PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Trafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldo Raine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo Raine has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Trafford
vs
Raine

224 cm
25
299 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

205 cm
26
275 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rob Trafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aldo Raine!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raine takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Raine looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Trafford throws a head kick but Raine moves out of range.
Raine wants to clinch up but Trafford keeps it at a distance.
Raine is looking to clinch.
Raine moves in looking to clinch but Trafford pushes him off.

Trafford closes the distance and clinches.
Trafford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Trafford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trafford tries to stall but Raine uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Trafford tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raine just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raine tries a knee to the head but Trafford blocks it.
Raine gets underhooks to prevent Trafford's takedown attempt.
Trafford is working Raine over against the cage.
Trafford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Raine is defending well for now.
Trafford comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Raine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Trafford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Trafford wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Trafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trafford has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raine avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Trafford wants to get back to striking at distance but Raine won't allow it.

Trafford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Trafford clinches with his opponent.
Trafford has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Raine is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raine stops a takedown attempt from Trafford.
Trafford lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Trafford wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stalling in the clinch from Trafford.
Trafford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Trafford fails to pull guard.
Raine misses with a knee strike.
Trafford jumps guard but Raine stands there with Trafford around his waist. Trafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Trafford comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Raine taking a breather.
Trafford looking to slow down the pace here.
Trafford lands an uppercut.
Trafford tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Raine managing to block the knees to the body from Trafford.
Trafford tries to land knees in the clinch but Raine avoids the damage to the body.
Trafford jumps guard but Raine stands there with Trafford around his waist. Trafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Trafford pulls guard.
Trafford 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.

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.
Raine wants to stand but Trafford has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Trafford 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.
Raine postures up.
Trafford thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Trafford trying to control the position.
Raine has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Trafford is proving hard to escape from.
Trafford will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Raine wants to get up but he can't break Trafford's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trafford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raine is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Trafford trying to keep a closed guard but Raine is proving a slippery customer.

Rob Trafford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Raine takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Trafford connects with the punch.
Trafford looks for a takedown but Raine sprawls well.

Trafford closes the distance and clinches.
Trafford jumps guard but Raine stands there with Trafford around his waist. Trafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Trafford tries to land knees in the clinch but Raine avoids the damage to the body.
Trafford scores with a knee to the head.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Raine looking to throw knees to the head but Trafford is blocking nicely.
Raine stops a takedown attempt from Trafford.
Trafford looking to stall.
Trafford fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trafford comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Raine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but Trafford blocks with his arms.
Trafford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Trafford jumps guard but Raine stands there with Trafford around his waist. Trafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Trafford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Trafford tries for a takedown but Raine manages to get underhooks.
Trafford tries a knee to the head but Raine blocks it.
Raine takes an elbow to the temple.
Trafford missing with knees to the body.
Raine will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Trafford up against the cage.

Trafford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raine slaps away a takedown attempt from Trafford, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Raine closes the distance and pushes Trafford back into the cage.
Trafford is struggling to control the position.
Trafford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Trafford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raine tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Trafford counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Raine is lucky that one didn't land flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Trafford dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Trafford's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Raine wants to clinch up but Trafford keeps it at a distance.
Trafford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Trafford throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Raine.

Trafford closes the distance and clinches.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Raine is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Trafford wants to stall.
Trafford changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raine fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Trafford closes the distance and clinches.
Trafford looking for a takedown.
Raine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Raine misses with a knee to the head.
Trafford jumps guard but Raine stands there with Trafford around his waist. Trafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Trafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raine gets underhooks to prevent Trafford's takedown attempt.
Trafford jumps guard but Raine stands there with Trafford around his waist. Trafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Trafford avoiding damage as Raine throws knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Trafford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trafford lands with a nice body kick.

Trafford gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Raine gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Trafford.
Trafford swings wildly with an uppercut but Raine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trafford lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Trafford tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Trafford will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Raine up against the cage.
Trafford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Trafford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Trafford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A left hand lands to the body for Trafford.
Trafford wants to break free but Raine has control.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trafford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Raine backwards.
Trafford misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Raine.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Trafford.
Nice elbow from Trafford.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but Trafford blocks with his arms.
Trafford wants a takedown but no success here.
Raine takes an elbow to the forehead.
Trafford trying to land knees to the body.
Trafford tries to break the clinch but Raine is controlling the position.
Trafford is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raine throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Trafford blocks it with crossed arms.
Trafford is looking to control Raine's arms but Raine gets an underhook and turns him. Now Trafford has his back to the cage.
Raine tries a knee to the head but Trafford blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Raine throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Trafford blocks it with crossed arms.
Trafford lands a right hand.
Knees in the clinch landing for Trafford.
Trafford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Trafford changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raine fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raine stuffs the takedown attempt from Trafford. Trafford gets slowly back to his feet.
Trafford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raine is looking to clinch.
Trafford lands a high kick!
Raine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Trafford tries to clinch but Raine is having none of it.
Trafford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Raine circles away.
Raine is looking to clinch.

