PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvi Rausku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rausku's choice of entrance music: Notkea Rotta - Taas Lähtee Taju . Arvi Rausku has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Almeida
vs
Rausku

191 cm
30
195 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

182 cm
39
190 lbs
24 - 38 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 38 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvi Rausku!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rausku throws a right hand that Almeida ducks under and follows up with a left that Almeida also avoids with ease.
Rausku looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Rausku misses with a jab to the body
and Almeida counters with a series of strikes. Rausku will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rausku throws a series of punches but Almeida avoids them all with ease.
Almeida misses with the combination.
Rausku ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Almeida scores with a three punch combo!
Rausku throws a right and a left that Almeida avoids nicely.
Rausku shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Almeida defends it nicely.
Almeida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rausku manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Almeida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rausku shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Almeida's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rausku!
Almeida tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Almeida is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Almeida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rausku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Almeida misses.
Rausku tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Almeida swivels and escapes.
Rausku fails with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a left and a right that stings Rausku.
Rafael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvi Rausku.
Rausku misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rausku paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rausku misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rausku misses with a takedown attempt
and Almeida counters with a straight right hand.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Almeida fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rausku defending well as Almeida loads up on a big left hand.
Arvi Rausku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but Rausku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rausku is defended easily by Almeida.
A punch combination from Almeida misses.
Rausku circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rausku moves out of range of the leg kick from Almeida.
No joy there for Rausku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rausku doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rausku takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Rausku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Almeida circles away.
Almeida is looking to clinch but Rausku is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rausku manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Rausku misses.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Almeida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Almeida wants to clinch up but Rausku keeps it at a distance.
Almeida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rausku throws a right hand that Almeida ducks under and follows up with a left that Almeida also avoids with ease.
Almeida fails with an attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Almeida.
Rausku throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rausku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.
A punch combination from Almeida misses.
Almeida stalks Rausku and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rausku's face. Rausku staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Almeida 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.

Rausku fails with the takedown.
Rausku fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Almeida avoids it really well and circles away.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rausku paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rausku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Almeida.
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but Rausku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rausku is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Almeida.
Almeida misses with a two punch combination.
Almeida fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rausku.
Rafael Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rausku is breathing heavily.
Almeida cracks the inside of Rausku's front leg.
Good exchange - Almeida coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rausku misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rafael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvi Rausku.
Almeida throws a series of strikes that have Rausku backpedaling.
Almeida is looking to clinch but Rausku is avoiding it.
Rausku fails with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Almeida tries to clinch but Rausku moves out of range.
Rausku looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rausku shoots for a double leg takedown but Almeida sprawls well. He's pushed Rausku's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rausku keeps the fight on the outside.
Almeida wants to clinch.
Almeida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rausku fails with the takedown.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Rausku swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Almeida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rausku keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Rausku or perhaps it was just good defense by Almeida which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Almeida misses.
Almeida throws a nice inside leg kick.
Almeida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rafael Almeida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from Almeida. No joy for Rausku on that attempt.
Almeida wants to clinch.
Almeida throws a series of strikes that have Rausku backpedaling.

Rausku closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Almeida trying to control but Rausku postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rausku trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Almeida gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almeida keeping full guard, as Rausku tries to pass.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rausku postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Almeida dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Almeida wants to clinch.
A combination from Rausku does no damage.
The fighters circling - Almeida throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Almeida leaves Rausku with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Almeida misses with a double jab.
Almeida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rausku moves away.
Rafael Almeida is winning the standup battle so far.
Rausku doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a nice leg kick.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Rausku swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rausku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Almeida doesn't manage to clinch there - Rausku circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida dodges the punch combination from Rausku.
Almeida scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Almeida is looking to clinch but Rausku is avoiding it.
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Rausku pushes him off.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Rausku closes the distance and clinches up with Almeida, looking for a takedown. Rausku pushes Almeida against the cage but Almeida circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rafael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvi Rausku.
Almeida looks to throw the jab but Rausku is out of range.
Almeida misses with a double jab.
Rausku fails with a takedown attempt.
Rausku avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arvi Rausku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rausku.
Almeida throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rausku on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Almeida tries to clinch but Rausku moves out of range.
Almeida has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Almeida there as he acknowledges the shot.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Rausku darts in looking for a takedown but Almeida gets double underhooks and turns Rausku into the cage.
Almeida working hard to break the clinch.
Rausku has Almeida pressed against the cage, preventing Almeida from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rausku jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Almeida walks away with a smile on his face. Rausku gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A big right from Almeida misses.
Almeida doesn't manage to clinch there - Rausku circles away.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rausku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but Rausku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Almeida tries to clinch up but Rausku circles away and keeps his distance.
Almeida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rausku will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rausku shoots for a double leg takedown but Almeida sprawls well. He's pushed Rausku's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Almeida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rausku.
Almeida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rausku manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Almeida misses with a wild combination.
Almeida lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rausku avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rausku has a takedown stuffed.
Almeida tries to clinch there but Rausku circles away.
Almeida connects with an inside leg kick.
Almeida misses with a combination

and Rausku counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rausku.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almeida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rausku is looking to work some ground and pound but Almeida has wrist control.
Rafael Almeida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rausku working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Almeida.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Almeida, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Almeida!