PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Blackbeard The Pirate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaska Raatikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raatikainen has chosen Children of Bodom - Are you dead yet as his entrance music. Blackbeard The Pirate had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

The Pirate
vs
Raatikainen

174 cm
31
148 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

162 cm
27
145 lbs
11 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blackbeard The Pirate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaska Raatikainen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Pirate swings widly with a right hand

and Raatikainen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raatikainen.
The Pirate trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raatikainen stopping the sweep attempt from The Pirate.

Raatikainen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The Pirate moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The Pirate closes the distance but Raatikainen moves to the side

and Raatikainen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in The Pirate's guard.

The Pirate has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Raatikainen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raatikainen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from The Pirate.
The Pirate scores with a hook to the body. Raatikainen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The Pirate with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The Pirate has taken the fight to the clinch.
The Pirate misses with a short punch on the inside.
The Pirate is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Raatikainen is trying to trip The Pirate. He has hold of a leg but The Pirate is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Raatikainen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Raatikainen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The Pirate darts in trying to clinch

and Raatikainen counters with a takedown into side control.

Raatikainen stands up and beckons The Pirate to his feet.
The Pirate misses with a body kick.
The Pirate throws a leg kick
and Raatikainen counters with a big head kick but The Pirate shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The Pirate doesn't manage to clinch there - Raatikainen circles away.
The Pirate tries to clinch there but Raatikainen circles away.
The Pirate throws a lazy uppercut
and Raatikainen counters with a head kick. That will keep The Pirate thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The Pirate misses with a straight right.
The Pirate tries to clinch up
and Raatikainen counters with a head kick.
The Pirate misses with a low kick.
The Pirate looks to land a left hand but Raatikainen moved out of range nicely.
The Pirate looks to land a body kick but Raatikainen moved away.
A telegraphed right hand from The Pirate misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The Pirate throws a sloppy head kick and Raatikainen moves out of range easily.
The Pirate misses with a leg kick
and Raatikainen counters with a head kick.
Raatikainen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The Pirate misses with a leg kick

and Raatikainen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Raatikainen tries to pull guard but The Pirate won't allow it.
The Pirate lands with a right to the head.
Raatikainen goes for a takedown attempt but The Pirate pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The Pirate throws a poor cross that misses

and Raatikainen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The Pirate wants to get back to full guard.
Raatikainen wants to get back to his feet.
The Pirate is trying to maintain the position but Raatikainen is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen wants to get back to his feet.
The Pirate manages to get to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raatikainen stopping the sweep attempt from The Pirate.
Raatikainen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaska Raatikainen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raatikainen blocks a jab.
Raatikainen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The Pirate waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raatikainen.
The Pirate throws a head kick but Raatikainen moves out of range.
Raatikainen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raatikainen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Raatikainen blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The Pirate fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Raatikainen, pushing him back against the cage.
The Pirate looking to slow down the pace here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from The Pirate.

Raatikainen pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raatikainen wants to stand but The Pirate is controlling the position.
Raatikainen keeping moving, preventing The Pirate from controlling successfully.

Raatikainen pushes The Pirate off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The Pirate is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Raatikainen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The Pirate throws a lazy head kick
and Raatikainen counters with a head kick. That will keep The Pirate thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The Pirate throws a leg kick that is checked
and Raatikainen counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate wants to clinch.

Raatikainen gets tackled into the cage by The Pirate. The Pirate maintains the clinch.
Raatikainen can't get the takedown.

Raatikainen pulls guard successfully.

Raatikainen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Pirate fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The Pirate throws a low kick but it's checked well by Raatikainen.
The Pirate throws a leg kick that is checked
and Raatikainen counters with a big head kick but The Pirate shrugs it off.
The Pirate 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate throws a quick inside leg kick.
The Pirate fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Raatikainen.
The Pirate tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raatikainen was well out of range. Poor timing from The Pirate.
The Pirate tries to land a front kick but Raatikainen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The Pirate throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Raatikainen avoids the head kick by The Pirate.
The Pirate chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The Pirate goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The Pirate looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The Pirate shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The Pirate throws a sloppy head kick and Raatikainen moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate cracks Raatikainen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The Pirate throws a hook but Raatikainen avoids it easily.

