PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between jord king (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Raith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

king
vs
Raith

189 cm
21
183 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, jord king!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
king throws the left hand but Raith avoids the punch easily.
king throws a hook but Raith avoids it easily.
Raith takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Raith misses with a takedown attempt - king sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Raith slips a straight right by king.

Raith closes the distance and pushes king back into the cage.

king's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
king throws a leg kick but Raith checks it.
Donk. king catches Raith right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Thomas Raith has been cut.
king throws a lazy right hand but Raith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
king throws a low kick but Raith moves out of range easily.
Raith avoids the body shot from king.
Raith slips a straight right by king.
king throws a right and a left that Raith avoids nicely.
Raith tries to score a power double leg takedown but king sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Raith somewhat.
king looks to land a left hand but Raith moved out of range nicely.
Raith fails with a takedown attempt.
jord king has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.
Raith defending well as king loads up on a big left hand.
king throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Raith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from king.
king swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
king lands a nice shot that snaps Raith's head back.
king misses with a straight right.

Raith instigates a clinch.
Raith drops down looking for an ankle pick but king pulls his leg out and moves away.
Raith shoots for a takedown but king saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Raith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
king looks to land a combination but Raith avoids it well.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Raith.
king is trying to get back to half guard.

Raith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Raith wants to control but king is keeping him busy.

Raith tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Raith looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
king manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Raith wants to lay and pray for a moment but king keeps working.
king moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
king is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
king looking for a sweep. Not yet king, not yet.
king keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
king is pulling down on Raith's head to control his posture.
king's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raith checks a low kick from king.

Raith moves into the clinch.
king prevents a takedown attempt there.

king pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from king as Raith shoots in.
king throws a leg kick but Raith checks it.
king smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Raith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but king paws at him with a jab and circles away.
jord king seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raith avoids a kick to the body.

king feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Raith sprawling to the canvas! Raith rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can king finish him?!

Raith is rocked!
jord king is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raith tries to get into range but king steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Raith! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! king scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). jord king!