PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tane Wereta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Raiona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wereta
vs
Raiona

185 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tane Wereta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Raiona!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raiona throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Wereta.
Raiona lands with a right hand.
Wereta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raiona paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raiona scores with a hook to the body. Wereta takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Raiona lands a nice looking body shot.
Raiona throws a leg kick that misses.
Raiona swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raiona misses with a two punch combination.
Wereta throws a jab but it's blocked by Raiona.
Raiona is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wereta.
Wereta tries to clinch there but Raiona circles away.
Wereta shoots in looking for a takedown. Raiona tries to sprawl out of it but Wereta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Raiona manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wereta closes the distance and clinches up with Raiona, looking for a takedown. Wereta pushes Raiona against the cage but Raiona circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tane Wereta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wereta is defended easily by Raiona.
Raiona swings for the body but Wereta moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wereta changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raiona tries to avoid it but Wereta manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raiona to the ground. Raiona escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raiona throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alex Raiona is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raiona pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Raiona comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Raiona scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wereta misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wereta is breathing heavily.
Raiona is looking to score with low kicks.
Raiona throws a low kick, looking for Wereta's leg but Wereta calmly moves out of range.
Raiona lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Raiona misses with a double jab.
Raiona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wereta moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raiona. Wereta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raiona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wereta moves away.
Raiona fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wereta on the side of the head.
Raiona looks to score with a jab to the body but Wereta is just out of range.
Wereta tries to clinch up but Raiona circles away and keeps his distance.
Raiona misses with a body shot.
Raiona throws a low kick but Wereta moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raiona misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wereta.

