PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Logan Strauss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomi Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strauss comes to the ring accompanied by Immigrant song-Led Zeppelin. Logan Strauss could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tomi Rajala's chin.

Strauss
vs
Rajala

191 cm
20
210 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition
Elite Clothing

Top MMA Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Logan Strauss!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tomi Rajala!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strauss connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Rajala is rocked!
Strauss shoots in but no luck this time.
Rajala is still on wobbly legs! Can Strauss finish him?

Rajala looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Strauss looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rajala seems to have recovered his senses.
Rajala wants to control but Strauss is keeping him busy.
Rajala is pressing down on Strauss's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strauss is holding on for now.

Strauss looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rajala sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rajala passes the guard and advances to mount!
Strauss regains half guard.
Rajala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rajala prevents Strauss from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strauss looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Strauss looking for submissions off his back.
Rajala is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Strauss is in a horrible position here. Rajala smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
BOOM! Rajala connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Strauss working to try and regain half guard.
Strauss is breathing heavily.
Rajala is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Strauss can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rajala prevents Strauss from getting the reversal.
Rajala trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by Rajala.
Rajala lands a big elbow.
Rajala looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rajala landing punches.
Rajala landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajala looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rajala tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rajala scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Strauss?
Strauss is squirming around, avoiding Rajala's attempts to control the action.
Rajala landing punches.
Rajala looking to control but Strauss is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rajala landing strikes from the mount.
Rajala postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Strauss looks a forlorn figure.
Strauss slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rajala tries to pass the half guard into mount. Strauss knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Strauss is looking to control Rajala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Strauss avoid being mounted?
Rajala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strauss's head.
Rajala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strauss slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Strauss throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Strauss controls Rajala momentarily but Rajala frees himself.
Strauss will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strauss is looking for a triangle but Rajala pushes his legs off easily.
Rajala content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Strauss working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rajala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rajala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Strauss is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Strauss wants to work for an arm triangle but Rajala is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Strauss looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Strauss passes to full mount!

Strauss working for a guillotine from mount but Rajala is in no mood to give up.
Rajala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strauss is working for a guillotine from mount but Rajala frees his head quite easily.
Rajala tries to hold on but Strauss pushes him away.
Rajala holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Strauss tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Strauss working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Strauss jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rajala manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rajala tries to improve position but can't.
Rajala prevents Strauss from moving into mount.
Rajala is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rajala gets back to full guard.
Rajala wants to sweep here but Strauss controlling him for the moment.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Strauss sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rajala's guard.

Strauss wants to work for an arm triangle but Rajala is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Strauss is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Strauss blocks the strikes from Rajala.
Rajala tries to get to full guard but Strauss has control of the leg.
Strauss works his way into full mount!

Strauss jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rajala manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Strauss is looking to take a break and control but Rajala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Strauss tries for a kimura but Rajala is defending well.
Strauss wants to control but Rajala is keeping him busy.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is trying to improve his position.

Strauss is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rajala knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Strauss wants to control but Rajala is keeping him busy.
Rajala holding on.

Strauss working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rajala is trying to control Strauss's posture but Strauss avoids it.
Rajala tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Strauss thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rajala manages to work his way to half guard, despite Strauss's best efforts.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rajala slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Strauss drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Strauss jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rajala keeping moving, preventing Strauss from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strauss accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strauss tries to free his leg and advance position but Rajala is retaining full guard.
Strauss passes Rajala's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rajala is defending against the submission attempts here by Strauss.
Strauss blocks the strikes from Rajala.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rajala can do anything to dispel that myth.
Strauss moves nicely into side control.
Rajala is trying to get back to half guard.

Strauss working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rajala regains half guard.
Strauss blocks the strikes from Rajala.
Rajala wants to improve his position but Strauss is controlling well.
Strauss uses his free foot to push down on Rajala's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rajala.
Strauss lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rajala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rajala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rajala wants to control but Strauss is having none of it.
Rajala is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Strauss is staying active.
Rajala slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rajala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rajala is pressing down on Strauss's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rajala working a defensive guard here.
Rajala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is nestled in close to Strauss, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rajala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rajala working the head and body with strikes.
Rajala controlling the action here.
Rajala prevents Strauss from improving his position.
Rajala passes to side control.
Strauss takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rajala working the head and body with strikes.
Rajala working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rajala just content to control the position.
You can see the frustration on Strauss's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strauss takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Check out the look on Rajala's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Logan Strauss dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rajala drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rajala wants to control from the top but Strauss keeps moving.

