PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lefteris Papaioanou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauli Raunio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Papaioanou
vs
Raunio

190 cm
30
205 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

198 cm
31
207 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lefteris Papaioanou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rauli Raunio!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raunio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Papaioanou is looking to counter punch.
Raunio lands with a right hand.
Raunio throws a hook to the side of Papaioanou's head but Papaioanou sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Papaioanou rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Raunio counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Papaioanou thinking.
Raunio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Papaioanou.
Raunio tries a head kick but it misses.
Papaioanou takes a swing at Raunio's ribcage but misses.
Papaioanou throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Raunio doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Papaioanou wants to clinch.
Papaioanou fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Raunio on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raunio scores with a hook to the body. Papaioanou takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've been informed that Raunio has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Papaioanou swinging wildly here.
Raunio looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raunio missing with a left hand there. Papaioanou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Raunio throws a looping overhand right but Papaioanou ducks down to avoid it.
A low kick from Raunio is predictable there
and Papaioanou connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Papaioanou fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Raunio looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Raunio closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Papaioanou forces Raunio back against the cage and clinches.
Nice body punch from Raunio.
Raunio blocks a body shot from Papaioanou.
Raunio lands a shoulder strike.
Papaioanou taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Raunio can't find room to land a body shot as Papaioanou controls the action.
A right hand to the body from Papaioanou.
Raunio working aggressively here.
Raunio swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Raunio lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Papaioanou.
I was talking to Papaioanou's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Raunio blocks a body shot from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou struggles to land a body shot inside as Raunio controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Raunio fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papaioanou misses with a hook to the ribs.
Papaioanou is trying to drag Raunio to the mat but Raunio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Papaioanou lands a hook that snaps the head of Raunio backwards.
A right hand to the body from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou struggles to land a body shot inside as Raunio controls his hands.
Papaioanou blocks an uppercut.
Papaioanou has a couple of punches blocked by Raunio.
Raunio digs a right hand underneath Papaioanou's ribcage. Papaioanou let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Raunio prevents a body shot from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou avoiding damage.
Raunio lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Papaioanou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raunio misses with some punches.
Papaioanou is leaning against Raunio and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Papaioanou is looking to control Raunio's arms but Raunio gets an underhook and turns him. Now Papaioanou has his back to the cage.
Raunio has a couple of punches blocked by Papaioanou.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Papaioanou.
Raunio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raunio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Papaioanou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Papaioanou swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Raunio can't find room to land a body shot as Papaioanou controls the action.
Raunio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Raunio trying to control the position but instead, Papaioanou has worked for underhooks and has pushed Raunio into the cage.
Papaioanou swings wildly with an uppercut but Raunio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raunio works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Raunio misses with a punch on the inside.
Raunio misses with a body punch.
Papaioanou can't get the takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Raunio.
Raunio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Papaioanou.
Still in the clinch, Papaioanou scores with a nice short uppercut.
Raunio lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Papaioanou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Papaioanou working aggressively here.
Papaioanou lands a hook to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Papaioanou as the two fighters clinch.
Raunio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Papaioanou misses with a short punch on the inside.
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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Papaioanou.
Papaioanou is trying to force a seperation but Raunio has the dominant position.
A hook to the body from Papaioanou.
Raunio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Papaioanou goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Papaioanou misses with a hook from the clinch.
Raunio misses with a shot to the kidneys.
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 Lefteris Papaioanou will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raunio throws a body shot but no joy.
Some bone on bone action there as Papaioanou checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Papaioanou went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Raunio misses with an uppercut. Papaioanou saw that one coming.
Raunio misses the jab.
A shot to the body from Papaioanou misses
and Raunio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Papaioanou checks a leg kick.
Raunio stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Papaioanou scores with a jab to the head.
Papaioanou comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Raunio 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.
An attempted straight right counter from Papaioanou misses the target.
Raunio swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Papaioanou feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Raunio's calf.
Papaioanou pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Papaioanou lands with a shot to the body.
Papaioanou takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
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!
Papaioanou rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Raunio counters with a low kick, right behind Papaioanou 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raunio takes a swing at Papaioanou's ribcage but misses.
Papaioanou lands with a good body shot.
Papaioanou shoots in for a takedown but Raunio shows good takedown defense.
A shot to the body from Papaioanou misses
and Raunio counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Raunio slips a jab and a cross from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou moves out of range of the strikes.
Papaioanou misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raunio.
A left and a right from Raunio both land. Nice combination.
A big right from Raunio misses.
Jab, jab by Papaioanou - just one landing.
A swing and a miss from Raunio.
Raunio walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raunio listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Raunio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Papaioanou circles away quickly and effectively.
Raunio swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Papaioanou counters with an outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Raunio.
Raunio displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Papaioanou throws out the jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Papaioanou.
Raunio moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Raunio 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.
Raunio thows a left - swing and a miss!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Papaioanou.
Raunio scores with a jab. Papaioanou acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A big right from Raunio misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Papaioanou misses the target.
Papaioanou throws a leg kick
and Raunio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Raunio on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Papaioanou shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raunio lands with a hook. Papaioanou tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Papaioanou misses with a two punch combination.
Papaioanou tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raunio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Papaioanou misses with a straight right.
Raunio missing with a left hand there. Papaioanou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Papaioanou misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Papaioanou. Those never looked like landing.
Raunio swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Papaioanou throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Papaioanou takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Papaioanou is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Raunio just misses with a punch to the body.
Raunio takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Raunio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Papaioanou to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Raunio wants to get back to his feet but Papaioanou passes into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Papaioanou is thwarting Raunio's attempts to control the position.

