PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Schilling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaska Raatikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Schilling might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Roy Jones - Can't be touched. Raatikainen has chosen Children of Bodom - Are you dead yet as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Schilling
vs
Raatikainen

165 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

162 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Schilling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jaska Raatikainen!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raatikainen throws a solid leg kick but Schilling takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Raatikainen.

Raatikainen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Schilling to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Schilling trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raatikainen is adopting a defensive guard.
Schilling throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raatikainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Schilling seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've been hearing good reports from Schilling's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Raatikainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Schilling is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Raatikainen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Raatikainen has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raatikainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Schilling is looking for a triangle but Raatikainen pushes his legs off easily.

Schilling is looking for a triangle here but Raatikainen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Schilling is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Raatikainen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Raatikainen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schilling tries to hold on but Raatikainen postures up.
Schilling is looking to get to half guard.
Raatikainen controlling his opponent.
Schilling is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Raatikainen looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schilling tries to reverse the position but Raatikainen maintains control.
Raatikainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Schilling is looking to escape.
Schilling tries to buck Raatikainen off but he can't manage it.
Raatikainen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Raatikainen tries to control but Schilling wriggling away.
Schilling tries to hold on but Raatikainen postures up.
Schilling is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schilling gets back to half guard.
Schilling is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jaska Raatikainen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Schilling throws a sloppy head kick and Raatikainen moves out of range easily.
Raatikainen takes a swing at Schilling's ribcage but misses.
Schilling throws a leg kick but Raatikainen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Raatikainen tries to land a front kick but Schilling steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Schilling closes the distance and clinches up with Raatikainen, looking for a takedown. Schilling pushes Raatikainen against the cage but Raatikainen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jaska Raatikainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schilling lands a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raatikainen tries to clinch but Schilling is having none of it.
Schilling staying out of range there.
Raatikainen with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Schilling will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Raatikainen throws a head kick that misses.
Schilling misses with a takedown attempt - Raatikainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Raatikainen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Raatikainen lands a head kick. Schilling smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Schilling misses with a low kick as Raatikainen jumps back.
Raatikainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Raatikainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Schilling.
Schilling misses with an uppercut.
Jaska Raatikainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Schilling turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Raatikainen throws the kick towards the body but Schilling avoids it.
Raatikainen throws a push kick but Schilling slaps the foot to one side.
Schilling moves out of range of the leg kick from Raatikainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schilling misses with a kick to the body
and Raatikainen counters with a leg kick.
Schilling misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Schilling fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Good leg kick by Raatikainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Raatikainen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Schilling lands a slapping body shot.
Schilling misses with a body shot.
Raatikainen stuffs the takedown attempt from Schilling. Schilling gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Schilling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raatikainen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Raatikainen misses the shot to the body.
Schilling throws a sloppy head kick and Raatikainen moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Raatikainen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raatikainen wants it to stay on the feet.
Schilling throws a hook to the side of Raatikainen's head but Raatikainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Schilling waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raatikainen.
Schilling blocks a leg kick.
Raatikainen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Raatikainen thumps Schilling with a low kick.
Raatikainen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Raatikainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raatikainen lands a leg kick that knocks Schilling off balance momentarily.
Schilling chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Raatikainen can pounce on him.
Raatikainen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen throws a push kick but Schilling slaps the foot to one side.
Raatikainen lands with a hook. Schilling tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Schilling rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Raatikainen counters with a good, hard body kick but Schilling shrugs it off.
Raatikainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Schilling showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raatikainen.
Schilling checks a leg kick.
Raatikainen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Schilling misses with a series of wild punches.
Raatikainen throws a body kick that misses.
Raatikainen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Raatikainen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raatikainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Schilling takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Schilling ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Schilling. Raatikainen does a little dance to reset his feet.

Schilling fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Raatikainen to the ground. Schilling is now in Raatikainen's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raatikainen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schilling is one step ahead there.
Schilling passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schilling moves into full mount!
Schilling trying to control but Raatikainen is having none of it.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Raatikainen lands a lovely overhand right.
Schilling throws a nice looking combination but Raatikainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice takedown defense from Raatikainen. No joy for Schilling on that attempt.
Raatikainen misses with a low kick.
Schilling pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Schilling misses with a body shot
and Raatikainen counters with a nice body kick.
Raatikainen thumps Schilling with a low kick.
Raatikainen is looking to slow Schilling down with leg kicks.
The fighters circling - Raatikainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schilling connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Schilling drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schilling postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Schilling throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Raatikainen struggling a bit here.
Raatikainen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Schilling presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Schilling postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Raatikainen looks a forlorn figure.
Raatikainen is squirming around, avoiding Schilling's attempts to control the action.
Raatikainen is looking to improve his position but Schilling isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schilling lands a big shot there that rocks Raatikainen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Raatikainen is squirming around, avoiding Schilling's attempts to control the action.
Joe Schilling overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schilling postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Raatikainen looks a forlorn figure.
Raatikainen manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Raatikainen is trying to maintain the position but Schilling is very close to passing his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schilling not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schilling is nestled in close to Raatikainen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Schilling is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Schilling wants to control but Raatikainen is keeping him busy.
Raatikainen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Schilling is trying to work for a kimura but Raatikainen is defending well.
Schilling is keen to just control but Raatikainen is a slippery customer.

Schilling is trying to work for a kimura but Raatikainen is defending well.
Schilling lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schilling is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Raatikainen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Raatikainen is not content to let Schilling control the position.
Raatikainen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Schilling's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Schilling's back!
Raatikainen is looking to control Schilling but Schilling is wriggling around and keeping busy.
I really don't envy Schilling right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raatikainen is riding his opponent, not letting Schilling buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Schilling showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Schilling 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!