PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rik McRae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergi Lutsenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McRae kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Slipknot - Before I Forget. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McRae
vs
Lutsenko

189 cm
30
198 lbs
14 - 6 - 2

192 cm
31
193 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Rik McRae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergi Lutsenko!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of McRae 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lutsenko throws a front kick aimed at McRae's knee but McRae avoids it well.
Lutsenko throws a leg kick that misses.
McRae attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McRae keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McRae throws a hook to the side of Lutsenko's head but Lutsenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lutsenko darts in trying to clinch

and McRae counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lutsenko won't be happy with that.

McRae is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lutsenko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lutsenko is not content to let McRae control the position.
McRae working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McRae thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lutsenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lutsenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from McRae.
Lutsenko manages to get to full guard.

Lutsenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McRae postures up in Lutsenko's guard and throws a big left but Lutsenko blocks it.
McRae postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lutsenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lutsenko keeping full guard, as McRae tries to pass.
McRae is pushing down on Lutsenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lutsenko is fighting to maintain full guard but McRae has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRae wants to free his trapped foot but Lutsenko is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Lutsenko looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McRae is working for a submission of some sort.
McRae looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McRae is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lutsenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McRae.

Lutsenko looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae scoring with strikes to the body and head.

McRae is looking for a kimura here.
McRae scoring with strikes to the body and head.
McRae wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lutsenko keeps working.

McRae wants to work for an arm triangle but Lutsenko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McRae not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ground and pound from McRae.
McRae throwing shots but Lutsenko is blocking nicely.
Lutsenko trying to control here.
Lutsenko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McRae kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRae is looking to take a break and control but Lutsenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

McRae is trying to work for a kimura but Lutsenko is defending well.
Lutsenko moves into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McRae in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lutsenko controls McRae momentarily but McRae frees himself.
Lutsenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McRae's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lutsenko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McRae's guard.
McRae wants to get back to full guard.
McRae has hold of Lutsenko's hands but Lutsenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lutsenko moves out of range as McRae throws a body kick.
Lutsenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Lutsenko misses.
McRae misses with a wild body shot.
Lutsenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Lutsenko clinches up against the cage.
McRae lands an uppercut.
McRae tries to break free but Lutsenko pushes him back against the cage.

Lutsenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lutsenko lands with a shot to the body.
McRae pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McRae gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lutsenko.
Nice defenses there by Lutsenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lutsenko cracks McRae with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lutsenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McRae loads up on a big right hand but Lutsenko slips the punch.
Lutsenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lutsenko shoots in for a double leg but McRae sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lutsenko throws a right and a left that McRae avoids nicely.
McRae shoots in and drives through. Lutsenko sprawls well.
Lutsenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McRae as he avoids it easily.
Lutsenko stuns McRae with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McRae missing with a left hand there. Lutsenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lutsenko tests McRae's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lutsenko misses with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McRae looks for a takedown but Lutsenko sprawls well.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Lutsenko.

McRae dives in and scores a takedown into Lutsenko's guard.
McRae stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lutsenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lutsenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McRae gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McRae is working Lutsenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lutsenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lutsenko is trying to keep McRae in close.
McRae trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Lutsenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McRae can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lutsenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McRae accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Lutsenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McRae gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McRae passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McRae seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Lutsenko has recovered full guard.
Lutsenko keeping moving, preventing McRae from controlling successfully.
McRae connects with a couple of short punches.
McRae chips away with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McRae wants to control from the top but Lutsenko keeps moving.
Lutsenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McRae.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McRae throws a strike but Lutsenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lutsenko trying to control but McRae is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergi Lutsenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McRae takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
McRae checks the leg kick.
McRae swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lutsenko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lutsenko swings for the body but McRae moves out of range.
Lutsenko lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McRae at a distance.
Nice defenses there by McRae.
Lutsenko scores with a jab to the body.
Lutsenko misses with a body shot.
Lutsenko throws an off balance right hand
and McRae counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lutsenko's knee momentarily.
Lutsenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McRae counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lutsenko. Lutsenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lutsenko misses with a two punch combination.
Lutsenko misses with a looping left.

Lutsenko darts in and clinches McRae up against the cage.
McRae looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lutsenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McRae wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

McRae escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lutsenko misses with a jab to the body
and McRae counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Lutsenko.
McRae shoots in but Lutsenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lutsenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A combination from Lutsenko does no damage.
McRae doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McRae misses with a straight left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lutsenko.
Lutsenko throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lutsenko misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lutsenko is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McRae goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McRae avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lutsenko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nice body punch from Lutsenko.
Lutsenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sergi Lutsenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lutsenko throws a sloppy head kick
and McRae counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lutsenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McRae.
Sergi Lutsenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.

McRae shoots in and bounces Lutsenko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lutsenko pushes McRae off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lutsenko has closed the distance and engaged McRae in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McRae lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lutsenko backwards.
Lutsenko can't find room to land a body shot as McRae controls the action.
Lutsenko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McRae using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lutsenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lutsenko digs a right hand into McRae's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McRae's gas tank.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McRae.
Lutsenko stalls.
A short right from McRae.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergi Lutsenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lutsenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sergi Lutsenko!
A very excited looking Sergi Lutsenko made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.