PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Titus Raptis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joon BigMan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Raptis
vs
BigMan

161 cm
25
291 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

219 cm
24
289 lbs
6 - 14 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Titus Raptis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joon BigMan!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raptis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Raptis tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so BigMan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Raptis is looking to stand up but BigMan isn't so interested in that idea.
Raptis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as BigMan controls the pace.
Raptis is looking to stand up but BigMan isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raptis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
BigMan prevents Raptis from getting back to his feet.
BigMan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Raptis holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raptis connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed BigMan momentarily.
Raptis wants to clinch up but BigMan keeps it at a distance.
BigMan shoots in for a double leg but Raptis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
BigMan misses with a takedown attempt - Raptis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
BigMan throws a head kick that misses.
Raptis tries to close the distance and clinch up but BigMan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A lazy left from Raptis finds it's target.
Raptis tries to bum rush BigMan with a series of wild strikes but BigMan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Raptis looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A punch combination from Raptis misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raptis fails with a takedown attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Raptis.
BigMan gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Raptis misses with a double jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Raptis pushes BigMan up against the cage in a clinch.
Raptis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good body shot from Raptis.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
BigMan jumps guard but Raptis stands there with BigMan around his waist. BigMan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Titus Raptis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joon BigMan.
Raptis is trying to break the clinch but BigMan is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raptis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Raptis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raptis looking to slow down the pace here.
BigMan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Raptis.
BigMan fails to pull guard.
BigMan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

BigMan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raptis tries to clinch up.

Raptis cracks BigMan with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! BigMan looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Raptis finish him?

It looks like Joon BigMan has been cut.
BigMan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raptis defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raptis darts in trying to clinch

and BigMan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raptis keeping moving, preventing BigMan from controlling successfully.
BigMan postures up.
BigMan slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Raptis.
Raptis looks like he's trying to stand up.

BigMan seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Raptis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joon BigMan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Raptis is looking to clinch but BigMan is avoiding it.

Raptis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
BigMan is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Raptis is controlling him well.
Raptis working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Raptis in side control, throwing shots but BigMan defends.
A lull in the action here as Raptis stalls from top position.

Raptis tries for a kimura but BigMan is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raptis in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Raptis trying to control the action but BigMan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raptis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but BigMan is avoiding damage well.
BigMan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Raptis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
BigMan regains half guard.
Raptis throwing shots but BigMan is blocking nicely.
BigMan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Raptis.
It looks like Raptis is going to stand back up.
BigMan trying to control but Raptis postures up.
Raptis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
BigMan is looking to get back to full guard here but Raptis has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raptis tries to score with some ground and pound. BigMan controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Raptis trying to control the position but BigMan is working away.
Raptis throwing strikes but BigMan manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Raptis tries to control but BigMan manages to take his back.
Raptis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that BigMan can do to turn this around?
Raptis wants to control his opponent's hands but BigMan gets his hands free.
BigMan trying to control momentarily.
Can Raptis hold on?! BigMan is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
BigMan has good solid back control here.
Raptis can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raptis is trying to stand back up.
BigMan has the hooks in. Raptis is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Raptis wants to get back to his feet.
BigMan is landing with strikes from the back.

Raptis is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if BigMan gets his way!
Raptis tries to break free.
Raptis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raptis is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
BigMan keeps control of the position as Raptis tries to break free.
Raptis rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raptis tries to kick BigMan off in order to stand up. BigMan Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Raptis wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
BigMan taking a breather here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BigMan lands a few punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joon BigMan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joon BigMan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Raptis looks to land a right hand but BigMan moved out of range.
Raptis throws a wild body kick that BigMan sees coming a mile off.

Raptis has managed to clinch.
BigMan misses with a knee to the head.
BigMan has Raptis pressed against the cage, preventing Raptis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Raptis has BigMan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. BigMan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Raptis jumps guard but BigMan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Raptis jumps guard but BigMan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Raptis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
BigMan tries to pull guard but Raptis holds him up against the cage and eventually BigMan drops back down to his feet.
Raptis tries to pull guard but BigMan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
BigMan is trying to stall.
BigMan tries to pull guard but Raptis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
BigMan can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BigMan stalling in the clinch.
Raptis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Good body shot from Raptis.
BigMan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raptis tries to pull guard but BigMan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Raptis fails to pull guard.
BigMan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raptis avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

BigMan manages to break the clinch.
Raptis lands with an overhand left.
BigMan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
BigMan moves out of range of the body kick from Raptis.

Raptis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
BigMan is trying to pull guard but Raptis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BigMan avoids a wild elbow strike from Raptis.
Raptis is trying to pull guard but BigMan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Raptis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Raptis is trying to drag BigMan to the mat but BigMan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Raptis breaks from the clinch.
BigMan moves out of range of the strikes.
Raptis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract BigMan.
Raptis tries to close the distance and clinch up but BigMan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raptis lands a really nice looking cross but BigMan seems unphased.

Raptis cracks BigMan with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Raptis has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning BigMan to stand back up!

BigMan is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BigMan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raptis as he avoids it easily.
BigMan is still on wobbly legs! Can Raptis finish him?

Raptis drives through and clinches with BigMan against the cage.
Raptis tries to break the clinch but BigMan is controlling the position.
BigMan prevents the takedown attempt.
BigMan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Raptis to keep the fight standing.
BigMan seems to have recovered his senses.
Raptis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
BigMan wants to stall.
Raptis working hard to break the clinch.
Raptis wants to take the fight to the mat but BigMan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Raptis has had enough of the clinch but BigMan keeps him there for the moment.
Raptis wants to break free but BigMan has control.

BigMan pulls Raptis into guard.
Raptis wants to get up but he can't break BigMan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

BigMan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Raptis uses it to pass to side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if BigMan can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raptis is looking to take a break and control but BigMan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
BigMan is trying to control Raptis's posture but Raptis avoids it.
Raptis wants to control but BigMan is keeping him busy.
Raptis throwing strikes but BigMan manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Raptis struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus Raptis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raptis 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Titus Raptis!
After winning the bout, Titus Raptis thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.