PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Rae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Hitman (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.

Rae
vs
Hitman

160 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Daniel Rae!
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, Aleksander Hitman!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rae throws a series of punches but Hitman moves out of range.
Rae throws a leg kick that misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rae.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hitman is not content to let Rae control the position.
Rae scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hitman is looking to reverse the position.
Hitman manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hitman looks to land a strike but Rae avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hitman won't allow Rae to sweep him here.
Hitman sitting in guard here, content to control.

Rae working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hitman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hitman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rae looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hitman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Hitman gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Hitman shoots in looking for a takedown but Rae manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hitman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hitman tries a head kick but it misses.

Hitman has closed the distance and engaged Rae in a clinch.
Hitman stops a takedown attempt from Rae.
Hitman blocks an elbow strike.
Rae prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hitman.
Hitman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rae tries to pull guard but Hitman won't allow it.
Hitman tries to score a body lock takedown but Rae shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Daniel Rae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Hitman.
Hitman is looking for a takedown.
Rae is trying to push Hitman away but Hitman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hitman controlling the action here for a moment.
Hitman blocks an elbow strike from Rae.
Rae wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hitman is trying to push Rae away but Rae has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rae is trying to stall.
Hitman is trying to force a seperation but Rae has the dominant position.
Hitman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hitman is trying to force a seperation but Rae has the dominant position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Hitman jumps into guard, dragging Rae to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitman controlling the position.
Hitman controls Rae momentarily but Rae frees himself.
Rae throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rae wants to pass the guard but Hitman is keeping the position.
Hitman pulls Rae in close to prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Aleksander Hitman.

Hitman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rae looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Hitman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A head kick misses from Hitman.
Rae tries to clinch but Hitman moves out of range.
Hitman moves in looking to clinch but Rae pushes him off.
Hitman fails with a takedown attempt.
Rae blocks a head kick by Hitman.
Rae looks for a takedown but Hitman sprawls well.
Hitman stuffs the takedown.
Rae shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hitman but Hitman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Rae. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hitman scores a takedown into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitman throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Hitman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rae has worked his arm free - good work by Rae!
Hitman gets to mount! Rae was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rae is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hitman with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rae is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Hitman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hitman lands with some strikes.
Hitman throws a wild left hand from mount and Rae manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Rae wants to control but Hitman is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hitman is working for a submission of some sort.
Rae wants to get back to his feet.
Rae keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hitman throwing shots but Rae is blocking nicely.
Hitman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rae's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Hitman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rae defends it well.

Hitman decides to return to a standing position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rae moves out of range of the body kick from Hitman.
Hitman tries for a takedown but Rae sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hitman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Hitman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rae takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hitman.
Rae misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hitman tries to clinch up.
Hitman shoots in and drives through. Rae sprawls well.

Hitman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hitman tries to break the clinch but Rae is controlling the position.
Hitman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rae has him pressed against the cage.

Hitman successfully pulls guard.
Rae wants to stand but Hitman is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rae has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hitman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hitman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rae trying to control but Hitman is working from the bottom.
Hitman wants to stand up but Rae is controlling him.
Rae trying to control but Hitman is working from the bottom.
Aleksander Hitman has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Daniel Rae.
Hitman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hitman throws a series of punches but Rae moves out of range.
Rae misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hitman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Hitman or perhaps it was just good defense by Rae which made him look bad.
Rae fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rae fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rae defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hitman.
Daniel Rae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Hitman.
Nice takedown defense from Rae. No joy for Hitman on that attempt.

Rae darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hitman is looking for a sweep. Rae is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rae wants to stand up but Hitman has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Hitman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rae.
Rae stalling away here and it's allowed Hitman to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rae wants to control from the top but Hitman keeps moving.
Hitman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rae's guard.
Hitman content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hitman stands up from Rae's guard - Hitman perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rae moves to clinch but Hitman breaks away

so Hitman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rae has his foot on Hitman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hitman works his way back into a safe position though.
Hitman 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.
Daniel Rae has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksander Hitman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hitman stands up from guard. Let's bang!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Hitman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hitman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Hitman!