The Pirate takes the fight into the clinch.
The Pirate landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The Pirate gets underhooks to prevent Raatikainen's takedown attempt.
Raatikainen can't get the takedown.
Blackbeard The Pirate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaska Raatikainen.
Raatikainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Raatikainen is trying to pull guard but The Pirate has him pressed against the cage.
The Pirate scores with a shot to the side of Raatikainen's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The Pirate tries a knee to the head but Raatikainen blocks it.
Knees to the body from The Pirate.
Raatikainen goes for a takedown attempt but The Pirate pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Raatikainen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackbeard The Pirate dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The Pirate lands with a straight right. Raatikainen didn't see that one coming.
The Pirate throws a looping overhand right but Raatikainen ducks down to avoid it.
The Pirate tries to clinch up but Raatikainen circles away and keeps his distance.
The Pirate with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Blackbeard The Pirate is winning the standup battle so far.
Raatikainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Raatikainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from The Pirate.
Good leg kick by The Pirate there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raatikainen needs to keep his hands up - The Pirate had a free shot at his head there.
Raatikainen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The Pirate lands a lovely overhand right.

The Pirate clinches.
Raatikainen tries to pull guard but The Pirate forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raatikainen drops down looking for an ankle pick but The Pirate pulls his leg out and moves away.
The Pirate tries to clinch up

and Raatikainen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Raatikainen wants to get back to his feet.

Raatikainen stands up and beckons The Pirate to join him on the feet.
The Pirate with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The Pirate is looking to clinch but Raatikainen is avoiding it.
The Pirate is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Pirate finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The Pirate is looking to clinch.

The Pirate fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Raatikainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Raatikainen jumps guard but The Pirate stands there with Raatikainen around his waist. Raatikainen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Blackbeard The Pirate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaska Raatikainen.
The Pirate lands a nice uppercut.
The Pirate slows down the pace here.
Raatikainen fails to pull guard.
A shot in the inside from The Pirate.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The Pirate is pushing Raatikainen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jaska Raatikainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Pirate misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen is looking for a takedown.
Raatikainen is trying to drag The Pirate to the mat but The Pirate just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The Pirate throws a punch but it's blocked by Raatikainen.
The Pirate is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Raatikainen is keeping busy.
The Pirate just leaning against Raatikainen, taking a breather.
The Pirate has a couple of punches blocked by Raatikainen.
The Pirate is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The Pirate trying to control the position but instead, Raatikainen has worked for underhooks and has pushed The Pirate into the cage.
The Pirate has Raatikainen pushed against the cage.
The Pirate has a couple of punches blocked by Raatikainen.
A nice right hand lands inside from The Pirate.
Raatikainen jumps guard but The Pirate turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Raatikainen looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen is trying to pull guard but The Pirate turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Raatikainen is trying to pull guard but The Pirate turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The Pirate gets through Raatikainen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The Pirate trying to control the position but instead, Raatikainen has worked for underhooks and has pushed The Pirate into the cage.
Raatikainen wants to take the fight to the mat but The Pirate manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The Pirate lands a right hand that snaps the head of Raatikainen backwards.
Raatikainen is trying to drag The Pirate to the mat but The Pirate just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The Pirate prevents a takedown attempt there.
Raatikainen is trying to pull guard but The Pirate has him pressed against the cage.
Raatikainen blocks a body shot from The Pirate.
Raatikainen tries for a takedown. No joy.

Raatikainen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Raatikainen manages to end up in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raatikainen working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blackbeard The Pirate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think The Pirate has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Blackbeard The Pirate!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Blackbeard The Pirate!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Blackbeard The Pirate!

Blackbeard The Pirate wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Blackbeard The Pirate rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.