Wereta clinches up against the cage.
Wereta tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raiona just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raiona is looking to break free of the clinch but Wereta has double underhooks.
Raiona wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raiona is trying to break free.
Raiona wants to break free but Wereta has control.
Wereta keeps control of Raiona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wereta prevents Raiona from breaking the clinch.
Raiona has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raiona is trying to break the clinch but Wereta is controlling him.
Wereta tries to pull guard but Raiona holds him up against the cage and eventually Wereta drops back down to his feet.
Wereta prevents Raiona from breaking the clinch.
Raiona wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wereta content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Raiona wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raiona is trying to force a seperation but Wereta has the dominant position.
Raiona tries to break the clinch but Wereta is controlling the position.
Raiona working hard to break the clinch.
Raiona can't break the clinch.
Raiona tries to circle away but Wereta has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raiona has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wereta has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Raiona is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raiona wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wereta has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Wereta's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wereta keeps control of Raiona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raiona has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raiona wants to get back to striking at distance but Wereta won't allow it.
Raiona is trying to break the clinch but Wereta is controlling him.
Wereta looking to stall.
Raiona wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raiona is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wereta is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wereta really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Raiona is trying to break free.
Raiona tries to break the clinch but Wereta is controlling the position.
Raiona wants to break free but Wereta has control.
Raiona looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Wereta keeps control of Raiona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raiona wants to break the clinch but can't.
Raiona can't break the clinch.
Raiona has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four 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.
Raiona is trying to break the clinch but Wereta has him pressed against the cage.
Wereta has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raiona avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Wereta has Raiona pressed against the cage, preventing Raiona from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Raiona is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raiona is trying to break the clinch but Wereta has him pressed against the cage.
Raiona looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raiona is trying to break the clinch but Wereta has him pressed against the cage.
Raiona can't break the clinch.
Raiona wants to break free but Wereta has control.
Wereta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Raiona's efforts to push away.
Raiona tries to break free but Wereta pushes him back against the cage.
Wereta prevents Raiona from breaking the clinch.
Raiona is trying to break the clinch but Wereta has him pressed against the cage.
Wereta has Raiona pressed against the cage, preventing Raiona from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Raiona wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wereta has him pressed against the cage.
Wereta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Raiona's efforts to push away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raiona tries to break free but Wereta pushes him back against the cage.
Wereta wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raiona has him pressed against the cage.
Raiona looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raiona wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Raiona dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Raiona jabs at Wereta's body.
Raiona fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Wereta avoids the body shot from Raiona.
Raiona swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Raiona tries to bum rush Wereta with a series of wild strikes but Wereta uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Wereta moves into range and clinches up with Raiona.
Raiona has had enough of the clinch but Wereta keeps him there for the moment.
Wereta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wereta keeps control of Raiona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raiona wants to break free but Wereta has control.
Wereta keeps control of Raiona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raiona tries to circle away but Wereta has him pinned against the cage.
Wereta tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Raiona smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raiona fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wereta manages to avoid it.
Raiona thows a body shot but no joy.
Alex Raiona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wereta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raiona fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wereta dives in and grabs Raiona's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raiona pushes down on Wereta's head and hops out.
Wereta tries to clinch but Raiona is having none of it.
Raiona slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Raiona throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Raiona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wereta moves away.
Raiona just misses with a punch to the body.
Raiona lands with a right hand.
Raiona scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Raiona looks to score with a jab to the body but Wereta is just out of range.
Raiona lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Raiona.
Wereta misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tane Wereta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raiona connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Raiona ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wereta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raiona is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wereta rather than just go for the knockout.
Wereta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raiona.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raiona. Wereta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raiona lands with a nice combination. Wereta backs away looking to recover.
Raiona misses the shot to the body.
Raiona jabs at Wereta's body.
Raiona is looking to score with low kicks.
Raiona throws a series of punches but Wereta avoids them all with ease.
Raiona looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tane Wereta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wereta shoots in but no luck this time.
Raiona throws a low kick, looking for Wereta's leg but Wereta calmly moves out of range.
Raiona just misses with a punch to the body.
Raiona uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Wereta has time to react.
Raiona fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Wereta is out of range.
Raiona misses with a wild combination.
Raiona closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Raiona throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wereta on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wereta doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wereta takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wereta shoots in for a double leg but Raiona sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Raiona throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Raiona tries to work over Wereta's front leg with a kick but Wereta checks it.
Raiona throws a leg kick but Wereta sees it coming and moves out of range.
Raiona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wereta moves away.
Some wild striking there from Raiona.
Raiona misses the shot to the body.
Raiona slaps away a takedown attempt from Wereta, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raiona misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raiona bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wereta's head backwards.
Raiona misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Raiona throws a half hearted mid kick.
A solid body kick from Wereta.
Raiona misses with a body shot.
Raiona throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Wereta counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Raiona slaps away a takedown attempt from Wereta, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wereta is defended easily by Raiona.
Raiona misses with a jab, cross combination.
Raiona swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raiona will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wereta thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Raiona if he has to take too many more of those.
Wereta misses with the combination.
Raiona stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Raiona showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Wereta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Raiona throws a sloppy head kick and Wereta moves out of range easily.
Raiona throws out a leg kick but Wereta moves out of range and Raiona only half commits.
Wereta is looking to clinch but Raiona is avoiding it.
Raiona throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raiona misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raiona motions for Wereta to come forward. Raiona throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Raiona misses with an uppercut. Wereta saw that one coming.
Wereta tries to clinch up but Raiona circles away and keeps his distance.
Raiona looks to land a combination but Wereta avoids it well.
Raiona leaves Wereta with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wereta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raiona cracks Wereta with an open hand slap.
Wereta shoots in looking for a takedown. Raiona tries to sprawl out of it but Wereta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Raiona manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wereta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raiona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raiona wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wereta checks the leg kick nicely there.
Raiona looks to throw a body kick
and Wereta counters with a thumping low kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Raiona darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Raiona lands with a shot to the body.
Raiona throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wereta.
Raiona stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tane Wereta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raiona looks to score with a jab to the body but Wereta is just out of range.
Raiona throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wereta shoots in for a double leg but Raiona sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wereta steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raiona.
Raiona throws a lazy head kick
and Wereta counters with a good low kick that Raiona was not able to check.
Raiona throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wereta shoots in but Raiona avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wereta shoots in looking for a takedown. Raiona tries to sprawl out of it but Wereta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Raiona manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Raiona comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Raiona throws a sloppy head kick

and Wereta counters with a takedown into side control.
Raiona is pushing Wereta's head away, looking to escape. Wereta manages to hold on to the position though.

Wereta is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Raiona is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wereta wants to control but Raiona is keeping him busy.
Raiona really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wereta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wereta is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Raiona is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wereta throwing strikes but Raiona manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Raiona tries to stand but Wereta is controlling his head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wereta wants to control but Raiona postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Raiona stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Raiona throws a shot to the body.
Alex Raiona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raiona throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raiona throws a low kick but it's checked well by Wereta.
Raiona tests Wereta's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Raiona comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

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 Tane Wereta.
I think Raiona 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Raiona!