PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Rahapussi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phan Tran Le (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rahapussi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Caged in A Rage . Le is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dukes of Hazard Theme Song - Waylon Jennings. Taisto Rahapussi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rahapussi
vs
Tran Le

178 cm
28
182 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

179 cm
31
182 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SP Ultimate Nutrition

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taisto Rahapussi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phan Tran Le!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Le throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rahapussi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Le's waist but Le gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rahapussi off to one side.
Le tries to counter with a clinch but Rahapussi shakes him off and moves away.
Rahapussi goes for a double leg but Le avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Le continues to drive forward.
Le fails to land with a series of punches.
Rahapussi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Le as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taisto Rahapussi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Le connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rahapussi momentarily.
Le lands a jab to the nose.
Rahapussi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Le.
Rahapussi throws out a loose jab but Le uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Le on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rahapussi fakes the leg kick and cracks Le in the body.

Rahapussi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Le is trying to defend but Rahapussi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Rahapussi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Le doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rahapussi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahapussi works his way into full mount!
Le regains half guard.
Le gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rahapussi trying to control but Le is working from the bottom.
Le trying to control the position here.
Rahapussi looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahapussi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Rahapussi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Le has managed to free his arm - good work.
Still in half guard, Rahapussi seems content to control.
Le is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rahapussi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rahapussi's back!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rahapussi manages to reverse the position and now he's in Le's guard. Nice work there by Rahapussi.
Le is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahapussi passes into half guard.
Le trying to control from the bottom.

Rahapussi seems to be looking for submissions.
Rahapussi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Le keeps working.
Le felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Taisto Rahapussi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Le looks to score with a jab to the body but Rahapussi is just out of range.
Rahapussi attempts a counter takedown but Le avoids it well and moves away.
Le rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rahapussi counters with a good, hard body kick but Le shrugs it off.
Rahapussi cracks Le with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Le tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rahapussi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rahapussi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rahapussi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Le avoids it really well and circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Le blocks the leg kick.
Le's corner calls for a 1-2. Le obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rahapussi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Le.
Rahapussi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Le counters with a good low kick that Rahapussi was not able to check.
Rahapussi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Le.
Rahapussi looks to land a body kick but Le moved away.
It seemed like Le was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rahapussi.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rahapussi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taisto Rahapussi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Le clinches up with Rahapussi and pushes him back against the cage.
Rahapussi dodges an elbow strike from Le.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rahapussi looking to slow down the pace here.
Rahapussi avoiding damage as Le throws knees to the body.
Le lands an elbow that stopped Rahapussi in his tracks for a moment.
Le lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rahapussi up against the cage.
Le doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Le goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Rahapussi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Le rushes Rahapussi and presses him up against the cage.
Le misses with an elbow over the top.
Le pushes off an throws an elbow but Rahapussi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Le has a couple of punches blocked by Rahapussi.
I was talking to Rahapussi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Le has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Le misses with the head strike.
A short right from Le on the inside.
Le lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rahapussi backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rahapussi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le prevents Rahapussi from breaking the clinch.
Rahapussi dodges an elbow strike from Le.
Le is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rahapussi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Le just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rahapussi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Le stalling in the clinch.
Le lands with a left to the head.
Le gets through Rahapussi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rahapussi dodges an elbow strike from Le.
Le pushes off an throws an elbow but Rahapussi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rahapussi can't break the clinch.
Le scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le lands a shot to the body.
Rahapussi is trying to pull guard but Le has him pressed against the cage.
Le tries to land a knee to the head but Rahapussi blocks with his arms.

Rahapussi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rahapussi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Le's half guard.

Rahapussi is trying to work for a kimura but Le is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rahapussi is trying to control the action in half guard but Le is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Le is defending against the submission attempts here by Rahapussi.
Le trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phan Tran Le showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A lazy body kick from Rahapussi
and Le counters with a solid body kick.
Rahapussi throws a leg kick but Le sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Le throws a looping overhand right but Rahapussi ducks down to avoid it.
Le scores with a jab.
Rahapussi throws a body punch but Le moves out of range.
Le is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rahapussi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Le to score with a decent uppercut.
Rahapussi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rahapussi throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Le clinches.
Le throws a punch but it's blocked by Rahapussi.
Le throws a head punch that misses.
Le lands a right hand.
Le lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rahapussi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le leaning his opponent against the cage.
Le tries a body shot but Rahapussi blocks it.
A short right from Le on the inside.
Le is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rahapussi is defending well for now.
Le stalling.
Le swings wildly with an uppercut but Rahapussi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Le pressing his opponent against the cage.
Le lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le pushes off an throws an elbow but Rahapussi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Le pushes off an throws an elbow but Rahapussi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rahapussi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Le letting Rahapussi take a breather here.
Rahapussi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Le lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rahapussi backwards.
Le misses with some punches.
Le tries a body shot but Rahapussi blocks it.
Rahapussi wants to get back to striking at distance but Le won't allow it.
Le tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rahapussi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rahapussi blocks an elbow strike from Le.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rahapussi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Le swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Le lands a nice elbow.
Rahapussi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Le fails to land.
Le lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rahapussi blocks an uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Le scores with a shot to the side of Rahapussi's head.
Le tries to land knees in the clinch but Rahapussi avoids the damage to the body.
Phan Tran Le seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Le.
Rahapussi tries to break the clinch but Le is controlling the position.
Rahapussi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Le to keep the fight standing.
Rahapussi letting Le take a breather here.
The referee calls for Le to work.
Rahapussi jumps guard but Le stands there with Rahapussi around his waist. Rahapussi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rahapussi is trying to pull guard but Le turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taisto Rahapussi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rahapussi blocks the elbow strike.
Rahapussi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Le to keep the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phan Tran Le comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Le 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phan Tran Le!
Phan Tran Le bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.