PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kim Foley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Raske (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Foley
vs
Raske

215 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kim Foley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Raske!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raske gets caught napping as Foley dives in and scores a takedown. Raske manages to retain guard.
Foley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raske is trying to control the position but Foley postures up.
Foley lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Foley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Raske working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Foley.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Foley's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Foley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raske works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Foley throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Foley stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Raske lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Raske punishes Foley's body with a nice straight punch.
Raske lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Raske closes the distance and clinches.
Foley tries to pull guard but Raske holds him up against the cage and eventually Foley drops back down to his feet.
Foley stalling against the cage.
Foley tries to land knees in the clinch but Raske avoids the damage to the body.
Foley stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Foley wants to take the fight to the mat but Raske manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Raske looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Foley has Raske pressed against the cage, preventing Raske from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Foley pulls guard effortlessly.
Foley is pulling down on Raske's head. It's preventing any offense from Raske, at least for the moment.
Raske trying to stand up but can't free himself from Foley's guard.
Foley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Foley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Raske is controlling him.
Foley wants to sweep but no luck.
Foley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raske has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Foley is proving hard to escape from.
Foley scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Raske being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Foley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Raske scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Foley doesn't seem bothered though.

Foley decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Foley is thwarting Raske's attempts to control the position.
Foley throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Raske to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raske is trying to keep Foley in close.
Foley scoring with some ground and pound.
Raske preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Foley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raske trying to control the position here.
Foley throws an elbow that misses. Raske uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Foley's guard. Nice move by Raske!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
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 Kim Foley will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raske stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raske wants it to stay on the feet.
Foley misses with a takedown attempt
and Raske counters with a nice body shot.
Raske takes a swing at Foley's ribcage but misses.

Raske closes the distance and clinches.

Foley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raske throws a body shot but no joy.
Foley drops down looking for a counter takedown but Raske sprawls and moves away.
Raske avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raske tries to clinch but Foley moves out of range.
Foley tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Raske manages to circle out of the way.
Raske cracks Foley with an open hand slap.
Foley tries to move into range but Raske moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A head kick by Foley misses
enabling Raske to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foley has his takedown stuffed
and Raske counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kim Foley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raske lands with an overhand left.
Raske fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Raske throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Foley on the side of the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Foley breaks from the clinch.
Raske bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Foley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raske.
Foley appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foley shoots for a double leg takedown but Raske sprawls well. He's pushed Foley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Raske has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raske misses with a body punch

and Foley moves into the clinch.
Raske misses with a hook to the ribs.

Raske has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Foley uses from the top position.
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!
Raske seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Foley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Raske is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Foley postures up in Raske's guard and throws a big left but Raske blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Raske holds on and takes a little breather.
Raske looking to hit a scissor sweep but Foley is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raske lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Foley managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Raske wants to control from the top but Foley keeps moving.
Raske tries to free his leg and advance position but Foley is retaining full guard.
Foley managing to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Raske showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Raske circles away from the clinch attempt.

Foley rushes Raske and presses him up against the cage.
Foley is trying to pull guard but Raske has him pressed against the cage.
Foley tries to pull guard but Raske forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Raske misses with the head strike.
Raske prevents a body shot from Foley.

Foley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raske dips to his left and cracks Foley with an uppercut!
Thomas Raske seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Foley tries to clinch there but Raske circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raske swings widly with a right hand

and Foley counters by moving into the clinch.
Raske stalling in the clinch but Foley improves position.

Foley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Foley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raske tries to free his leg and advance position but Foley is retaining full guard.
Foley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Foley is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Foley wants to stand and escape but Raske is having none of it.
Foley seems keen to control Raske's posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raske stops Foley from standing up.
Raske is looking to stand up but Foley won't let him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Raske trying to control the position from guard on top but Foley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Raske lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Raske connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Foley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raske but Raske pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kim Foley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good exchange - Raske coming out on top.
Raske scores with a punch to the head.
Kim Foley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raske's jab looks to have found its range, popping Foley under the eye.
Raske paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Raske misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raske gets a clinch.
Foley tries a body shot but Raske blocks it.
Raske scores with a shoulder strike.
Raske wants to break free but Foley has control.
Raske wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raske is trying to push Foley away but Foley has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Foley jumps guard but Raske turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Raske is looking to control Foley's arms but Foley gets an underhook and turns him. Now Raske has his back to the cage.
Raske can't break the clinch.
Foley fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Foley looking to slow down the pace here.
Foley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raske just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Raske walks away with a smile on his face. Foley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Foley misses with a takedown attempt
and Raske counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Foley keeps the fight on the outside.
Raske tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Foley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donk. Raske catches Foley right on the button with a cross.
Raske lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Foley at a distance.

Raske forces Foley back against the cage and clinches.
Foley is trying to pull guard but Raske turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Raske pulls guard effortlessly.
Raske wants to stand and escape but Foley is having none of it.
Raske trying to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Raske comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Raske 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Raske!