PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Raiser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirek Zmrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raiser's entrance music is Ghosts Along The Mississippi. A fine choice. Gordon Raiser had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Raiser
vs
Zmrd

180 cm
24
159 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
26
154 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gordon Raiser!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirek Zmrd!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raiser tries to close the distance and clinch but Zmrd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zmrd throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raiser fails with an attempt to clinch.

Raiser fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zmrd, pushing him back against the cage.
Zmrd drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Raiser gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zmrd blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee calls for Raiser to work.

Zmrd successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zmrd avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zmrd is looking for a triangle but Raiser pushes his legs off easily.
Zmrd is pulling down on Raiser's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zmrd keeping moving, preventing Raiser from controlling successfully.
Zmrd pulls Raiser in close to prevent any damage.
Raiser tries to stand but Zmrd is controlling from the bottom.
Raiser tries to free his leg and advance position but Zmrd is retaining full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Raiser wants to control from the top but Zmrd keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zmrd shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raiser defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zmrd closes the distance and clinches up with Raiser, looking for a takedown. Zmrd pushes Raiser against the cage but Raiser circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gordon Raiser has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirek Zmrd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zmrd. Raiser does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zmrd swats away the attempt to clinch by Raiser.

Zmrd clinches with his opponent.
Raiser looking to slow down the pace here.
Raiser is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Maybe Raiser would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Raiser utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zmrd using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Raiser has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zmrd as Raiser tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raiser escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raiser looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Zmrd gets a clinch.
Raiser keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zmrd's efforts to push away.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Raiser is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Raiser will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zmrd up against the cage.
Raiser misses with a short punch on the inside.

Raiser pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Raiser. No joy for Zmrd on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zmrd avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Raiser tries to close the distance and clinch but Zmrd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gordon Raiser seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raiser misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zmrd.
Zmrd looks winded!
Raiser stuffs the takedown attempt from Zmrd. Zmrd gets slowly back to his feet.
As Zmrd looks to move away, Raiser throws a big counter combo but Zmrd just gets out of the way.

Raiser darts in and clinches Zmrd up against the cage.
Raiser misses with a punch to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Raiser misses with a hook to the ribs.

Zmrd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zmrd shoots and misses
and Raiser counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Raiser dominated that round.
That's time! Raiser's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Raiser ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zmrd moves away.

Zmrd clinches up against the cage.
Raiser changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zmrd fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raiser wants to clinch up but Zmrd keeps it at a distance.
Gordon Raiser is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zmrd moves into the clinch.
Zmrd has Raiser pressed against the cage, preventing Raiser from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zmrd lands a nice uppercut.
Zmrd changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raiser fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raiser tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Raiser moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raiser has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zmrd is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raiser has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zmrd after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordon Raiser. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Raiser breaks the clinch.
Raiser throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raiser stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raiser wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raiser shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Zmrd forces Raiser back against the cage and clinches.
Zmrd working hard to break the clinch.
Raiser struggles to land a body shot inside as Zmrd controls his hands.
Raiser takes a shot to the head.
Raiser stalling in the clinch but Zmrd improves position.
Raiser is trying to force a seperation but Zmrd has the dominant position.
Zmrd fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zmrd slows down the pace here.
Raiser tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zmrd avoids it.
Raiser tries to pull guard but Zmrd holds him up against the cage and eventually Raiser drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raiser tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Zmrd has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Raiser uses from the top position.
Raiser tries to stand but Zmrd is controlling from the bottom.
Zmrd striking off his back but it's not causing Raiser any problems.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Zmrd manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Zmrd blocks an uppercut.
Zmrd keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Raiser's efforts to push away.
Zmrd lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Raiser stops a takedown attempt from Zmrd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raiser breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zmrd closes the distance and pushes Raiser back into the cage.
Zmrd tries to pull guard but Raiser holds him up against the cage and eventually Zmrd drops back down to his feet.
Raiser swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Zmrd breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zmrd fails to land with a series of punches.
Raiser wants to clinch.
Raiser stuffs the takedown.
Raiser shoots in but Zmrd avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zmrd steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Raiser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raiser tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zmrd sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Raiser somewhat.
Raiser swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zmrd fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Raiser avoids it really well and circles away.
Raiser throws a combination that misses
and Zmrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zmrd shoots in for a takedown but Raiser shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Raiser is looking for a counter combo.

Zmrd clinches.
Zmrd prevents a takedown attempt there.

Zmrd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirek Zmrd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zmrd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Raiser, pushing him back against the cage.
Zmrd jumps guard but Raiser stands there with Zmrd around his waist. Zmrd gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zmrd jumps guard but Raiser turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zmrd is trying to pull guard but Raiser has him pressed against the cage.
Gordon Raiser has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirek Zmrd.

Raiser pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raiser takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Raiser misses with a takedown attempt - Zmrd sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zmrd fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Raiser is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raiser tries to clinch but Zmrd moves out of range.
Zmrd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zmrd blocks a head kick by Raiser.
Raiser tries to clinch up but Zmrd circles away and keeps his distance.
Zmrd shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raiser throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zmrd dives in for a single leg takedown but Raiser sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A combination from Zmrd does no damage.
Zmrd circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gordon Raiser is winning the standup battle so far.

Raiser darts in and clinches Zmrd up against the cage.
Raiser throws a punch but it's blocked by Zmrd.
Raiser prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zmrd avoiding damage as Raiser throws knees to the body.
Raiser is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Raiser breaks from the clinch.
Raiser tries to clinch there but Zmrd circles away.
Raiser tries to close the distance and clinch but Zmrd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zmrd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Raiser counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jab, jab by Raiser - just one landing.
Raiser tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zmrd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Raiser lands a high kick!
A nice combination there by Raiser.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zmrd moves into the clinch.
Raiser is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Raiser swings wildly with an uppercut but Zmrd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raiser unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Raiser putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zmrd in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Raiser misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gordon Raiser has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raiser misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Zmrd has clasped his hands together around Raiser's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Zmrd fails to land a wild elbow strike.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zmrd working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Zmrd misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zmrd in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raiser is trying to buck Zmrd off.
Zmrd looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Raiser is avoiding damage well.
A lull in the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zmrd thuds his right hand into Raiser's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gordon Raiser showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raiser 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gordon Raiser!
Gordon Raiser decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.