PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Raith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jozef Jekanowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jekanowski has chosen Sail by Awolnation as his entrance music. Jozef Jekanowski acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Raith
vs
Jekanowski

188 cm
24
175 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

166 cm
22
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jozef Jekanowski!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jekanowski tries to bum rush Raith with a series of wild strikes but Raith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Jekanowski scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jekanowski scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Raith manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Raith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Raith tries to advance to mount but can't.

Raith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jekanowski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jekanowski wants to get back to his feet but Raith drags him back down.
Jekanowski wants to control but Raith postures up.
Jekanowski is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Raith escapes and gets back to his feet.
Jekanowski throws a series of punches but Raith avoids them all with ease.
Jekanowski falls off balance throwing a combination

and Raith counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith is trying to pull guard but Jekanowski turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jekanowski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raith has him pressed against the cage.
Raith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jekanowski is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raith tries to pull guard but Jekanowski holds him up against the cage and eventually Raith drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Raith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jekanowski wants the takedown. Raith is fighting it off but Jekanowski persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Raith's guard against the cage.
Jekanowski trying to stand up but can't free himself from Raith's guard.

Raith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jekanowski is aware though and is defending well.
Jekanowski wants to control from the top but Raith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jekanowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raith is keeping the position for now.
Jekanowski looks gassed!
Jekanowski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jekanowski is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Raith has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Jekanowski is looking to defend but Raith has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Jekanowski! Raith pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Jekanowski taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Thomas Raith!