PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thulani Imamu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raivo Rape (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raivo Rape is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Imamu
vs
Rape

188 cm
28
201 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

170 cm
22
196 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Fast

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 Helsinki, Thulani Imamu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Raivo Rape!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imamu looks to land a left hand but Rape moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Imamu misses the target.

Rape gets a takedown into half guard.
Rape controlling the action here.
Rape stops Imamu from getting back to his feet.
Rape tries to pass to full mount but Imamu defends it.
Imamu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Imamu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rape on the ground.
Imamu trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Rape is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Imamu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Imamu wants to get back to his feet.
Rape with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rape is pressing down on Imamu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Imamu is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imamu pushes Rape off looking to stand but Rape dives back in and keeps control.
Rape wants to control but Imamu is keeping him busy.

Imamu is defending against the submission attempts here by Rape.
Rape tries to pass to full mount but Imamu defends it.
Rape passes to side control.
Rape tries to advance to mount but can't.
Imamu pushes Rape away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rape gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rape trying to control the action but Imamu is working from the bottom.
Rape controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
I looks like Rape might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Imamu prevents Rape from moving into mount.
Rape in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rape landing strikes.
Imamu is pushing Rape's head away, looking to escape. Rape manages to hold on to the position though.
Rape passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Imamu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imamu is bucking up trying to escape but Rape cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rape controlling from mount.
Imamu wants to get back to his feet.
Rape lands a big shot there that rocks Imamu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rape with shots to the head and body - Imamu looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rape looking to control but Imamu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rape with good strikes from the mount here!
Imamu is squirming around, avoiding Rape's attempts to control the action.

Rape wants to finish this one by submission but Imamu is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rape.
Rape dominating with strikes here.
Rape scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rape has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rape jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Imamu manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Imamu is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rape wants to lay and pray for a moment but Imamu keeps working.
Imamu wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rape trying to control the position but Imamu is working away.
Imamu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rape has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Imamu is breathing heavily.

Rape is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Imamu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rape tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rape has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Imamu tries to escape but Rape is in control.
Rape in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Rape is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Imamu has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rape landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raivo Rape dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Imamu wants to clinch up but Rape keeps it at a distance.
Imamu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rape.
Jab by Rape.
Imamu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rape.
Imamu tries to clinch there but Rape circles away.
Rape blocks a jab.
Rape thuds a left hand into Imamu's body.
Imamu misses with a looping left.
Rape scores with a punch to the head.
Rape takes a swing at Imamu's ribcage but misses.
Rape scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Imamu lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

It looks like Raivo Rape has been cut.
Imamu takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Rape feints and as Imamu raises his hands in defense, Rape changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rape looking to pass the guard.
Rape controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rape wants to control from the top but Imamu keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Imamu wants to stand but Rape is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rape throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Imamu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rape looking to pass the guard.
Imamu wants to get back to his feet but Rape is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rape fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Imamu misses with a hook.
Rape comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A swing and a miss from Imamu.

Rape looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Imamu!
Rape can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Imamu is looking to escape.
Rape looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rape is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Imamu has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rape lands a nice shot to the head.
Imamu wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rape controlling the pace for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rape cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rape trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by Rape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rape wants to control the pace but Imamu is squirming around nicely.

Rape looking for a guillotine from mount but Imamu is having none of it.
Rape looking to finish Imamu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Imamu!

Rape is working for a guillotine from mount but Imamu frees his head quite easily.
Imamu is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
BOOM! Rape connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Imamu is trying to stand.
Rape content just to control the position here.
Imamu is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rape looking to control and managing it successfully.

Rape has control of Imamu's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Imamu regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rape with shots to the head and body - Imamu looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rape controlling from the full mount.

Rape working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rape trying to control but Imamu is having none of it.
You get the feeling that Imamu really doesn't like being in this position too much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raivo Rape showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raivo Rape's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Imamu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rape sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Imamu scores with a sloppy right hand. Rape should have avoided that one.
Imamu misses with a hook.
Rape ducks under a wild hook from Imamu.
Nice defenses there by Rape.
Imamu lands with an overhand left.
Imamu throws an overhand right that lands on Rape's shoulder, as Rape tries to avoid the shot.
A cross from Rape lands.
Rape stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Imamu throws a hook but Rape avoids it easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Imamu enables Rape to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Imamu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rape sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rape passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rape wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Imamu, who protects the arm well.
Imamu is trying to buck Rape off.
Rape passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Imamu!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rape trying to control but Imamu is having none of it.

Rape working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rape takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Imamu wants to get back to his feet.
Rape looking to control but Imamu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thulani Imamu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rape might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Imamu kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Imamu wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Rape dominating with strikes here.

Rape wants to finish this one by submission but Imamu is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rape.
Rape landing strikes from the mount and Imamu is in trouble!
Imamu squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rape sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rape lands a big shot there that rocks Imamu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rape has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Imamu's face.
Rape controlling the position easily from mount.
Rape punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Rape connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Rape is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Imamu is surviving well by controlling Rape's body position as best he can.
Rape is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rape looking to control but Imamu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Imamu in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Imamu's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Rape unloading with bombs!
Imamu squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rape postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Imamu looks a forlorn figure.
Imamu wants to get back to his feet.

Rape is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Imamu is surviving well by controlling Rape's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rape scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Raivo Rape is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rape wants to control the pace but Imamu is squirming around nicely.
Rape is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Imamu is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Rape blocks Imamu's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rape looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Imamu's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Rape takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raivo Rape comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rape has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raivo Rape!