaka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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.
Rajala is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rajala 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Rajala dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rajala fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Rajala.
Rajala shoots for a takedown but Tamaka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamaka leaves Rajala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomi Rajala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rajala fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamaka fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rajala.
Rajala looks for a takedown but Tamaka sprawls well.
Tamaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tamaka misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rajala tries for a takedown but Tamaka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Tamaka.
A good leg kick by Tamaka.
Hitsomiru Tamaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tamaka throws a leg kick which misses Rajala's front leg but catches the back leg as Rajala tries to avoid it.
Rajala shoots in but Tamaka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tamaka. That's going to slow Rajala down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A clash of legs there as Rajala blocks the low kick.
Tamaka looks to land a body kick but Rajala moved away.
Tamaka throws a jab but it's blocked by Rajala.
Tamaka throws out a powerful jab.
Rajala fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rajala shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamaka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rajala shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tamaka defends it nicely.
Tamaka thumps Rajala with a low kick.
Rajala tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tamaka swivels and escapes.
Tamaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tamaka lands with a thumping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hitsomiru Tamaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tamaka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitsomiru Tamaka!