PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willabee Raggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Cranium (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Raggs
vs
Cranium

191 cm
24
255 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

193 cm
27
250 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Willabee Raggs !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Richard Cranium!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cranium's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Raggs connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cranium scrambles back to his feet.
Cranium tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Cranium misses.
Cranium fails with a takedown attempt.
Raggs goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Raggs drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cranium wants to get back to his feet but Raggs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Raggs postures up.
Raggs is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Cranium is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Raggs wants to pass the guard but Cranium is keeping the position.
Raggs wants to control from the top but Cranium keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raggs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Raggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Cranium is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Willabee Raggs .
Raggs avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cranium wants to clinch up but Raggs keeps it at a distance.
Cranium keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raggs .
Cranium misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cranium looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cranium slips under a jab from Raggs .
The fight stays on the outside here - Cranium looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranium needs to keep his hands up - Raggs had a free shot at his head there.
Cranium is looking to clinch but Raggs is avoiding it.
Cranium fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Raggs looking to score a takedown here. Cranium is defending well but Raggs drives through and ends up in Cranium's guard.
Raggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cranium swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raggs stops Cranium from standing up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raggs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raggs lands a few punches from side control.
Raggs tries to advance to mount but can't.
Raggs working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raggs taking a breather here.
Raggs grinds an elbow into Cranium's temple.
Raggs works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raggs wants to control but Cranium is keeping him busy.
Cranium tries to buck Raggs off but Raggs is having none of it.
Raggs in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Raggs lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Raggs controlling the position from side mount.
Cranium wants to get back to his feet but Raggs drags him back down.
Raggs trying to control the position but Cranium is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Raggs wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cranium, who protects the arm well.
Cranium takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Raggs working the ground and pound.

Raggs tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Raggs is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cranium is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cranium is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
You can see the frustration on Cranium's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cranium is looking for a sweep.

Raggs looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Raggs tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willabee Raggs dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raggs shoots in for a double leg but Cranium sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Richard Cranium is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cranium bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cranium misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cranium is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cranium tries for a takedown but Raggs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raggs throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranium shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Willabee Raggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Cranium.
Cranium fails with the takedown
and Raggs counters with a straight right hand.
Cranium moves in looking to clinch but Raggs pushes him off.
A punch combination from Raggs misses.
Raggs throws a series of punches but Cranium avoids them all with ease.
Cranium tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A lazy left from Raggs finds it's target.
Cranium tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Raggs swivels and escapes.
Raggs throws a shot from downtown. Cranium moves away and avoids it.
Raggs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranium's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Raggs connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cranium scrambles back to his feet.
Cranium moves in looking to clinch but Raggs pushes him off.
Willabee Raggs is winning the standup battle so far.

Raggs scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cranium wants to get back to his feet.
Raggs sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raggs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Raggs is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cranium looks like he's trying to stand up.
Raggs working over Cranium with some ground and pound. Cranium looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Raggs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raggs landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Cranium pushes Raggs off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raggs walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cranium checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Raggs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raggs shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Raggs darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cranium checks a leg kick.

Cranium closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Raggs tries for a takedown. No joy.

Cranium pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cranium shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Raggs sprawls well. Raggs wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cranium gets slowly back to his feet.
A punch combination from Raggs misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranium ducks under a wild hook from Raggs .
Raggs thuds his right hand into Cranium's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cranium is looking to clinch.
Raggs avoids a kick to the body.
Raggs shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice sprawl there from Raggs as Cranium shoots in.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cranium misses with a takedown

so Raggs counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Raggs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willabee Raggs dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Raggs slips a jab and a cross from Cranium.
Raggs misses the jab.
Raggs darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Raggs dives in and grabs Cranium's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cranium pushes down on Raggs 's head and hops out.
Raggs throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cranium looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cranium looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cranium rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cranium shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raggs but Raggs pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raggs looks to land a right hand but Cranium moved out of range.
Raggs throws out a loose jab but Cranium uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cranium shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cranium uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raggs .
Raggs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cranium moves forwards but Raggs connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Raggs takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Raggs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cranium fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Raggs avoids it really well and circles away.
Richard Cranium has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Willabee Raggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Cranium.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raggs scores with a jab. Cranium acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Raggs works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cranium with a lazy takedown attempt

and Raggs counters with a shoot takedown. Cranium fights it but they end up in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raggs 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raggs cracks Cranium with a solid left hand.
Raggs working some strikes from top position.
Raggs passes Cranium's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cranium takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raggs seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Raggs is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cranium defends it well.
Willabee Raggs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raggs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cranium keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raggs passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cranium!
Raggs with the ground and pound from mount.
Raggs punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Raggs connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raggs looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cranium is squirming around, avoiding Raggs 's attempts to control the action.

Raggs with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Raggs unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranium is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Cranium sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cranium on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Raggs 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cranium is staying active underneath Raggs , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Raggs scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Raggs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cranium can do to turn this around?
Raggs trying to control the action but Cranium is working from the bottom.
Cranium is trying to stand.
Willabee Raggs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raggs takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Raggs is nestled in close to Cranium, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Raggs looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Cranium is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Raggs pulls his head out easily.
Raggs wants to take a breather but Cranium is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willabee Raggs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raggs , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willabee Raggs !