PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rauli Raunio (ranked 2045 p4p, 292 weight class) and Feodor Shemelianenko (ranked 2908 p4p, 383 weight class). Shemelianenko has chosen 2Pac - I'm A Soldier (Echale Mojo Remix) as his entrance music. Feodor Shemelianenko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rauli Raunio's chin.

Raunio
vs
Shemelianenko

198 cm
37
207 lbs
23 - 21 - 0

184 cm
41
214 lbs
27 - 14 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 23 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rauli Raunio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Feodor Shemelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shemelianenko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shemelianenko is adopting a defensive guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raunio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raunio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shemelianenko's head.
Shemelianenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shemelianenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raunio wants to control from the top but Shemelianenko keeps moving.
Shemelianenko controlling the position.
Raunio distracts Shemelianenko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shemelianenko is looking for a triangle but Raunio pushes his legs off easily.
Raunio has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shemelianenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shemelianenko being controlled here, momentarily.
Shemelianenko is trying to keep Raunio in close.
Shemelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raunio is one step ahead there.
Shemelianenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raunio's guard.

Raunio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shemelianenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shemelianenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shemelianenko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shemelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Raunio has wrist control.
Shemelianenko postures up in Raunio's guard and throws a big left but Raunio blocks it.
Raunio will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shemelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Raunio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raunio trying to keep a closed guard but Shemelianenko is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shemelianenko trying to control but Raunio is working from the bottom.

Raunio is looking for a triangle here but Shemelianenko uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Raunio prevents Shemelianenko from moving into mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raunio wants to get back to his feet but Shemelianenko is dominant here and he's now got Raunio's back!
Shemelianenko is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Raunio is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Shemelianenko is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shemelianenko missing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Feodor Shemelianenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shemelianenko closes the distance and clinches up with Raunio, looking for a takedown. Shemelianenko pushes Raunio against the cage but Raunio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Raunio appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Raunio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rauli Raunio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Raunio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shemelianenko's half guard.

Shemelianenko pushes Raunio off and gets back to his feet.
Shemelianenko checks a leg kick.

Shemelianenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raunio working a defensive guard here.
Shemelianenko wants to stand and escape but instead Raunio has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Raunio trying to control the position from guard on top but Shemelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shemelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shemelianenko trying to control the position.
Shemelianenko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Raunio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raunio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shemelianenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raunio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Raunio preventing the sweep.
Raunio postures up in Shemelianenko's guard and throws a big left but Shemelianenko blocks it.
Raunio cracks Shemelianenko with a solid left hand.
Raunio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raunio throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shemelianenko wants to stand and escape but Raunio is having none of it.
Raunio postures up and lands a big shot to Shemelianenko's brow.
Raunio stopping the sweep attempt from Shemelianenko.
Raunio trying to control but Shemelianenko is working from the bottom.
Shemelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shemelianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Shemelianenko, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raunio misses with a hook.
Shemelianenko checks the leg kick.
Jab by Raunio.
Shemelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Raunio looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Shemelianenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Raunio swivels and escapes.
Shemelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Raunio half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rauli Raunio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Feodor Shemelianenko.
Raunio scores with a jab to the head.

It looks like Feodor Shemelianenko has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shemelianenko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Raunio tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shemelianenko is in Raunio's guard.
Raunio looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Shemelianenko has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Raunio to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Shemelianenko is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Raunio pulls down on the head and he's put Shemelianenko to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rauli Raunio!
Rauli Raunio tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.