PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lars Hegg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaska Raatikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hegg comes to the cage accompanied by Vs. The World. Raatikainen has chosen Children of Bodom - Are you dead yet as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hegg
vs
Raatikainen

173 cm
27
147 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

162 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Damnfield clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lars Hegg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaska Raatikainen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hegg takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hegg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raatikainen throws a leg kick which misses Hegg's front leg but catches the back leg as Hegg tries to avoid it.
Raatikainen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lars Hegg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hegg lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hegg stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hegg throws a looping overhand right but Raatikainen ducks down to avoid it.
Raatikainen throws a low kick but Hegg avoids it.
Hegg throws a hook but Raatikainen avoids it easily.
Hegg lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Jaska Raatikainen has been cut.
Hegg misses with a right hand
and Raatikainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hegg thinking.
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!
Hegg jabs Raatikainen right on the nose. Raatikainen blinks but takes it well.
Hegg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hegg takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hegg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hegg thows a body shot but no joy.
Hegg throws a lazy uppercut
and Raatikainen makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hegg really felt that one!
Hegg fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Raatikainen on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hegg pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hegg just misses with a punch to the body.
Hegg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raatikainen.
Hegg looks to land a right hand but Raatikainen moved out of range.
Hegg throws a jab but it's blocked by Raatikainen.
Hegg throws an overhand right that lands on Raatikainen's shoulder, as Raatikainen tries to avoid the shot.
Hegg on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Hegg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raatikainen defending well as Hegg loads up on a big left hand.
Raatikainen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Raatikainen ducks under a wild hook from Hegg.
Raatikainen lands a jab to Hegg's midsection.
Raatikainen scores with a spinning back kick!
Hegg is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Hegg is breathing heavily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Raatikainen, right into the meat.
Raatikainen scores with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hegg swings for the body but Raatikainen moves out of range.
Hegg chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Raatikainen can pounce on him.
Raatikainen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hegg tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Raatikainen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hegg on the side of the head.
Raatikainen feints and then cracks Hegg's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hegg down.
Good leg kick by Raatikainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Raatikainen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Raatikainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Hegg is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Raatikainen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hegg is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A slow jab from Hegg misses its intended target.
Raatikainen throws a sloppy head kick and Hegg moves out of range easily.
Raatikainen blocks a jab.
Raatikainen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Raatikainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hegg throws a lazy uppercut
and Raatikainen counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hegg misses with a straight left.
Hegg swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen lands with a shot to the body.
Raatikainen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Raatikainen lands a nice shot to the body.
Raatikainen is looking to slow Hegg down with leg kicks.
Hegg throws a jab when Raatikainen was well out of range.
Raatikainen connects with a looping right hand.
Hegg lands a jab to the nose.
Raatikainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hegg.
Hegg fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raatikainen manages to avoid it.
Hegg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raatikainen.
Raatikainen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hegg rather than just go for the knockout.
Raatikainen thumps Hegg with a low kick.
Hegg lands a jab to the nose.
Hegg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hegg misses with a wild body shot.
Hegg misses with an uppercut.
Hegg closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raatikainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hegg misses the jab.
Hegg misses with a series of wild punches.
Hegg throws a combination that misses
and Raatikainen counters with a head kick. That will keep Hegg thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sloppy strikes from Hegg. Those never looked like landing.
Raatikainen pushes Hegg away with a front kick.
Raatikainen scores with a nice body kick.
Raatikainen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Raatikainen pushes Hegg away with a front kick.
Raatikainen throws a leg kick which misses Hegg's front leg but catches the back leg as Hegg tries to avoid it.
Hegg has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Raatikainen throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A jab from Hegg misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Raatikainen.
Hegg on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Raatikainen lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaska Raatikainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jaska Raatikainen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hegg walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hegg thows a left - swing and a miss!
Raatikainen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hegg will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Raatikainen thows a body kick. Hegg tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Raatikainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hegg throws a nice looking combination but Raatikainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jaska Raatikainen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raatikainen lands with a kick to the temple. Hegg shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hegg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Good leg kick by Raatikainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Raatikainen scores with a leg kick.
Hegg closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raatikainen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Raatikainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hegg.
Hegg throws a right hand that misses
and Raatikainen counters with a low kick, right behind Hegg 's knee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raatikainen staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Hegg throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hegg misses with a body shot.
Raatikainen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Raatikainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hegg's calf.
Raatikainen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hegg takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Raatikainen lands a head shot.
Crunch! Raatikainen slams his shin into Hegg's torso.
Raatikainen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
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!
Raatikainen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hegg.

