PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edgar Efala (ranked 6313 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Rackham (ranked 7721 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Efala
vs
Rackham

193 cm
25
227 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
253 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Conviction

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Edgar Efala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ed Rackham!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Efala has Rackham up against the cage in a clinch.
Efala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Rackham fails to land.

Efala has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rackham is trying to keep an underhook but Efala manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rackham throws a strike from the bottom but Efala passes into side control!
Rackham is trying to get back to half guard.
Rackham misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Rackham throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Rackham throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Efala wants to control but Rackham is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Rackham misses with a strike from the bottom.
Rackham tries to buck Efala off but Efala is having none of it.
Efala trying to control the position but Rackham is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rackham can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
Rackham tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Rackham is looking to reverse the position.
Rackham misses with a strike from the bottom.
Rackham is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rackham misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Rackham is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rackham is not content to let Efala control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Efala gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham strikes from the bottom but Efala uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Rackham is looking to regain half guard here but Efala keeps moving and retains side control.
Rackham throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Rackham tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rackham throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Efala avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rackham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Rackham throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Rackham tries to bench press Efala off him but Efala keeps the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Efala avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rackham.
Rackham throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Rackham tries to improve position but can't.
Rackham throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Rackham throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rackham is looking to reverse the position.
Rackham throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Efala clinches up against the cage.
Rackham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rackham makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rackham throws a head punch that misses.
Rackham lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Efala works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rackham tries to strike from the bottom.
Efala is breathing heavily.
Rackham trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rackham is striking off his back. Efala thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Rackham missing with punches from the bottom.
Rackham flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rackham throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgar Efala dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rackham moves away from the strike by Efala.
Rackham tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Efala lands a head shot.

Efala closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rackham throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Efala manages to pass to side control.
Rackham is looking for a sweep.
Rackham tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Rackham tries to buck Efala off but Efala is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Efala is looking to take a break and control but Rackham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rackham striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham tries to bench press Efala off him but Efala keeps the position.
Rackham throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Rackham is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rackham wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Rackham is looking to regain half guard here but Efala keeps moving and retains side control.
Efala avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rackham.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rackham throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Rackham throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ed Rackham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Efala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rackham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Rackham throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Rackham tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Rackham is trying to get back to half guard.
Rackham wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Rackham is looking to regain half guard here but Efala keeps moving and retains side control.
Efala avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rackham.
Efala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rackham keeps working.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham is looking to reverse the position.
Rackham wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Rackham throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rackham keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Efala.
Rackham changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Efala bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rackham's head.
Efala connects with a nice looking jab.

Efala decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rackham tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rackham throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham is refusing to be controlled, as Efala sits in half guard.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
Rackham is trying to get back to full guard.
Rackham misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rackham misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Efala throws the left hand but Rackham avoids the punch easily.
Rackham feints the counter takedown.
Rackham defending well as Efala loads up on a big left hand.
Rackham feints the counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgar Efala dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Efala tries to bum rush Rackham with a series of wild strikes but Rackham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Efala feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rackham is striking from the bottom but Efala uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
Rackham misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
Rackham missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rackham tries to get to full guard but Efala has control of the leg.
Rackham throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham is looking for a sweep. Efala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rackham throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Efala closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rackham did well to prevent Efala getting side control.
Rackham is looking for a sweep. Efala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rackham misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Efala blocks the strikes from Rackham.
Rackham misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Efala is pressing down on Rackham's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rackham is holding on for now.
Rackham missing with punches from the bottom.
Rackham tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Efala rushes Rackham and presses him up against the cage.
Rackham lands a hook that snaps the head of Efala backwards.
Efala's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rackham makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rackham throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Efalas head.

It looks like Edgar Efala has been cut.
Rackham lands a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Rackham.
Rackham lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rackham lands a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rackham.
Rackham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham has a couple of punches blocked by Efala.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Efala.
Efala blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Rackham scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rackham lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rackham pushes Efala back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rackham lands an uppercut.
A short right from Rackham on the inside.
Rackham lands a shoulder strike.
Rackham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Edgar Efala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rackham misses with some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rackham.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Efala.
Rackham scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Efala blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rackham lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rackham working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rackham.
Rackham scores with a shoulder strike.
Rackham misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rackham swings wildly with an uppercut but Efala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rackham scores with an uppercut up the middle.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rackham creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ed Rackham seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Rackham fails to land.
Ed Rackham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rackham misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Rackham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Efala 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edgar Efala!