Trafford moves into range and clinches up with Raine.
Trafford changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raine fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Aldo Raine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Raine pushes Trafford up against the cage in a clinch.
Trafford stalling in the clinch but Raine improves position.
Trafford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raine is trying to maintain a safe position but Trafford gets an underhook and turns Raine into the cage.
Raine tries a knee to the head but Trafford blocks it.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Trafford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trafford fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but Trafford blocks with his arms.
Trafford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Raine is defending well for now.
Trafford softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Trafford tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Raine avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raine gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Trafford.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Trafford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Trafford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trafford looking to slow down the pace here.
Trafford tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Trafford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Raine smiles and moves away.
Horrible takedown by Trafford or perhaps it was just good defense by Raine which made him look bad.
Trafford tries to clinch but Raine moves out of range.
Trafford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Trafford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raine looks to clinch
and Trafford counters with a head kick. That will keep Raine thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Raine gets a clinch.
Trafford tries to score a body lock takedown but Raine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Trafford tries to stall but Raine uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Raine tries a knee to the head but Trafford blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rob Trafford will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rob Trafford's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Raine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Trafford closes the distance and pushes Raine back into the cage.
Trafford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raine prevents a takedown attempt there.

Trafford breaks the clinch.
Raine is looking to clinch.
Raine takes a kick to the side of the head.
Trafford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Trafford keeps the fight on the outside.
Trafford circles away from the clinch attempt
and Trafford counters with a nice body kick.
Trafford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Trafford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Raine pinned against the cage. Raine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Trafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raine moves to clinch but Trafford breaks away

and Trafford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Trafford.
Trafford has Raine pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Raine manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Raine throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Trafford blocks it with crossed arms.
Trafford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Trafford is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trafford fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Trafford lands a hook that snaps the head of Raine backwards.
Trafford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Raine smiles and moves away.
Aldo Raine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Trafford keeps the fight on the outside.
Trafford fails with an attempt to clinch.

Trafford has Raine up against the cage in a clinch.
Trafford lands a nice uppercut.
Trafford has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raine avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Raine gets underhooks to prevent Trafford's takedown attempt.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice body punch from Trafford.
Raine slows down the pace here.
Raine is looking to control Trafford's arms but Trafford gets an underhook and turns him. Now Raine has his back to the cage.
Trafford tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.

Trafford breaks the clinch.
Trafford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Trafford pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raine darts in trying to clinch

and Trafford holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Trafford successfully pulls guard.

Raine gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Trafford clinches with his opponent.
Raine misses with a knee strike.
Trafford tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Raine gets underhooks to prevent Trafford's takedown attempt.
Raine leaning against his opponent.
Raine looking to throw knees to the head but Trafford is blocking nicely.
Raine prevents a takedown attempt there.
Trafford tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Trafford stalling in the clinch but Raine improves position.
Raine with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Trafford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raine misses with a knee to the head.
Raine throws a knee to the head but misses.
Trafford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Raine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raine wants to stall.
Trafford is working for takedown but Raine is calmly controlling the position for now.
Raine misses with a knee to the head.
Raine looking to stall.
Raine keeps control of Trafford as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Trafford goes for a takedown in the clinch but Raine prevents it.
Raine blocks an elbow strike from Trafford.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Raine looking to throw knees to the head but Trafford is blocking nicely.
Trafford misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Raine.
Raine stops a takedown attempt from Trafford.
Raine looking to throw knees to the head but Trafford is blocking nicely.
Raine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Raine looking to throw knees to the head but Trafford is blocking nicely.
Trafford blocks an elbow strike from Raine.
Knees in the clinch landing for Trafford.
Trafford tries to break the clinch but Raine is controlling the position.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Trafford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Trafford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Raine tries a knee to the head but Trafford blocks it.
Knees to the body from Raine.
Raine throws a knee to the head but misses.
Raine on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Raine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trafford's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Trafford pushes off an throws an elbow but Raine leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Raine looking to throw knees to the head but Trafford is blocking nicely.
Raine managing to block the knees to the body from Trafford.
Trafford looking for a takedown.
Trafford looking to slow down the pace here.
Raine throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Trafford blocks it with crossed arms.
Raine misses with a knee strike.
Trafford lands a body punch in the clinch.
Raine throws a knee to the head but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Trafford.
Trafford goes for a takedown in the clinch but Raine prevents it.
Aldo Raine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob Trafford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Trafford is trying to force a seperation but Raine has the dominant position.

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 Rob Trafford.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Trafford, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rob Trafford!