PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Villars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Raban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Villars
vs
Raban

190 cm
24
226 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
28
270 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard Villars!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Raban!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raban loads up on a big right hand but Villars slips the punch.

Raban scores with a takedown into Villars's guard.
Villars keeping moving, preventing Raban from controlling successfully.
Raban looking to pass the guard.
Raban is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Villars working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raban.
Raban looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Villars is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Raban has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villars has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Villars 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villars is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Raban stopping the sweep attempt from Villars.
Villars knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raban on the ground.
Villars preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Raban has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Raban makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Raban looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Villars keeping full guard, as Raban tries to pass.
Villars bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raban's guard.

Raban lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Villars preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villars trying to keep a closed guard but Raban is proving a slippery customer.
Raban working some strikes from top position.
Raban is working Villars over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Raban makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Raban sitting in guard here, content to control.
Raban trying to control but Villars is working from the bottom.
Villars has his hands on Raban's head, controlling the position.
Raban pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Villars is keeping the position for now.
Raban being controlled here momentarily.
Raban prevents Villars from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villars is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Raban content to stall in guard here.
Raban content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Raban trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raban working some strikes from top position.
Villars looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Raban postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raban wants to control from the top but Villars keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Villars blocks the body kick.
Raban lunges at Villars with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Villars's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raban steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Villars.
Raban throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Villars throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raban misses with a body shot.
Villars throws a hook but Raban blocks it.
Richard Villars is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raban lands a jab to Villars's midsection.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters circling - Villars throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Raban looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Villars!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Raban throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raban throws a jab but it's blocked by Villars.
Villars looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Villars stuffs the takedown attempt from Raban. Raban gets slowly back to his feet.
Raban has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raban shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raban throws the kick towards the body but Villars avoids it.
Raban lands with a kick to the temple. Villars shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban wants to clinch up but Villars keeps it at a distance.
Raban tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Villars takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Villars displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raban throws out the jab.

Raban shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raban showed some decent athleticism there.
Raban seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Villars does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Villars tries to get to full guard but Raban has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villars is trying to maintain the position but Raban is very close to passing his half guard.
Villars is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raban not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Raban seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Villars does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Villars trying to control here.
Villars blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raban.
Raban controlling the pace.
Raban prevents Villars from improving his position.
Villars wants to control but Raban is keeping busy.
Villars tries to get to full guard but Raban has control of the leg.
Raban is nestled in close to Villars, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villars manages to get to full guard.
James Raban has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raban postures up.
Raban trying to control but Villars is working from the bottom.
Villars looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raban is one step ahead there.
Raban showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Raban pushes Villars away with a front kick.

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.
Raban shoots in looking for a takedown. Villars tries to sprawl out of it but Raban keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Villars manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Richard Villars has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Raban.
Raban fails with the takedown.
Raban throws a right hand that Villars ducks under and follows up with a left that Villars also avoids with ease.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raban wants to clinch up but Villars keeps it at a distance.
Raban fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Raban throws a lazy right hand but Villars sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Raban swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Villars counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Villars moves out of range of the body kick from Raban.
Raban shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Villars as he avoids it easily.
Raban has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villars throws the left hand but Raban avoids the punch easily.
James Raban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raban misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Villars as he jumps to the side.
Richard Villars has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Raban.
Nice shot by Raban.
Raban slips a jab and a cross from Villars.
Raban throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Raban tries to clinch but Villars is having none of it.
Raban misses with a body kick.
Villars slips a straight right by Raban.
Richard Villars has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Raban is defended easily by Villars.
Raban goes for a double leg but Villars avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Villars continues to drive forward.
Villars lands a body shot in the clinch.
Villars pushes Raban back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Villars struggles to land a body shot inside as Raban controls his hands.
Villars pressing his opponent against the cage.
Raban lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villars tries to throw a body punch but Raban avoids it by throwing Villars back against the cage.
Villars lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like James Raban has been cut.
Villars goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Villars looking to slow down the pace here.
Raban stalling in the clinch but Villars improves position.
The referee calls for Villars to work.
Villars misses with a body punch.
Villars wants to break free but Raban has control.
Villars misses with a body punch.
Raban displaying some good clinch control by pressing Villars up against the cage.
Raban working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villars tries to throw a body punch but Raban avoids it by throwing Villars back against the cage.
The referee calls for Raban to work.
Villars lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Raban backwards.
Villars struggles to land a body shot inside as Raban controls his hands.
Villars tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Villars fails to land.
A hook to the body from Villars.
Villars misses with a hook from the clinch.
Raban doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raban can't find room to land a body shot as Villars controls the action.
Villars throws a punch but it's blocked by Raban.
Raban tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raban tries for a takedown but Villars manages to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Villars showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raban 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Raban!
In his post fight interview, James Raban started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.