PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ace Freeman (ranked 3688 p4p, 503 weight class) and Rich Raul (ranked 5188 p4p, 635 weight class). Ace Freeman had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Freeman
vs
Raul

194 cm
25
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ace Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rich Raul!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raul moves into the clinch.

Raul has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Freeman clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Freeman is trying to remain composed but Raul is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Raul punches Freeman on the ear.
Raul biding his time, looking for the opening.
Raul is trying to stick to Freeman's back but Freeman is turning into Raul. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Raul's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Freeman.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raul has control of Freeman's left arm, preventing Freeman from doing any damage.
Freeman stands and throws Raul's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Raul really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Freeman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Raul tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Freeman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Freeman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Freeman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Raul is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Raul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Freeman working away.
Raul tries to bench press Freeman off him but Freeman keeps the position.
Raul wants to control but Freeman postures up.

Freeman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Raul, who protects the arm well.

Freeman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Freeman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raul wants to get back to his feet.

Freeman tries for a kimura but Raul is defending well.
Freeman working away.

Freeman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Raul can't do much from the bottom here.
Freeman looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman blocks the strikes from Raul.
Raul is looking for a sweep.

Freeman goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Raul has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Freeman but great work by Raul.
Raul works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Freeman takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Raul in side control lands a decent elbow.
Raul in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Raul cracks Freeman with a big right hand but Freeman just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Freeman is looking for a sweep.
Raul landing a few strikes.
Freeman is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Raul is controlling him well.
Raul scores with punches from side control.
Raul lands a nice forearm strike.

Freeman is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman prevents Raul from moving into mount.
Oh Freeman is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Freeman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Freeman seems to have got his legs back now.
Freeman on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Check out the look on Raul's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Check out the look on Raul's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Freeman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Raul lands a few punches from side control.
Freeman struggling a bit here.
Raul lands an elbow.
Raul cracks Freeman with a big right hand but Freeman just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Freeman tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Raul is looking to take a break and control but Freeman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raul landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Freeman misses with a low kick.
Freeman is looking to clinch but Raul is avoiding it.
No luck for Freeman with that takedown attempt.
Freeman doesn't manage to clinch there - Raul circles away.

Raul drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Freeman gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Raul postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Freeman looks a forlorn figure.
Raul postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Freeman in real trouble here! The ref calls for Freeman to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rich Raul!