PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Firmly Grasping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvi Rausku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rausku has chosen Notkea Rotta - Taas Lähtee Taju as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Arvi Rausku enters the cage!

Grasping
vs
Rausku

172 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
39
190 lbs
24 - 39 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Firmly Grasping!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 39 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvi Rausku!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grasping avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grasping lands with a nice body punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rausku takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rausku catches Grasping with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grasping thows a body shot but no joy.
Grasping lands a jab to Rausku's midsection.
Grasping takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Grasping scores with a one two! Rausku had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Grasping takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Grasping uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rausku.
Rausku fails with a takedown attempt.
Grasping misses the shot to the body.

Rausku changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grasping looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Grasping struggling a bit here.
Grasping manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Grasping is trying to maintain the position but Rausku is very close to passing his half guard.

Rausku is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rausku is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Grasping defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grasping tries to roll over but Rausku keeps him under control.
Grasping makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Grasping.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rausku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grasping keeping moving, preventing Rausku from controlling successfully.
Rausku throws an elbow that misses. Grasping uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rausku's guard. Nice move by Grasping!
Rausku is trying to control the position but Grasping postures up.
Rausku has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rausku escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Grasping gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grasping working some strikes from top position.

Rausku throws his legs up looking for a submission but Grasping uses it to pass to side control.
Grasping gets to mount! Rausku was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rausku is squirming around, avoiding Grasping's attempts to control the action.
Rausku really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Grasping looking to control but Rausku is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rausku is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rausku is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Grasping looking to control but Rausku is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Grasping cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rausku in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rausku is looking to get to half guard.

Grasping working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Rausku looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Grasping! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Firmly Grasping!