PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leon Montana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Risto Rautio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rautio has chosen mickey avalon as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Montana
vs
Rautio

188 cm
22
218 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

189 cm
24
210 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill

Reaper Combatwear

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leon Montana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Risto Rautio!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Montana's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rautio connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Montana scrambles back to his feet.
Montana ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Montana throws a jab when Rautio was well out of range.
Montana moves in looking to clinch but Rautio pushes him off.
Montana misses the shot to the body.
Rautio looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rautio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Montana.
Rautio slips under a jab from Montana.
Rautio misses with an uppercut
and Montana counters with a straight right hand.
Montana listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montana darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Montana works Rautio's body with a nice hook.
Montana throws a leg kick
and Rautio counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Montana throws a sloppy body shot
and Rautio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Leon Montana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautio connects with a solid leg kick.
Montana misses with a looping left.
Rautio lands a nice looking body shot.

Montana has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rautio tries a body shot but Montana blocks it.
Montana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Montana throws a punch but it's blocked by Rautio.
Montana blocks a body shot from Rautio.
Rautio digs a right hand into Montana's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Montana's gas tank.
Montana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rautio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Montana tries to work over Rautio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Montana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Montana tries a body shot but Rautio blocks it.
Rautio is leaning against Montana and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rautio misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rautio tries to throw a body punch but Montana avoids it by throwing Rautio back against the cage.
Rautio blocks an uppercut.
Montana prevents a body shot from Rautio.
Rautio struggles to land a body shot inside as Montana controls his hands.
Montana tries to work over Rautio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Montana misses with some punches.
Montana tries to throw a body punch but Rautio avoids it by throwing Montana back against the cage.
Rautio blocks an uppercut.
Rautio can't find room to land a body shot as Montana controls the action.
Rautio tries to throw a body punch but Montana avoids it by throwing Rautio back against the cage.
I was talking to Montana's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Montana blocks a body shot from Rautio.
Montana prevents a body shot from Rautio.
Rautio struggles to land a body shot inside as Montana controls his hands.
Rautio blocking some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rautio blocks an uppercut.
Montana working aggressively here.
Rautio tries a body shot but Montana blocks it.
Rautio misses with a body punch.
Montana works on Rautio's body with a couple of short punches.
Montana swings wildly with an uppercut but Rautio uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rautio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rautio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rautio connects with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rautio misses with a body punch.
Rautio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Montana's elbow.
Rautio goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Montana misses with a punch on the inside.
Montana throws a punch but it's blocked by Rautio.
Rautio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Montana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rautios head.
Montana swings wildly with an uppercut but Rautio uses good head movement to avoid it.

Montana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Montana feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rautios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rautio throws a poor cross that misses
and Rautio takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montana misses with a looping right.
Rautio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Rautio was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Montana tests Rautio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Montana connects with a right hand. Rautio shakes it off.
Montana walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rautio.
Rautio scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Montana doesn't seem bothered though.
Rautio doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Montana wants to clinch
letting Rautio counter with a right hand.
Montana scores with a hook to the body. Rautio takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Montana dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Montana thows a left - swing and a miss!
Montana cracks Rautio with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rautio takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A left and a right from Rautio both land. Nice combination.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rautio in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rautio misses the shot to the body.
Rautio gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Montana.
Rautio thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montana pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Montana throws a looping overhand right but Rautio ducks down to avoid it.
Rautio let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Montana throws a poor cross that misses
and Rautio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Leon Montana has been cut.
Rautio misses with a jab to the body
enabling Montana to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana keeps the fight on the outside.
Montana misses with a straight left.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rautio! But no joy.
Rautio throws a lazy right hand but Montana sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Montana throws an off balance right hand
and Rautio counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rautio throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Montana thuds his right hand into Rautio's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Montana with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rautio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Montana takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rautio throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rautio misses with a straight left.
Rautio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Montana was well out of range. Poor timing from Rautio.
A swing and a miss from Rautio.
Rautio blocks a low kick nicely.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rautio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Montana misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Montana scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
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!
Rautio walks into a left hand.
Montana swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana lands a right hook to the body.
Montana throws a looping overhand right but Rautio ducks down to avoid it.
Montana looks to score with a jab to the body but Rautio is just out of range.
Montana throws a sloppy body shot
and Rautio counters with a body kick that stops Montana in his tracks momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Montana looks to score with a jab to the body but Rautio is just out of range.
Montana thows a left - swing and a miss!
Montana takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rautio scores with a shot to the body.
Montana staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautio pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rautio.
Rautio slips under a jab from Montana.
Rautio misses with a right hand
and Montana counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rautio misses with an uppercut. Montana saw that one coming.
Rautio on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Montana darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Montana fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rautio has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Montana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rautio was well out of range. Poor timing from Montana.
Montana throws a front kick aimed at Rautio's knee but Rautio avoids it well.
It seemed like Rautio was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Montana dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leon Montana's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rautio.
Montana fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rautio manages to avoid it.
Montana goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Montana fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rautio looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A chopping leg kick lands by Montana.
Rautio changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Montana lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montana lands a lovely overhand right.
Jab from Montana.
Rautio throws a body punch but Montana moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautio shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice body punch from Montana.
Rautio throws a hook to the side of Montana's head but Montana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rautio scores with a jab to the body.
Rautio blocks a head kick by Montana.
Montana throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rautio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Montana misses with a right hand
and Rautio counters with a straight right hand.
Rautio throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Montana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rautio throws a big shot that misses.
Montana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montana stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Montana wants to clinch but Rautio slips to the side
and Montana takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rautio checks a leg kick.
Rautio throws a hook but Montana avoids it easily.
Montana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rautio can do to turn this around?
Montana scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rautio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Montana.
A little jabbing left from Rautio on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Montana throws a hook to the side of Rautio's head but Rautio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Montana, as that shot connected.
Montana's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rautio connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Montana scrambles back to his feet.
Rautio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Montana. Rautio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rautio now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rautio ducks under a wild hook from Montana.
Rautio let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rautio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Montana manages to avoid it.
Rautio punishes Montana's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Montana tries to land a front kick but Rautio steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Montana cracks Rautio with an open hand slap.
Montana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Montana misses the shot to the body.
Rautio defending well as Montana loads up on a big left hand.
Rautio bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautio misses with a hook.
Montana gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rautio avoids the body shot from Montana.
Rautio appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Montana throws a series of punches but Rautio avoids them all with ease.
Montana misses the body punch
and Rautio counters with a left to the body.
Rautio lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Montana at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Montana swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rautio makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rautio looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A low kick from Montana misses
and Rautio counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leon Montana.
Well Montana has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Montana!
Leon Montana seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.