PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sean Thompson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tomi Rajala's chin.

Rajala
vs
Thompson

180 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tomi Rajala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rajala circles away.

Rajala feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rajala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rajala postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Rajala won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.
Rajala wants to pass the guard but Thompson is keeping the position.
Rajala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rajala with a nice head shot there.
Rajala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rajala is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rajala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rajala controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rajala throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala is working Thompson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rajala lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rajala with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rajala trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rajala looking to pass the guard.

Thompson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rajala is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thompson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rajala's back instead.
Thompson doesn't have the hooks in and Rajala manages to turn into his guard.
Rajala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Rajala is looking to work some ground and pound but Thompson has wrist control.

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.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thompson shoots in for a double leg but Rajala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rajala shoots in and drives through. Thompson sprawls well.

Rajala darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rajala is breathing heavily.
Rajala is nestled in close to Thompson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rajala working Thompson over with strikes.
Rajala has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thompson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thompson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thompson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rajala slips a nice elbow through Thompson's hands, connecting with Thompson's forehead.
Rajala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is nestled in close to Thompson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thompson is looking for a sweep. Rajala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rajala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rajala working over Thompson with some ground and pound. Thompson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rajala trying to pass the guard but Thompson defending well.
Rajala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Rajala there.
Rajala winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rajala trying to pass the guard but Thompson defending well.
Thompson is looking to control Rajala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?
Rajala not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rajala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ground and pound from Rajala.
Rajala wants to pass to mount but Thompson is defending the position.
Thompson trying to control but Rajala postures up.
Rajala thows a huge punch but Thompson dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thompson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rajala closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Thompson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rajala.

Thompson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.
Rajala lands a couple of elbows.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Rajala manages to pass to side control.
Ground and pound from Rajala.
Nice strikes from Rajala there.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thompson!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rajala is landing with some decent strikes but Thompson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rajala working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rajala fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rajala unloading with bombs!
Rajala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rajala putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rajala prevents Thompson from getting the reversal.
The referee warns Thompson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rajala lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thompson hang on?
Rajala working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rajala tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Thompson is looking to improve his position but Rajala isn't that keen on the idea.
Thompson tries to hold on but Rajala pushes him away.
Thompson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Thompson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thompson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thompson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thompson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thompson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Thompson is looking to get to half guard.
Thompson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Rajala keeps moving.
Rajala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson pushing down on Rajala's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rajala keeps working.
Rajala makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rajala.
Tomi Rajala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rajala is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thompson trying to control but Rajala is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Rajala keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Rajala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rajala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rajala tries to get out of the position.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rajala is retaining full guard.

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

Rajala shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thompson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rajala landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rajala looking to finish Thompson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thompson!
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rajala lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Rajala dominated that second round.
That's time! Rajala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rajala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thompson.

Rajala is rocked!
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rajala fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thompson sprawls well initially but Rajala persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thompson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rajala.
Thompson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rajala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Thompson pushes Rajala off and scrambles back to his feet.
Thompson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rajala tries to avoid it but Thompson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rajala to the ground. Rajala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rajala shoots in and bounces Thompson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rajala won't allow Thompson to get back to his feet.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rajala lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Rajala postures up and lands a big shot to Thompson's brow.
Rajala chips away with some ground and pound.
Rajala lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rajala slips nicely into half guard.
Rajala not doing much here.
Rajala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Well, if Rajala is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thompson won't allow Rajala to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajala passes to full mount!
Rajala fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rajala landing shots from mount.
Rajala cracks Thompson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rajala in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Thompson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thompson trying to control but Rajala is working from the bottom.
Thompson forces his way into half guard.
Thompson prevents Rajala from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thompson lands a nice short elbow.
Thompson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rajala is refusing to be controlled, as Thompson sits in half guard.
Thompson prevents Rajala from improving his position.
Rajala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.
Thompson is tying to control. Rajala wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rajala which made him look bad.
Tomi Rajala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Thompson.

Rajala shoots in and bounces Thompson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rajala is looking to work some ground and pound but Thompson has wrist control.
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rajala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson has momentary wrist control but Rajala slips an elbow through the middle.
Thompson wants to stand up but Rajala is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rajala passes Thompson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sean Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rajala stalling away here and it's allowed Thompson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomi Rajala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rajala, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomi Rajala!