PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Goins (ranked 6248 p4p, 6026 weight class) and Hjalmar Raak (ranked 626 p4p, 617 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Goins
vs
Raak

186 cm
17
192
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
18
197
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Goins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hjalmar Raak!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Goins.
Raak throws out a counter right but Goins avoids it with no problem.
Raak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Goins was well out of range. Poor timing from Raak.
Goins tries to clinch there but Raak circles away.
Raak fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Goins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Raak avoids it really well and circles away.
Raak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Goins at a distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Raak!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raak lands with a cross.
Raak defending well as Goins loads up on a big left hand.
Raak has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Raak changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Raak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raak throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Raak will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raak ducks under a wild hook from Goins.
Raak ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice body punch from Raak.
A telegraphed right hand from Raak misses the target.
Goins throws a series of punches but Raak moves out of range.
Goins uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Raak.
Raak throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A leg kick checked by Raak.
Raak lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Goins fails with the takedown
and Raak counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goins misses with a hook
and Raak cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Raak sizes up Goins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goins ducks under a wild hook from Raak.
Goins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Raak in his tracks.
A punch combination from Goins misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Raak misses the target.
Raak scores with a nice strike.
Raak throws a big shot that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Goins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Goins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Goins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raak throws a right hand that Goins ducks under and follows up with a left that Goins also avoids with ease.
Raak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Goins throws a low kick, looking for Raak's leg but Raak calmly moves out of range.
Raak fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Goins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Raak bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Goins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Goins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raak with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Raak lands with a cross.
The fighters circling - Goins throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Raak is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Goins with a body shot.
Raak lands a glancing blow to the side of Goins's head.
Goins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raak doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Raak digs a good body shot into Goins's ribs.
Raak throws a poor cross that misses
and Goins counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Goins just misses with a punch to the body.
Raak misses the shot to the body.
Goins falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Raak to counter with a crisp jab.
Hjalmar Raak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raak misses with a looping left.
Raak throws a body shot but no joy.
Good shot there by Raak.
Raak scores with the left hand. Goins knows he should have avoided that one.
Raak misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Goins counters with a straight right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Raak.
Raak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raak blocks a leg kick.
Raak is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Goins had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Nice uppercut lands for Raak. That snapped Goins's head back.
Goins shoots in for a takedown but Raak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Raak lands with a good body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Goins takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Goins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Raak 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.

Goins takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Goins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Goins takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A shot to the liver by Goins. Beautiful body shot.
Goins loads up on a big right hand but Raak slips the punch.
Goins uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Raak.
Goins appears to be looking for a big counter.
Goins throws a lazy right hand but Raak sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A slow jab from Goins misses its intended target.
Raak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Goins moves forwards but Raak connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hjalmar Raak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goins takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Goins might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Goins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Raak.
Goins is looking to counter the offense by Raak and move into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raak looks to score with a jab to the body but Goins is just out of range.
Goins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Raak just misses with a punch to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Raak there.
Goins tries to move into range but Raak moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Goins tries to clinch there but Raak circles away.
Raak let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Raak scores with a sloppy right hand. Goins should have avoided that one.
Goins looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Raak connects with a jab.
Goins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raak.
Goins looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Goins tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Raak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Goins throws the left hand but Raak avoids the punch easily.
Raak lands with a nice body punch.
Raak swings for the body but Goins moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raak's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Raak duly obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Goins.
Goins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raak scores with a jab to the body.
Goins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Raak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Goins throws a hook but Raak avoids it easily.
Goins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Raak catches Goins with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Raak lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Raak with a jab.
Raak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Goins drives through and clinches with Raak against the cage.

Goins breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raak scores with a nice head shot.
Goins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Goins scores with a decent looking hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Raak as he connects with a hook.
Raak throws a series of punches but Goins moves out of range.
Raak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Goins throws out the jab.
Goins scores with a jab. Raak acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raak. Goins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hjalmar Raak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raak lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Goins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raak.
Goins listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Goins throws a body shot but no joy.
Raak ducks under a wild hook from Goins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Goins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raak ducks under a wild hook from Goins.
Raak lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Goins on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Raak swings for the body but Goins moves out of range.
Goins swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Raak avoids the body shot from Goins.
Raak tests Goins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Raak connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Raak scores with the left hand. Goins knows he should have avoided that one.
Goins takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Raak lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Raak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Raak lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Raak takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Raak scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raak. Goins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Goins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raak but Raak pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raak lands with an overhand left.
Raak connects with a good right hand that stumbles Goins. Goins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Goins blocks a jab.
Goins slips a jab and a cross from Raak.
Raak scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from Raak.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goins takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raak stalks Goins and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Goins's face. Goins staggers backwards, shaken.
Raak throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Goins counters with a stiff right hand.
Goins wants to land a leg kick but Raak is out of range.
Goins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Goins slips a straight right by Raak.
Raak lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Goins fails with the takedown.
Goins slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Raak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good shot there by Raak.
Raak circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goins with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Raak to score with a decent uppercut.
Raak lands a jab to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Goins at a distance.
Raak getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Goins staying out of range there.
Nice cross by Raak.
Raak lands a right hook to the body.
Raak uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Goins has time to react.
Goins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raak lands with a shot to the body.
Goins on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Raak throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Raak tries to bum rush Goins with a series of wild strikes but Goins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raak throws a right hand that Goins ducks under and follows up with a left that Goins also avoids with ease.
A quick step to the side and Goins tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Goins misses with a few strikes there.
Raak lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Raak misses the jab.
A jab from Raak finds it's way through Goins's defenses.
Raak cracks Goins with an open hand slap.
Raak lunges at Goins with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Goins's hand.
Raak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Goins moves away.
Goins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raak.
Goins takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hjalmar Raak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raak swings for the body but Goins moves out of range.
Goins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Raak's corner calls for a 1-2. Raak obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raak misses with an uppercut.
Raak connects with a body shot that sends Goins's belly button to the back.
Goins takes one on the button.
Goins avoids the body shot from Raak.
Goins fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Goins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raak goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Goins clobbers Raak with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rich Goins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Goins misses with a hook. Raak ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hjalmar Raak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Raak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hjalmar Raak!
After winning the bout, Hjalmar Raak thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.