PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mitch Raynes (ranked 5691 p4p, 492 weight class) and Alpo Paakku (ranked 4912 p4p, 459 weight class). Alpo Paakku told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Raynes
vs
Paakku

180 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mitch Raynes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alpo Paakku!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raynes slaps away a takedown attempt from Paakku, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raynes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Paakku stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paakku wants it to stay on the feet.
Paakku avoids the body shot from Raynes.
Paakku shoots and misses

and Raynes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Paakku pushes Raynes off looking to stand but Raynes dives back in and keeps control.
Raynes is controlling the pace.
Paakku looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paakku manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Raynes keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Raynes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Paakku can't get the takedown.
Mitch Raynes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alpo Paakku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raynes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Raynes 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.

Paakku turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Paakku manages to end up in side control.
Paakku lands a few punches from side control.
Paakku scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Raynes to see if he's OK.
Raynes struggling a bit here.
Raynes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Paakku is thwarting Raynes's attempts to control the position.
Raynes tries to get to full guard but Paakku has control of the leg.

Paakku is looking for a kimura here.
Raynes is looking for a sweep. Paakku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raynes trying to hold on to Paakku's head to control him but Paakku postures up.
Paakku is taking a breather. Raynes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Paakku is looking for a kimura but Raynes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Paakku to get the leverage.

Paakku is working for a submission of some sort.
Paakku is nestled in close to Raynes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Raynes wants to improve his position but Paakku is controlling well.
Paakku slips a nice elbow through Raynes's hands, connecting with Raynes's forehead.
Raynes is looking for a sweep. Paakku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raynes is staying active underneath Paakku, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raynes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Raynes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Raynes trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paakku is working Raynes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Raynes is looking for a triangle but Paakku pushes his legs off easily.
Paakku postures up.
Paakku with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raynes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Paakku is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Raynes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raynes prevents Paakku from getting back to his feet.
Raynes tries to free his leg and advance position but Paakku is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paakku wants to get back to his feet but Raynes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Raynes throwing strikes from guard but Paakku blocks nicely.
Raynes is standing up over Paakku. Paakku looks to escape but Raynes dives into side control.
Paakku is trying to buck Raynes off.
Paakku is not content to let Raynes control the position.
Paakku wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alpo Paakku will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Paakku shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Raynes pinned against the cage. Raynes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Raynes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Paakku feints and as Raynes raises his hands in defense, Paakku changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Paakku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Paakku missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paakku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raynes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Paakku wriggles free and stands up.
Raynes swinging wildly here.
Paakku fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Raynes avoids it really well and circles away.
No luck for Paakku with that takedown attempt.
Mitch Raynes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alpo Paakku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raynes missing with a left hand there. Paakku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Raynes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paakku avoids the body shot from Raynes.
Raynes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paakku.
Raynes misses with a series of wild punches.

Paakku shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Raynes has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Paakku doesn't defend quickly enough and Raynes has managed to lock this one up! Can Paakku escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Raynes on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mitch Raynes!
Mitch Raynes bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.