PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Raban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brown has chosen Needle In The Hay as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Raban
vs
Brown

200 cm
35
270 lbs
18 - 19 - 0

185 cm
37
245 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Raban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Brown!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raban drives through and clinches with Brown against the cage.
Brown fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Raban.
Raban is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Raban blocks an uppercut.
Brown scores with a hook to the body.
Brown looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Raban has clasped his hands together around Brown's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Sloppy strikes there by Raban.
Brown pushes Raban away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Raban gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Raban in side control lands a decent elbow.
Raban is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Brown is not content to let Raban control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raban is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Brown has escaped the position, nice work there.
Brown dodges the ground and pound from Raban.
Raban laying and praying for a moment but Brown takes advantage and regains half guard.
Raban is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

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.
Raban throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brown is trying to stand.
Raban content to control rather than advance.
Raban is keen to just control but Brown is a slippery customer.
Raban is looking to pass Brown's guard but actually Brown recovers to full guard.
Raban trying to control but Brown is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Raban thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raban trying to control the position from guard on top but Brown is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Brown swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raban looks for the body kick but Brown saw that one coming.
Raban shoots in for a double leg but Brown sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Raban blocks a low kick nicely.
Raban takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Brown dips to his left and cracks Raban with an uppercut!

It looks like James Raban has been cut.
Raban steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Brown.
Brown showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raban.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown moves into range and connects with a jab.
Raban looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brown is looking for the big counter here.
Raban misses the body punch
and Brown counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Raban ducks under a wild hook from Brown.
Raban ducks under a wild hook from Brown.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Brown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raban throws a wild body kick that Brown sees coming a mile off.
Raban lands a two punch combo.
Decent striking displayed by Raban there.
No luck for Brown with that takedown attempt.
Raban walks forward, straight into a front kick from Brown.
Brown looks to throw the jab but Raban is out of range.
Brown shoots for a double leg takedown but Raban sprawls well. He's pushed Brown's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Raban throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Brown.
Brown looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Brown looks to land a left hand but Raban moved out of range nicely.
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 James Raban will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Raban's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Brown fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raban manages to avoid it.
James Raban is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brown fails with an attempt to clinch.

Raban fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Brown sprawls well initially but Raban persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Brown misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Raban missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Raban not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Brown is trying to stand up here but Raban is controlling him well.

Brown looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Brown is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Raban scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brown is trying to stand up here but Raban is controlling him well.

Raban is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown looks like he's trying to stand up.
Raban content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Raban thows a huge punch but Brown dodges it nicely.
Raban winds up and cracks Brown with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Raban seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Brown does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raban is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Raban is looking to take a break and control but Brown is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Brown changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raban tries to avoid it but Brown manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raban to the ground. Raban escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A big right from Brown misses.
Anthony Brown seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raban thuds a left hand into Brown's body.
A punch combination from Brown misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Raban.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raban. Brown does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raban looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raban throws a half hearted mid kick.
A left and a right from Raban both land. Nice combination.
Raban scores with a jab.
Brown swings for the body but Raban moves out of range.
Raban is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brown can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Raban is defended easily by Brown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raban. Brown does a little dance to reset his feet.
Brown misses with a straight left.
Raban slips a jab from Brown.
A telegraphed right hand from Brown misses the target.
Brown misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Raban throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raban walks into a stiff left hand from Brown.
Brown throws a hook but Raban avoids it easily.
Raban blocks a head kick by Brown.
Raban fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Raban lands a jab to the nose.
Brown misses with a head kick.
Brown drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Brown throws a sloppy head kick and Raban moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown thows a left - swing and a miss!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Raban shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Raban was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Brown tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Raban is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Brown avoids the strikes from Raban.
Raban throws a series of strikes and Brown wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Raban landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Raban's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Raban fails with the takedown.
Some wild striking there from Brown.
Raban tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brown sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Raban somewhat.
Raban uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Brown.
Raban digs a good hook to Brown's body.

Raban closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Brown's guard.
Raban advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brown keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Brown is trying to stand up here but Raban is controlling him well.
James Raban overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brown blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raban.
Raban throwing shots but Brown is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brown is trying to maintain the position but Raban is very close to passing his half guard.
Brown is not content to let Raban control the position.
Raban throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Raban lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Brown is not content to let Raban control the position.
Brown is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Brown blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raban.
Raban seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Brown does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Raban ducks under a wild hook from Brown.
Brown has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raban.
Raban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brown tries to avoid it but Raban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brown to the ground. Brown escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Raban. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Brown.
Raban ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brown moves away.
Brown takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Raban looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raban throws a big shot that misses.
Brown's corner calls for a 1-2. Brown obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

A head kick lands from Brown that sends Raban to the canvas. Raban tries to scramble back to his feet but Brown brings him back down into side control.

James Raban's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown tries to stand but Raban is controlling his head.
Brown grinds an elbow into Raban's temple.
Raban is trying to control Brown's posture but Brown avoids it.
Brown tries to get to his feet but Raban is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Brown in his guard.
Anthony Brown has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raban not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Brown wants to get up but he can't break Raban's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Raban 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.
Brown stopping the sweep attempt from Raban.

Raban is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brown is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown wants to get up but he can't break Raban's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Raban will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Raban is looking for a triangle but Brown pushes his legs off easily.
Brown trying to stand up but can't free himself from Raban's guard.

Raban is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Raban manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brown manages to get himself to full guard.

Raban trying to control the position from guard on top but Brown is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brown throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Brown.
I think Raban 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Raban!
A less than humble James Raban misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.