Hegg is rocked!
Raatikainen connects with a right hand. Hegg shakes it off.
Oh Hegg is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hegg takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Raatikainen misses with a head kick.
Raatikainen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Raatikainen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hegg seems to have got his legs back now.
Raatikainen connects with a leg kick. Hegg looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Raatikainen connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen lands a jab.
Raatikainen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Raatikainen lands a jab to the head.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Hegg might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Raatikainen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Raatikainen throws a head kick that Hegg semi-blocks.
Raatikainen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Raatikainen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hegg has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Raatikainen finds it's way round the side to connect with Hegg's head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Raatikainen.
Hegg avoids the head kick by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen just misses with a punch to the body.
Raatikainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot to the liver by Hegg. Beautiful body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Hegg misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen throws a leg kick which misses Hegg's front leg but catches the back leg as Hegg tries to avoid it.
Hegg looks to land a left hand but Raatikainen moved out of range nicely.
Hegg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raatikainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hegg.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Raatikainen throws a sloppy head kick and Hegg moves out of range easily.
Raatikainen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Raatikainen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hegg throws a predictable looking body shot

and Raatikainen counters with a head kick that drops Hegg - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hegg is trying to stand back up but Raatikainen is controlling him
Raatikainen is trying to control the action in half guard but Hegg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Raatikainen trying to mount his opponent but Hegg defends it.
Raatikainen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Raatikainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hegg is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen controlling the pace for now.
Raatikainen wants to control the pace but Hegg is squirming around nicely.
Raatikainen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hegg is trying desperately to improve position.
Raatikainen lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaska Raatikainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jaska Raatikainen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Raatikainen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hegg takes a step back to recover.
Raatikainen slips under a jab.
Raatikainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hegg's calf.
Raatikainen misses with a straight left.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Raatikainen.
Raatikainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hegg swings for the body but Raatikainen moves out of range.
Hegg swings for the body but Raatikainen moves out of range.
Hegg just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Hegg misses.
Hegg misses the shot to the body.
A solid body kick from Raatikainen.
Raatikainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hegg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raatikainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hegg.
Hegg is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raatikainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Raatikainen.
Hegg misses with a straight left.
Raatikainen thows a body kick. Hegg tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Raatikainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hegg.
Raatikainen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hegg on the side of the head.
Hegg throws a poor cross that misses
and Raatikainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hegg thinking.
Raatikainen lands a head kick!
Good leg kick by Raatikainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Raatikainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hegg moves away.
A slow jab from Hegg misses its intended target.
Hegg just misses with a punch to the body.
Hegg misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Hegg misses.
Hegg misses with a right hand
and Raatikainen counters with a good low kick that Hegg was not able to check.
Hegg swings for the body but Raatikainen moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hegg doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Raatikainen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Raatikainen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hegg if he has to take too many more of those.
Hegg tries to move into range but Raatikainen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hegg crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Raatikainen - the referee stops the clock and Hegg gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Raatikainen. Hegg manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Raatikainen, right into the meat.
Raatikainen is looking to slow Hegg down with leg kicks.
Raatikainen is looking to slow Hegg down with leg kicks.
Hegg takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Raatikainen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lars Hegg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hegg throws a hook to the side of Raatikainen's head but Raatikainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Raatikainen throws a front kick that sends Hegg stumbling back into the cage.
Raatikainen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hegg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raatikainen cracks Hegg with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen thuds a left hand into Hegg's body.
Raatikainen avoids the body shot from Hegg.
Hegg on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Raatikainen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Raatikainen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Raatikainen thumps Hegg with a low kick.
Raatikainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hegg's calf.
Raatikainen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Raatikainen stuns Hegg with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slow jab from Hegg misses its intended target.
Raatikainen scores with a leg kick.
Hegg chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Raatikainen can pounce on him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice shot lands for Raatikainen.
Raatikainen lands with an uppercut that bounces Hegg off the cage and back into range.
Hegg throws a lazy right hand but Raatikainen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hegg takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Raatikainen lands a really nice looking cross but Hegg seems unphased.
Hegg on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Raatikainen. Raatikainen obviously looking to wear him down.
Hegg misses with a looping right.
Raatikainen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hegg scores with a nice right hand.
Hegg throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Raatikainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Raatikainen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Raatikainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hegg.
Raatikainen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Raatikainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hegg's calf.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A chopping leg kick lands by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen lands a nice looking body kick.
Raatikainen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaska Raatikainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raatikainen 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaska Raatikainen!
Jaska Raatikainen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.