PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Raffington (ranked 64 p4p, 409 weight class) and Papa Legba (ranked 10 p4p, 61 weight class). Raffington comes to the cage accompanied by Logan Lucky. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Raffington
vs
Legba

182 cm
31
195
20 - 11 - 1

178 cm
29
185
19 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Urban Fighter

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 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shane Raffington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Papa Legba!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legba blocks the body kick.
Legba throws a counter combo.
Legba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Legba on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A slow jab from Legba misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Raffington misses the target.
Legba takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Legba works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Raffington steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Legba.
Legba jabs Raffington to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Raffington attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Legba paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Raffington scores with a crisp jab that stopped Legba in his tracks.
Raffington tests Legba's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Legba takes one on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Legba finds it's way through Raffington's defenses.
Raffington looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A punch lands to the side of Raffington 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raffington sizes up Legba with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shane Raffington is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raffington uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Legba.
Raffington scores with a shot to the body.
A jab from Raffington does it's job there.
A jab from Legba misses.
Legba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raffington.
Legba misses with a looping left.
Legba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raffington.
It looked like Raffington was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Legba.
Raffington goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Legba blocks the body kick.
Raffington lands with a shot to the body.
Raffington slips a straight right by Legba.
Raffington throws a quick counter kick to the body but Legba avoids it.
Raffington bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Legba takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Raffington looks to throw the jab but Legba is out of range.
Raffington tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raffington throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Legba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Legba checks a leg kick.
Legba looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Legba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice jab there from Raffington.
Legba throws an off balance right hand
and Raffington counters with a stiff right hand.
Legba blocks a jab.
Legba lands a right hook to the body.
Legba throws a hook but Raffington avoids it easily.
Legba cracks Raffington with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Raffington throws a body shot but no joy.
Legba lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Legba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Legba is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Raffington had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Raffington connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Raffington misses with a straight left.
Legba digs a good hook to Raffington's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raffington takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Legba misses with an uppercut.
Raffington scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Legba doesn't seem bothered though.
Legba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raffington was well out of range. Poor timing from Legba.

