PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mesha Raj (ranked 2749 p4p, 3059 weight class) and R Truth (ranked 271 p4p, 303 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Raj
vs
Truth

178 cm
23
146
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
155
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

BE Younick

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mesha Raj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, R Truth!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Truth throws an off balance right hand
and Raj counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Truth dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Truth throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Raj sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Truth misses with an uppercut

and Raj counters with a single leg into guard. Truth didn't expect that.
Raj is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Raj works over Truth with some ground and pound from guard.
Truth is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raj throws a big elbow that misses.
Raj is looking to work some ground and pound but Truth has wrist control.
Raj scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raj loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raj prevents Truth from getting back to his feet.
Raj has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raj slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Truth utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Raj is standing up over Truth. Truth looks to escape but Raj dives into side control.
The referee asks Raj politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Raj prefers to stall for the moment though.
Raj trying to control the action but Truth is working from the bottom.
Raj working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raj is working Truth over with some ground and pound from side control.
Truth is not content to let Raj control the position.
The referee asks Raj politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Raj prefers to stall for the moment though.
Raj seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Truth for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raj working the ground and pound but Truth is defending the strikes.
Raj lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Truth down.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Truth can do anything to dispel that myth.
Raj lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Truth is not content to let Raj control the position.
Raj just content to control the position.
Raj working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Raj is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Raj working away.
Truth dodges the ground and pound from Raj.
Raj working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Raj working the ground and pound.
Truth really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raj. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Raj controlling from side mount.
Truth is working to avoid the ground and pound but Raj connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Truth parries the strikes from Raj easily there. Raj is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Truth to escape.
Raj wants to control but Truth is keeping him busy.
Truth tries to bench press Raj off him but Raj keeps the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mesha Raj dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Raj.
Truth misses with an uppercut

and Raj decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Truth's guard.
Raj landing with the ground and pound.
Raj connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raj accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Truth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Raj is in close to Truth's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Raj won't allow Truth to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raj is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Raj is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Truth has momentary wrist control but Raj slips an elbow through the middle.
Truth pulls Raj in close to prevent any damage.
Truth trying to keep a closed guard but Raj is proving a slippery customer.
Raj distracts Truth with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Raj working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Truth's head.
Raj loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mesha Raj overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raj throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raj trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raj trying to control the position from guard on top but Truth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raj slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raj is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Truth on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Raj controlling the action here.
Raj looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Raj is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Truth can do to turn this around?

Raj has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Truth defend it? Raj steps over the head and cranks it - Truth is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Raj!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mesha Raj!
An out of breath and clearly excited Mesha Raj thanked BE Younick for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).