Strauss has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rajala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strauss 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.
Rajala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rajala working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rajala is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Strauss escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rajala gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rajala is in close to Strauss's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rajala wants to pass the guard but Strauss is keeping the position.
Strauss lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rajala!
Rajala is working to get back to half guard.
Rajala is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strauss working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Strauss working for a submission but Rajala is keeping him at bay.

Strauss has hold of Rajala's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rajala manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Strauss looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Rajala sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rajala is trying to control but can't.

Strauss is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rajala is just riding it out for now. Strauss eventually gives up the hold.
Strauss tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rajala knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rajala!

Rajala defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Strauss.

Strauss with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Strauss lands with some strikes.

Strauss looking to secure an arm triangle but Rajala defends it well.
Rajala tries to hold on but Strauss postures up.
Rajala is working to get back to half guard.
Strauss working Rajala over with strikes here.

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

Strauss jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rajala manages to avoid the submission attempt.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is not content to let Strauss control the position.
Strauss advances to mount.
Rajala in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Strauss prevents Rajala from getting the reversal.

Strauss looking to secure an arm triangle but Rajala defends it well.
Strauss landing shots from mount.
Strauss connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Strauss is working for a guillotine from mount but Rajala frees his head quite easily.
Strauss lands a heavy elbow.
Rajala can't escape the position.
Rajala tries to hold on but Strauss pushes him away.
Rajala can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strauss is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rajala can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rajala sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rajala is looking for a sweep. Strauss is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Strauss seems to be looking for submissions.
Strauss passes to side control.
Rajala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rajala is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Strauss's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Strauss trying to pass the guard but Rajala defending well.
Rajala moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Strauss trying to control but Rajala is working from the bottom.
Rajala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rajala keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rajala is trying to control the action in half guard but Strauss is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Strauss trying to control here.
Strauss misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rajala is keen to just control but Strauss is a slippery customer.
Rajala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rajala trying to control from half guard but Strauss is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Strauss ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rajala with a lazy takedown attempt

so Strauss counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Strauss is pushing down on Rajala's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rajala is fighting to maintain full guard but Strauss has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rajala moves into full guard.
Rajala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rajala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rajala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Rajala there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rajala controlling the pace.
Rajala wants to take a breather but Strauss is having none of it.
Strauss wants to get back to full guard.
Rajala scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Strauss is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rajala pulls his head out easily.
Rajala scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Strauss looking for submissions off his back.
Strauss is staying active underneath Rajala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rajala gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strauss sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rajala uses his free foot to push down on Strauss's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Strauss.
Strauss is in all sorts of trouble here.
A nice elbow there by Rajala.
Rajala lands a big elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rajala cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rajala content just to control the position here.
Rajala's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rajala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rajala is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Strauss can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rajala lands a heavy elbow.
Rajala content just to control the position here.
Strauss taking shots to the head.
Rajala putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rajala connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rajala scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Strauss?
Rajala lands a nice shot to the head.
Rajala lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Strauss hang on?
Rajala putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Strauss regains half guard.
Rajala stalling.
Ground and pound from Rajala.
Rajala seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strauss does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Strauss gets back to full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Strauss is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rajala passes Strauss's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Strauss trying to control but Rajala postures up.
Logan Strauss overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rajala seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Strauss looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rajala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rajala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rajala working over Strauss with some ground and pound. Strauss looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rajala is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Nice strikes from Rajala there.
Strauss gets full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Strauss looking for a guillotine here but Rajala defends easily.
Strauss trying to keep a closed guard but Rajala is proving a slippery customer.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rajala slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Strauss keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.
Rajala works over Strauss with some ground and pound from guard.
Strauss can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rajala controls the pace.
Strauss keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.

Strauss has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rajala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rajala tries to free his leg and advance position but Strauss is retaining full guard.
Rajala passes Strauss's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rajala wants to take a breather but Strauss is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rajala is controlling the pace.
Rajala trying to mount his opponent but Strauss defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Logan Strauss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Strauss 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Logan Strauss!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Logan Strauss!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Logan Strauss!

Logan Strauss wins by unanimous decision!
Logan Strauss retains his light heavyweight title!