PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sultan Rah (ranked 4862 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reima Poika (ranked 5171 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rah
vs
Poika

187 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sultan Rah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reima Poika!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Poika, pushing him back against the cage.

Rah drags the fight down to the ground.
Poika stopping the sweep attempt from Rah.
Rah is adopting a defensive guard.
Poika wants to control from the top but Rah keeps moving.
Rah pulls Poika in close to prevent any damage.
Rah keeping full guard, as Poika tries to pass.
Poika should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Poika is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rah is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rah has escaped and now he's on top!

Rah won't allow Poika to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poika is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rah will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Poika being controlled here, momentarily.
Rah trying to stand up but can't free himself from Poika's guard.
Rah missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Poika has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rah is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Poika.
Poika is trying to control Rah's posture but Rah avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poika being controlled for a moment.
Poika dodges the ground and pound from Rah.
Poika gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rah content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Rah stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poika tries a head kick but it misses.
Sultan Rah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Poika, pushing him back against the cage.

Rah pulls Poika into guard.
Rah seems keen to control Poika's posture.
Poika not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rah holds on and takes a little breather.
Poika trying to control the position from guard on top but Rah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rah manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Rah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rah takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Rah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Poika, pushing him back against the cage.
Rah lands a right hand.
Rah tries to pull guard but Poika won't allow it.

Rah breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rah darts in and clinches Poika up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rah pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poika trying to control the position from guard on top but Rah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Poika passes Rah's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sultan Rah dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rah throws a sloppy head kick and Poika moves out of range easily.

Rah rushes Poika and presses him up against the cage.
Rah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rah is trying to pull guard but Poika has him pressed against the cage.
Rah looking for a takedown.

Rah pulls guard effortlessly.
Rah keeping full guard, as Poika tries to pass.
Rah keeping moving, preventing Poika from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poika is looking to pass into half guard but Rah pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rah is in guard.

Poika bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rah's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rah is on top in guard.

Rah sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

Poika looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rah controlling from the top position.
Poika lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poika passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Poika working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Poika tries to move to mount but Rah blocks the move with his legs.

Rah sneaks out the side door and pushes Poika away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rah moves into the clinch successfully.
Rah looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sultan Rah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poika wants to get back to striking at distance but Rah won't allow it.
Rah tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Poika smiles and moves away.
Rah doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Poika finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rah ducks right into an uppercut from Poika.
Poika throws a body kick that misses.
Poika misses with a body shot.
Sultan Rah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Poika dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Poika misses with the combination.

Poika gets tackled into the cage by Rah. Rah maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poika is looking to control Rah's arms but Rah gets an underhook and turns him. Now Poika has his back to the cage.
Poika looking to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rah as Poika tries to tie him up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rah fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poika tries to pull guard but Rah holds him up against the cage and eventually Poika drops back down to his feet.
Poika is trying to break the clinch but Rah is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Reima Poika will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rah chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Poika can pounce on him.
Rah tries for a takedown but Poika sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rah clinches up against the cage.
Rah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Rah has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Poika uses from the top position.
Rah managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poika stands and throws Rah's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poika has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rah!
Poika wants to control the pace but Rah is squirming around nicely.
Poika can't control as he wanted to and Rah manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Rah is refusing to be controlled, as Poika sits in half guard.
Rah keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rah wants to improve his position but Poika is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rah is not content to let Poika control the position.
Poika tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rah knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Poika is just content to waste time from the top position. Rah takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Poika's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rah keeping full guard, as Poika tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rah pulls Poika in close to prevent any damage.
Poika sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rah's guard.
Rah is trying to stand.
Poika is just content to waste time from the top position. Rah takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Poika tries to free his leg and advance position but Rah is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rah dives in and grabs Poika's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poika pushes down on Rah's head and hops out.
Rah tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Poika manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Poika looks to land a body kick but Rah moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poika will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Poika throws a quick inside leg kick.
Poika throws a quick inside leg kick.
Poika throws a head kick that half lands.
Rah tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Poika counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poika pushes Rah away with a front kick.
Rah is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Poika tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rah went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poika throws the kick towards the body but Rah avoids it.
Poika throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rah wants to clinch
and Poika counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reima Poika comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Poika has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!