PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raipe Raikas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black has chosen Elton John - Rocket Man as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Raikas
vs
Black

165 cm
22
148 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
152 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raipe Raikas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Black!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Raikas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Black.
Raikas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Black in his tracks.
A punch combination from Black misses.
Raikas stuffs the takedown.
Raikas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Raikas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raikas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Black.
Black tries for a takedown but Raikas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raipe Raikas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Black.
Raikas throws a sloppy head kick and Black moves out of range easily.
Black on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Raikas. Raikas obviously looking to wear him down.
Black throws a nice looking combination but Raikas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Raikas lands a high kick!

Black is rocked!
Raikas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
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!
Raikas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Black.
Black is still on wobbly legs! Can Raikas finish him?
Black fails to land the takedown.
Black looks gassed!
Black fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Black seems to have recovered his senses.
Black throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raikas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Jab, jab by Raikas - just one landing.
A good leg kick by Raikas.
Raikas connects with a high kick.
Black misses with a takedown attempt - Raikas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Raikas lands a head shot.
Raikas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Black decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Black prevents Raikas from standing back up.
Black content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Let's hope that Black has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Raikas looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Black is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black wants to pass the guard but Raikas is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raipe Raikas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Black throws a left and a right that both miss
and Raikas counters with a two punch combo.
Black lands a jab-cross combination.
Black stalks Raikas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Raikas's face. Raikas staggers backwards, shaken.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Black tries to bum rush Raikas with a series of wild strikes but Raikas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Black takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Raikas scoring well with a low kick there.
Raipe Raikas is winning the standup battle so far.
Raikas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raikas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Black throws a combination. Raikas tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black closes the distance and clinches up with Raikas, looking for a takedown. Black pushes Raikas against the ropes but Raikas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Raikas.
Raikas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Black.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Black tries for a takedown but Raikas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raipe Raikas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Black.
Raikas cracks Black with a right hand to the side of the head.
Raikas swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black lands a jab to Raikas's midsection.

Black shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Black was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Raikas bucks Black off and manages to get back to his feet!
A nice combination there by Raikas.
Raikas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Black moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Raikas feints and then cracks Black's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Black down.
Raikas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raikas scores with a jab to the body.
Black lands with an overhand left.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Raikas.
Raikas stuffs the takedown attempt from Black. Black gets slowly back to his feet.
Raikas misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikas lands a head kick. Black smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Raikas throws a right and a left that Black avoids nicely.
A left and a right from Raikas both land. Nice combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Black scores with a four punch combination!
Black shoots in but no luck this time.
Raikas stuffs the takedown attempt from Black. Black gets slowly back to his feet.
Black lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Raikas backs up against the ropes.
Raikas lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Black shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Raikas pinned against the cage. Raikas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice combo by Black! Oh, that's hurt him - Raikas falls to the canvas and Black follows him into side control.

Raikas is rocked!

It looks like Raipe Raikas has been cut.
Black controlling the position from side mount.
Oh Raikas is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikas seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Black prevents Raikas from escaping the position.

Black stands up and we're back to a striking position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Raikas pinned against the cage. Raikas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Black misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raipe Raikas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Black shoots in looking for a takedown. Raikas tries to sprawl out of it but Black keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Raikas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A good leg kick by Raikas.
Black throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Black shoots for a takedown but Raikas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Black takes a kick to the side of the head.
Raikas scores with a push kick.
Raikas misses with a double jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Black.
A lull in the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikas bucks up and tries to throw Black off but instead Black has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Raikas is trying to get back to his feet but Black has full control of the position and if anything, Raikas has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Black really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Raikas.
Raikas covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Raikas do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Raikas staying busy and making it hard for Black to control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black controls the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mike Black just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A good leg kick by Raikas.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raipe Raikas.
I think Raikas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!