PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kai Raizor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Swanson (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.

Raizor
vs
Swanson

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kai Raizor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Swanson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raizor is looking to clinch.

Swanson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Swanson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Swanson jumps guard.

Swanson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raizor trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.

Swanson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Raizor manages to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raizor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raizor tries to pass to full mount but Swanson defends it.
Raizor is thwarting Swanson's attempts to control the position.
Raizor is controlling the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Raizor darts in trying to clinch

and Swanson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swanson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Swanson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Raizor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Swanson working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson trying to control the action but Raizor is working from the bottom.
Swanson cracks Raizor with a big right hand but Raizor just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Raizor gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Swanson wants to free his trapped foot but Raizor is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Raizor is trying to maintain the position but Swanson is very close to passing his half guard.
Raizor tries to roll over but Swanson keeps him under control.
Swanson is pressing down on Raizor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Raizor is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson working Raizor over with strikes.
Swanson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Raizor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raizor trying to control here.
Swanson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raizor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Swanson feints and as Raizor raises his hands in defense, Swanson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Swanson looks gassed!
Swanson looking to sit in guard and control but Raizor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Swanson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Swanson trying to control the position.
Swanson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raizor throws a big right hand that misses.
Raizor trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Swanson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Swanson trying to pass the guard but Raizor defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Swanson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Raizor throws a nice inside leg kick.
Raizor fails with the takedown

and Swanson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Swanson stops Raizor from standing up.
Raizor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Raizor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Raizor is trying to keep Swanson in close.
Raizor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Raizor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson throws and elbow that misses. Raizor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Swanson's guard. Nice move by Raizor!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson wants to sweep here but Raizor controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raizor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swanson is keeping the position for now.
Swanson looking to control.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Raizor lands a jab-cross combination.
Raizor misses with a takedown

and Swanson counters with a single leg into guard. Raizor didn't expect that.
Raizor keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raizor looking to control.
Swanson pushing down on Raizor's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Raizor is refusing to be controlled, as Swanson sits in half guard.
Raizor wants to improve his position but Swanson is controlling well.
Swanson is taking a breather. Raizor says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raizor taking some punishment here, with Swanson in his half guard.

Swanson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Raizor has his takedown stuffed

and Swanson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Raizor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raizor working a defensive guard here.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Raizor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson won't allow Raizor to sweep him here.
Raizor is trying to control the position but Swanson postures up.
Swanson wants to pass the guard but Raizor is keeping the position.
Raizor keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.
Swanson content to stall in guard here.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raizor closes the distance looking to clinch

and Swanson moves into the clinch.
Raizor is trying to break free.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raizor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Swanson counters by clinching up.
Raizor fails to pull guard.
Swanson tries to break the clinch but Raizor is controlling the position.

Swanson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Raizor is refusing to be controlled, as Swanson sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raizor is trying to maintain the position but Swanson is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Swanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Raizor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Raizor closes the distance looking to clinch

and Swanson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Raizor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Raizor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Swanson trying to control but Raizor postures up.
Joe Swanson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Swanson wants to get back to full guard.
Raizor stops Swanson from getting back to his feet.
Swanson is looking to control Raizor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Swanson avoid being mounted?
Swanson wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson wants to control but Raizor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Swanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raizor trying to control the action but Swanson is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Raizor shoots and misses

so Swanson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Swanson looking to sit in guard and control but Raizor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Swanson keeping busy on the bottom but Raizor has passed one foot through into half guard.
Swanson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Raizor is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raizor trying to control from half guard but Swanson is working away.
Raizor is thwarting Swanson's attempts to control the position.
Raizor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Swanson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Raizor is working hard here to advance position.

Swanson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Raizor lands a nice short elbow.
Swanson moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raizor is looking to stand up but Swanson won't let him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Raizor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raizor wants to clinch but Swanson slips to the side

and Swanson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swanson trying to control but Raizor is working from the bottom.
Swanson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Raizor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson lands a couple of elbows.
Swanson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raizor is keeping the position for now.
Raizor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson looking to pass the guard.
Swanson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Raizor is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Raizor doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Swanson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Swanson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Swanson closes the distance and clinches.

Swanson drags the fight down to the ground.

Swanson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Raizor passes into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raizor is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Swanson has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swanson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Swanson!