PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between ariel aranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JT Rain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ariel aranda had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

aranda
vs
Rain

205 cm
21
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, ariel aranda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, JT Rain!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
aranda shoots for a takedown but Rain saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
aranda fails with the takedown.
aranda is looking to clinch.
Rain fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rain scores with a takedown into aranda's guard.

aranda working for a triangle but Rain defends it easily.

aranda looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rain has picked aranda up and slammed him! aranda can't keep hold of the triangle and Rain manages to pass to side control!
Rain trying to control the action but aranda is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on aranda's face as Rain controls the position.
aranda wants to control but Rain postures up.
An elbow from Rain crashes against the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rain wants to take a breather but aranda manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rain.
Rain content to stall in guard here.

Rain gets to his feet - aranda follows without any prompting.
Rain thuds a left hand into aranda's body.
Rain fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
aranda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rain closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming aranda to the mat! aranda manages to get full guard.
aranda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rain stays in close to aranda's body and controls the position.
aranda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rain is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
aranda wants to sweep here but Rain controlling him for the moment.
aranda is breathing heavily.
Rain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rain wants to pass the guard but aranda is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rain accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rain wants to control from the top but aranda keeps moving.
aranda looking for a sweep. Not yet aranda, not yet.
Rain has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rain works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Rain is trying to work for a kimura but aranda is defending well.
aranda is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rain is keen to just control but aranda is a slippery customer.
Rain might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control aranda kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rain thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rain connects with a nice short shot to aranda's temple.
aranda is refusing to be controlled, as Rain sits in half guard.
aranda wants to control but Rain is keeping busy.
aranda is pressing down on Rain's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rain is pushing down on aranda's leg trying to pass to half guard. aranda is fighting to maintain full guard but Rain has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Rain dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

aranda throws a looping overhand right but Rain ducks down to avoid it.
No joy there for Rain, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
aranda tries for a takedown but Rain circles away easily

and Rain decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in aranda's guard.
Rain wants to get up but he can't break aranda's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
aranda trying to keep a closed guard but Rain is proving a slippery customer.

aranda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rain gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
aranda looking for a sweep. Not yet aranda, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rain stands up and waves to aranda to follow him.
Rain misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
aranda misses with a takedown

and Rain counters with a nice double leg into side control. aranda won't be happy with that.
aranda takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Rain is putting a hurting on aranda here, landing some big shots from side control.

Rain decides to stand up, so the ref orders aranda to his feet.
Rain misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
aranda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rain counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for ariel aranda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rain scores with a three punch combo!

Rain looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain controlling from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rain postures up.
Rain trying to control the position from guard on top but aranda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
aranda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rain is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rain wants to control from the top but aranda keeps moving.
JT Rain has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rain lands a couple of digs.
Rain wants to control from the top but aranda keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
aranda looks to land a combination. Rain sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Rain moves into the clinch.

aranda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rain fails to land with a series of punches.

Rain looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rain advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
aranda throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
aranda is letting Rain control him for a moment.

Rain is trying to get an arm triangle but aranda is defending well.
aranda is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rain is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
aranda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rain's best efforts.
aranda is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rain scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Rain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rain lands a two punch combo.

Excellent takedown into side control there by aranda.
Rain sneaks back into half guard.
aranda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rain is trying to control but aranda passes into side control!
aranda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rain keeps working.

aranda decides to stand back up. aranda steps back and let's Rain get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

aranda gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rain to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
aranda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
aranda is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rain is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rain is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
aranda looking to control but Rain passes into half guard.

Rain gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Rain feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain preventing the sweep.
Rain chips away with some ground and pound.
Rain wants to control from the top but aranda keeps moving.
Rain controls from within his opponent's guard.
aranda is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rain stands up and waves to aranda to follow him.
Rain shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has aranda pinned against the cage. aranda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
JT Rain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rain tries for a takedown but aranda circles away easily

so aranda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rain throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
aranda wants to control from the top but Rain keeps moving.
aranda stopping the sweep attempt from Rain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
aranda trying to control but Rain is working from the bottom.
Rain manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rain avoids the attempt from aranda to control.
aranda is bucking up trying to escape but Rain cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to JT Rain.
Well Rain has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JT Rain!