Papaioanou is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Raunio is just riding it out for now. Papaioanou eventually gives up the hold.
Raunio is positioning himself well to prevent Papaioanou advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauli Raunio 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!

Raunio on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A big right from Raunio misses.
Raunio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou needs to keep his hands up - Raunio had a free shot at his head there.

Papaioanou clinches with his opponent.
Raunio lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Raunio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Raunio lands a hook to the side of the head.
Papaioanou lands a body punch.
Raunio lands a right hand that snaps the head of Papaioanou backwards.
Raunio misses with the head strike.
Raunio misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Raunio.
Lefteris Papaioanou has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Raunio blocking some punches.
Papaioanou misses with a hook to the ribs.
Raunio tries to throw a body punch but Papaioanou avoids it by throwing Raunio back against the cage.
Raunio scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Raunio.
Papaioanou tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Raunio's elbow.
Papaioanou lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Papaioanou tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Raunio blocks a body shot from Papaioanou.
A right handed body shot lands from Papaioanou.
A shot in the inside from Raunio.
Papaioanou tries a body shot but Raunio blocks it.
Raunio scores with a nice hook to the head.

Papaioanou pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raunio dodges the punch combination from Papaioanou.
A jab from Papaioanou finds it's way through Raunio's defenses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Raunio.
Papaioanou looks to score with a jab to the body but Raunio is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raunio throws a series of punches but Papaioanou moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Papaioanou throws a jab but it's blocked by Raunio.
Papaioanou feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Raunios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Good standup being displayed there by Papaioanou as he connects with a hook.
Raunio scores with a jab to the body.
Papaioanou blocks a jab.
Papaioanou fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Raunio is out of range.
Papaioanou waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raunio.
Raunio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Raunio tries to move into range but Papaioanou moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Raunio keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Papaioanou throws an off balance right hand
and Raunio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Raunio, as that shot connected.
Rauli Raunio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Papaioanou throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Raunio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Raunio on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raunio walks into a straight right hand from Papaioanou.
Raunio lands with a shot to the body.

Papaioanou rushes Raunio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Raunio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raunio connects with a body shot.
Papaioanou throws a body punch but Raunio moves out of range.
Papaioanou uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Raunio.
Raunio changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Raunio connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Papaioanou lands a head shot.
Raunio misses with a left hand
and Papaioanou counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Raunio is rocked!
Papaioanou drops Raunio with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Raunio! Papaioanou dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lefteris Papaioanou!
A very excited looking Lefteris Papaioanou 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.