PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Deacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Raphson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Raphson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Deacon
vs
Raphson

190 cm
21
208 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

192 cm
24
223 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Deacon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Raphson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Deacon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Deacon connects with a looping right hand.
Raphson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Deacon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Raphson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Deacon.
Raphson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Raphson wants to clinch.
Raphson tries to clinch there but Deacon circles away.
Raphson moves out of range as Deacon strikes.

Raphson gets a clinch.
Deacon scores with a hook to the body.
Deacon wants to get back to striking at distance but Raphson won't allow it.
Raphson throws an elbow but it misses.
Raphson lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raphson pushes off an throws an elbow but Deacon leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Raphson throws an elbow but misses.
Raphson pushes off an throws an elbow but Deacon leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Raphson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Deacon wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Stalling in the clinch from Raphson.
Deacon lands a shot to the body.
Deacon stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Deacon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Raphson lands an elbow just above Deacon 's eye.
Raphson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Deacon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Deacon working hard to break the clinch.
Raphson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Deacon avoids it.
Raphson misses with a punch to the body.
Deacon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Raphson.
Deacon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deacon misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Deacon fails to land.
Deacon is trying to break the clinch but Raphson is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from Deacon fails to land.
Raphson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Raphson throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Raphson throws an elbow but misses.
Deacon wants to get back to striking at distance but Raphson won't allow it.
Deacon avoids a wild elbow strike from Raphson.
Deacon misses with the head strike.
Deacon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Deacon scores with a shoulder strike.
Deacon dodges an elbow strike from Raphson.
Deacon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Deacon slows down the pace here.
Raphson wants to stall.
Raphson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Deacon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Deacon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raphson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Deacon uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Raphson has time to react.
Raphson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Raphson.
Deacon throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Raphson on the side of the head.
Deacon looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Raphson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Deacon counters with a left to the body.
Raphson throws out a leg kick but Deacon moves out of range and Raphson only half commits.
Raphson moves in looking to clinch but Deacon pushes him off.
Deacon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raphson.
Deacon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Raphson tries to clinch up
and Raphson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raphson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Deacon clobbers Raphson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Raphson misses with a series of wild punches.
Deacon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raphson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Deacon misses with an uppercut.
Deacon connects with a looping right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raphson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Deacon. Deacon obviously looking to wear him down.
Raphson misses with a double jab.
Deacon throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Deacon dominated that round.
That's time! Deacon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Raphson throws a low kick but Deacon avoids it.
Sloppy strikes from Raphson. Those never looked like landing.
A nice inside leg kick there by Raphson. That's going to slow Deacon down.
Deacon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raphson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Deacon finds it's way round the side to connect with Raphson's head.

Raphson gets a clinch.
Raphson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Deacon throws a punch but it's blocked by Raphson.
A hook to the body from Deacon.
Deacon tries to circle away but Raphson has him pinned against the cage.
Deacon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Deacon avoids the elbow strike from Raphson, against the cage.
Raphson trying to stall but Deacon improves his position.
Deacon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.
Deacon misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Deacon.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raphson working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raphson lands a hook that snaps the head of Deacon backwards.
Raphson stalling the fight.
Deacon has Raphson pressed against the cage.
Deacon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raphson blocking some punches.
Deacon blocks an uppercut.
Deacon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Raphson is pushing Deacon up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Deacon avoiding damage as Raphson throws knees to the body.
Raphson lands with a left to the head.
Raphson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Deacon's efforts to push away.

Deacon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raphson tries to clinch up
and Deacon finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Carl Raphson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raphson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Deacon.

Raphson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Raphson blocks an uppercut.
A short left from Deacon.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Deacon tries to break the clinch but Raphson is controlling the position.
Deacon blocks the elbow strike.
Raphson is trying to stall.
Raphson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Raphson throws an elbow but it misses.
Raphson is trying to stall.
Deacon can't find room to land a body shot as Raphson controls the action.
Deacon misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Raphson.
Deacon takes an elbow to the forehead.
David Deacon has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Raphson prevents a body shot from Deacon.
Raphson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Deacon's efforts to push away.
Deacon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raphson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Deacon dodges an elbow strike from Raphson.
Raphson wants to stall.
Raphson has Deacon pressed against the cage, preventing Deacon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Deacon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Deacon misses with a looping left.
Deacon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raphson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raphson throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raphson wants to clinch.
Raphson is looking to clinch but Deacon is avoiding it.
Raphson wants to clinch.
Carl Raphson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Raphson moves into the clinch successfully.
Deacon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Deacon managing to block the knees to the body from Raphson.
Deacon swings wildly with an uppercut but Raphson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Deacon is trying to push Raphson away but Raphson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Raphson can't find room to land a body shot as Deacon controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Carl Raphson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Raphson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Deacon.
Raphson misses with a straight left.
A punch combination from Raphson misses.
Raphson checks a leg kick nicely.
Deacon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raphson.
Raphson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Deacon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raphson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Deacon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Deacon does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Deacon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raphson thows a leg kick but Deacon checks it
letting Deacon counter with a right hand.
Deacon fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Raphson checks it well.
Raphson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Deacon counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raphson moves in looking to clinch but Deacon pushes him off.
Raphson throws a right hand that Deacon ducks under and follows up with a left that Deacon also avoids with ease.
Raphson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Deacon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Deacon, as that shot connected.
David Deacon is winning the standup battle so far.

Raphson forces Deacon back against the cage and clinches.
Deacon working hard to break the clinch.
Raphson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Deacon's elbow.
Raphson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Deacon avoids a wild elbow strike from Raphson.
Deacon has a couple of punches blocked by Raphson.
Raphson slowing the pace effectively.
With the fighters up against the cage, Raphson throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raphson lands with a short shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Deacon has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Deacon is trying to maintain a safe position but Raphson gets an underhook and turns Deacon into the cage.
Raphson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Deacon up against the cage.
Deacon is trying to break free.
Deacon gets through Raphson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Deacon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Deacon swings wildly with an uppercut but Raphson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raphson misses with a knee strike.
Deacon dodges an elbow strike from Raphson.
Deacon avoids a wild elbow strike from Raphson.
Deacon swings wildly with an uppercut but Raphson uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Raphson throws an elbow but misses.
Deacon misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raphson trying to stall but Deacon improves his position.
Raphson lands an elbow inside.
Raphson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Deacon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Deacon misses with a wild combination.
Raphson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Deacon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raphson falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Deacon to counter with a crisp jab.
Deacon connects with a nice looking jab.
Raphson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Deacon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raphson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raphson tries to clinch but Deacon moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deacon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raphson misses with a double jab.
Deacon misses with a left hand

and Raphson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Raphson lands a damaging elbow.
Deacon lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Deacon breaks from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Deacon misses with a body shot.
Raphson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Raphson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raphson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raphson connects with a solid leg kick.
Raphson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Deacon backs up against the cage.
Deacon thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carl Raphson.
I think Raphson 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Raphson!
A very excited looking Carl Raphson 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.