Legba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Raffington napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Legba working the ground and pound but Raffington is defending the strikes.
Raffington is looking for a sweep.
Raffington struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raffington manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Legba tries to get to full guard but Raffington has control of the leg.
Raffington trying to control the action but Legba is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Legba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Raffington with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Legba is pressing down on Raffington's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Legba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raffington defends it easily.
Raffington sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Legba looking for a guillotine here but Raffington defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Papa Legba will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A nice leg kick from Raffington, right into the meat of the thigh.
Raffington misses with a wild body shot.
Legba missing with a left hand there. Raffington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Raffington scores with the left hand. Legba knows he should have avoided that one.
Legba throws a jab but it's blocked by Raffington.
Raffington comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Raffington scores with a head kick. Legba tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Legba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raffington throws a poor cross that misses
and Legba counters with a straight right hand.
Legba throws a hook but Raffington avoids it easily.
Raffington staying out of range there.
Raffington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Legba.
An attempted straight right counter from Raffington misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba just misses with a punch to the body.
Legba scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Legba. Raffington does a little dance to reset his feet.
Legba swings widly with a right hand
and Raffington counters with a thumping low kick.
Legba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raffington moves away.
It looked like Raffington wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Legba throws out a loose jab but Raffington uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raffington scores with a jab. Legba acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Raffington ducks under a wild hook from Legba.
Raffington is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Legba throws an overhand right that lands on Raffington's shoulder, as Raffington tries to avoid the shot.
Legba digs a good hook to Raffington's body.
Raffington takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Raffington throws a head kick but Legba moves out of range.
Raffington throws a poor cross that misses
and Legba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Papa Legba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circling - Legba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raffington takes one on the button.
Raffington takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Raffington fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Legba on the side of the head.
Raffington does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Raffington throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Raffington misses with a hook
and Legba counters with a straight right hand.
Jab, jab by Legba - just one landing.
Raffington cracks Legba with a good jab.
Legba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Legba throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Raffington counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Legba throws a looping overhand right but Raffington ducks down to avoid it.
Raffington throws a series of strikes that have Legba backpedaling.
Raffington avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Raffington fires out a quick counter leg kick but Legba just manages to avoid it.
Raffington swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Raffington.
Raffington throws a shot from downtown. Legba moves away and avoids it.
Legba throws a right hand that misses
and Raffington counters with a good, hard body kick but Legba shrugs it off.
Raffington takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Raffington misses with a left hand
and Raffington takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Legba swings for the body but Raffington moves out of range.
Raffington wants to slow Legba down by chopping away at his legs.
Legba throws a jab but it's blocked by Raffington.
Legba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Raffington can pounce on him.
A jab from Legba does it's job there.
Raffington looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Legba looks to land a combination but Raffington avoids it well.
Raffington connects with a looping right hand.
Legba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raffington misses with a body punch
and Legba counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raffington walks into a jab.
Legba scores with a crisp jab that stopped Raffington in his tracks.
Raffington avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Raffington scores with a hook to the body. Legba takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Raffington lands a lovely overhand right.
Legba lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Raffington scores with a jab. Legba acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Legba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Raffington kicks Legba off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The crowd cheers as Legba lands an impressive looking overhand right. Raffington doesn't seem phased though.
Raffington fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Legba lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Papa Legba will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Raffington looks to land a left hand but Legba moved out of range nicely.
Raffington tries to land a leg kick but Legba saw it coming and moves away.
Legba lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Raffington at a distance.
Raffington turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Legba fails with the takedown.
Legba throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Legba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Legba misses with a lunging right hand
and Raffington counters with a low kick, right behind Legba 's knee.
Raffington bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba misses with a body shot.
Legba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raffington.
Raffington throws a quick counter head kick but Legba was just out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Raffington.
Legba listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Raffington misses with an uppercut
letting Legba counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Raffington.
Raffington lands with a nice body punch.
Raffington lands with a nice body punch.
Raffington drops his hands momentarily and Legba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Raffington with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Legba missing with a left hand there. Raffington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Legba avoids the body shot from Raffington.
Legba on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Legba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raffington uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Legba.
Raffington throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Legba misses with a straight right.
A jab from Raffington misses.
Legba looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A big left from Raffington misses.
A big right from Legba misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raffington keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raffington slips under a jab from Legba.
Legba misses with the combination.
Legba slips a straight right by Raffington.
Legba throws a poor cross that misses
and Raffington counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Legba scores with a body shot.
A big right from Legba misses.
Nice defenses there by Raffington.
Raffington uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Legba has time to react.
Good standup being displayed there by Raffington as he connects with a hook.
Legba misses with a wild body shot.
Raffington misses with a right hand
and Legba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raffington looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Legba swings widly with a right hand
and Raffington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Legba lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Raffington at a distance.
Raffington scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Legba doesn't seem bothered though.
Legba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raffington manages to avoid it.
It looked like Raffington wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Raffington misses with a leg kick
letting Legba counter with a right hand.
Papa Legba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Legba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raffington throws a body punch but Legba moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Raffington lands an impressive looking overhand right. Legba doesn't seem phased though.
Raffington does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Legba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raffington.
Shane Raffington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Legba punishes Raffington's body with a nice straight punch.
Raffington throws a right and a left that Legba avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba looks to score with a jab to the body but Raffington is just out of range.
Raffington connects with a looping right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Legba lands a nice shot to the body.
Legba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raffington.
Legba smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Legba lands with a good body shot.
Legba misses with a hook. Raffington ducked under it nicely.
Legba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raffington manages to avoid it.
Raffington bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Raffington just misses with a punch to the body.
Raffington misses with a hook.
Legba misses with the combination.
Legba checks a low kick from Raffington.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shane Raffington.
I think Legba 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Papa Legba!
A less than humble Papa Legba misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.