PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Down Out (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Risto Rautio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Out
vs
Rautio

180 cm
27
223 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
21
219 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Lion Fightwear

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Down Out!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Risto Rautio!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rautio misses with a lunging right hand

and Out counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Out.
Out trying to control the position from guard on top but Rautio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Out stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rautio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Out landing with the ground and pound.
Rautio wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Out missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Out throwing strikes but missing.
Out trying to control but Rautio is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Out is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rautio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rautio keeping moving, preventing Out from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Out's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Out loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Out working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Out chips away with some ground and pound.
Out preventing the sweep.
Out loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rautio keeping moving, preventing Out from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Out trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rautio keeping moving, preventing Out from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Risto Rautio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rautio scores with a jab. Out acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Out takes a kick to the side of the head.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rautio throws an off balance right hand

and Out counters with a single leg into guard. Rautio didn't expect that.
Out throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rautio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rautio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Out throws a big right hand that misses.
Out throwing strikes from guard but Rautio blocks nicely.
Rautio lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rautio preventing the sweep.
Out 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.
Rautio controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Out is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rautio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautio stopping the sweep attempt from Out.
Out not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Out looking for a sweep. Not yet Out, not yet.
Rautio content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Out is trying to control the position but Rautio postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Down Out dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rautio throws the left hand but Out avoids the punch easily.
Out steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rautio.
Rautio swings for the body but Out moves out of range.
A big right from Rautio misses.
Rautio misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Rautio misses.
Rautio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Out moves away.
Rautio has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Rautio scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Down Out has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Out moves out of range as Rautio strikes.
Out tries to counter with a takedown but Rautio is quick to defend against it.
Out tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rautio swivels and escapes.
Rautio smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Out keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Out is looking to counter the offense by Rautio and move into the clinch.
Out wants to clinch but Rautio slips to the side
and Rautio counters with a straight right hand.
Rautio throws a shot from downtown. Out moves away and avoids it.

Out gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rautio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Out.
Down Out overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Out is looking to stall here but Rautio recovers full guard.
Out connects with a couple of short punches.
Rautio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Out.
Out throwing strikes from guard but Rautio blocks nicely.
Out throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Out throws a big right hand that misses.
Out throws a big right hand that misses.
Out seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Out working some strikes from top position.
Out postures up in Rautio's guard and throws a big left but Rautio blocks it.
Out with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rautio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Out is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Out scoring with punches to the head and body.
Out postures up in Rautio's guard and throws a big left but Rautio blocks it.
Rautio manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Out manages to get himself to full guard.

Rautio won't allow Out to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Out has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rautio stays in close to Out's body and controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Risto Rautio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Down Out's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Out doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rautio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Out.
Rautio swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rautio misses with a hook. Out ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rautio throws a sloppy head kick and Out moves out of range easily.
Rautio lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Out at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Out decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Out keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rautio is looking for a sweep. Out is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rautio controlling the position well.
Out drops an elbow to the side of Rautio's head.
Out trying to control the action but Rautio is working from the bottom.
Rautio wants to control but Out is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Out sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rautio defending well though.
Out seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rautio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rautio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Out.
Out is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Out throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rautio to regain full guard.
Out throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Out throws a big right hand that misses.
Out throwing strikes but missing.
Out throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautio keeping moving, preventing Out from controlling successfully.
Out wants to pass the guard but Rautio is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Out steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rautio.
Rautio jabs at Out's body.
Out takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Out with a poor takedown
and Rautio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Good exchange - Rautio coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Out staying out of range there.
Out shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rautio defends it nicely.
Out blocks a head kick by Rautio.
Down Out has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rautio.

And that's the end of the fight!
Risto Rautio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rautio has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Risto Rautio!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Risto Rautio!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Risto Rautio!

Risto Rautio wins by unanimous decision!