PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keet Rawlee (ranked 8433 p4p, 771 weight class) and James Ejayi (ranked 9534 p4p, 820 weight class). James Ejayi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rawlee
vs
Ejayi

175 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Keet Rawlee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Ejayi!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ejayi throws a body punch but Rawlee moves out of range.
Rawlee attempts a counter takedown but Ejayi avoids it well and moves away.
Ejayi connects with a body shot that sends Rawlee's belly button to the back.

Ejayi darts in and clinches Rawlee up against the cage.
Rawlee goes for a takedown attempt but Ejayi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ejayi lands with an uppercut that bounces Rawlee off the cage and back into range.
Ejayi misses with a two punch combination.
Rawlee moves in looking to clinch but Ejayi pushes him off.
We've been hearing reports that Rawlee has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ejayi throws a low kick but Rawlee moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ejayi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ejayi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ejayi lands with a hook. Rawlee tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
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!

Rawlee closes the distance and clinches.

Ejayi breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ejayi misses with a body shot.
Rawlee throws a series of punches but Ejayi avoids them all with ease.
Ejayi throws a good cross that connects.
A punch combination from Ejayi misses.
Ejayi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rawlee moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ejayi throws a right and a left that Rawlee avoids nicely.

Rawlee drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ejayi manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rawlee manages to break the clinch.
Rawlee misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ejayi.
Ejayi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ejayi swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawlee shoots in looking for a takedown. Ejayi tries to sprawl out of it but Rawlee keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ejayi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rawlee dodges the punch combination from Ejayi.

Rawlee closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rawlee drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ejayi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keet Rawlee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rawlee tries to score a body lock takedown but Ejayi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rawlee is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ejayi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ejayi blocks an elbow strike.

Ejayi manages to pull guard.
Rawlee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rawlee stopping the sweep attempt from Ejayi.
Rawlee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rawlee trying to control but Ejayi is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ejayi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rawlee stands up from Ejayi's guard - Rawlee perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rawlee tries to clinch but Ejayi moves out of range.
Ejayi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rawlee manages to avoid it.
Rawlee appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ejayi throws a body punch but Rawlee moves out of range.

Ejayi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ejayi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rawlee tries to control but Ejayi manages to take his back.
Ejayi struggling to land strikes to the head as Rawlee covers up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ejayi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ejayi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ejayi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rawlee.
Rawlee rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ejayi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ejayi lands a nice shot that snaps Rawlee's head back.

Rawlee closes the distance and clinches.
Ejayi has had enough of the clinch but Rawlee keeps him there for the moment.

Ejayi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rawlee lands with a kick to the temple. Ejayi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rawlee darts in looking for a takedown but Ejayi gets double underhooks and turns Rawlee into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ejayi fails to land with a series of punches.
James Ejayi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rawlee shoots in looking for a takedown but Ejayi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rawlee's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keet Rawlee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ejayi takes a swing at Rawlee's ribcage but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ejayi digs a good body shot into Rawlee's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlee avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Ejayi.
Ejayi lands a nice hook to Rawlee's body. Rawlee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ejayi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rawlee takes the fight into the clinch.
Rawlee is looking to break free of the clinch but Ejayi has double underhooks.

Ejayi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rawlee ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ejayi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rawlee tries a head kick but it misses.
Ejayi throws a series of punches but Rawlee avoids them all with ease.
Rawlee tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawlee shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ejayi defends it nicely.
Ejayi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ejayi scores with a nice head shot.
Rawlee shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ejayi as he jumps to the side.
Ejayi throws a shot to the body.
Ejayi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rawlee rather than just go for the knockout.
Ejayi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ejayi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Keet Rawlee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ejayi lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlee wants to clinch up but Ejayi keeps it at a distance.
Ejayi tries to clinch there but Rawlee circles away.
Ejayi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rawlee.
Decent striking displayed by Ejayi there.
Ejayi throws a shot to the body.
Rawlee blocks a low kick nicely.
Ejayi throws a series of punches but Rawlee avoids them all with ease.
Rawlee checks the leg kick.
Ejayi tries to work over Rawlee's front leg with a kick but Rawlee checks it.
Ejayi shoots in looking for a takedown but Rawlee manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ejayi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rawlee takes one on the button.
Ejayi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rawlee moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawlee takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rawlee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ejayi pinned against the cage. Ejayi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ejayi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rawlee misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ejayi throws a leg kick but Rawlee sees it coming and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ejayi. Rawlee does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ejayi lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ejayi misses with a looping left.

Rawlee moves into the clinch.
Ejayi blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ejayi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ejayi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rawlee.
Rawlee doesn't manage to clinch there - Ejayi circles away.
Rawlee tries to move into range but Ejayi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ejayi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rawlee manages to avoid it.
Ejayi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rawlee eats them both and turns towards Ejayi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rawlee scores with a head kick. Ejayi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rawlee tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ejayi swivels and escapes.
Rawlee misses with a takedown attempt
and Ejayi counters with a series of strikes. Rawlee will be more careful next time no doubt.

Rawlee is rocked!
Rawlee darts in looking for a takedown but Ejayi gets double underhooks and turns Rawlee into the cage.
Ejayi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Oh Rawlee is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keet Rawlee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ejayi drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Rawlee right on the button. Rawlee goes down! Ejayi follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Ejayi gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Ejayi!