PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian White (ranked 4632 p4p, 24436 weight class) and Sami Rantanen (ranked 557 p4p, 676 weight class). White comes into the arena with Next Contestant blaring out of the sound system. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

White
vs
Rantanen

185 cm
25
195
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
26
185
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR
The Dirty Needle Project

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sami Rantanen!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rantanen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
White shoots in looking for a takedown but Rantanen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing White's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rantanen has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Rantanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but White was well out of range. Poor timing from Rantanen.
White slips a jab from Rantanen.
White is looking to counter the offense by Rantanen and move into the clinch.
Rantanen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by White.
White fails with a takedown attempt.
Rantanen digs a good body shot into White's ribs.
Rantanen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rantanen lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White tries to close the distance and clinch but Rantanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

White decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
White wants to pass the guard but Rantanen is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantanen wants to control but White is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rantanen gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rantanen has control of White's left arm, preventing White from doing any damage.
Rantanen controls White momentarily but White frees himself.
Rantanen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
White with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rantanen wants to stand up but White is controlling him.
Rantanen 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.
Rantanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
White slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rantanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rantanen looking to control.
Rantanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
White chips away with some ground and pound.
White loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
White looking to pass the guard.
White working some strikes from top position.
White lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
White throws an elbow that misses. Rantanen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in White's guard. Nice move by Rantanen!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rantanen throwing strikes from guard but White blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rantanen trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rantanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as White works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rantanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
White looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
White trying to control the position here.
White continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rantanen trying to control but White is working from the bottom.

Rantanen is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but White has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Rantanen is looking to defend but White has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Rantanen! White pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Rantanen taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Brian White!
During a confident post fight interview, Brian White thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.