PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Rainey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Niemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raimo Niemi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rainey
vs
Niemi

189 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

169 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Chris Rainey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raimo Niemi!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niemi avoids the head kick by Rainey.
Niemi shoots in and drives through. Rainey sprawls well.
Rainey's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rainey duly obliges.
Niemi looks gassed!
A left and a right from Rainey both land. Nice combination.
Rainey misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rainey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rainey lands a jab-cross combination.
Niemi doesn't manage to clinch there - Rainey circles away.
Rainey misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Niemi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rainey has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Niemi punches Rainey on the ear.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rainey is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Niemi tightening his grip on Rainey, looking for the choke.

Rainey manages to escape to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rainey tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niemi shoots in for a takedown but Rainey shows good takedown defense.
Rainey throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Niemi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rainey throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Niemi throws a wild body kick that Rainey sees coming a mile off.
Niemi checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rainey tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Niemi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rainey!
Niemi looking to control but Rainey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Niemi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rainey wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rainey holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Niemi tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
BOOM! Niemi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niemi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Niemi unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Niemi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Rainey.
Rainey throws a combination. Niemi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rainey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chris Rainey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niemi misses with a kick to the body.
Niemi throws a sloppy head kick and Rainey moves out of range easily.

Niemi has closed the distance and engaged Rainey in a clinch.

Niemi gets control of Rainey's arms and successfully pulls guard. Niemi will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Niemi wants to stand but Rainey is controlling the position.
Raimo Niemi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rainey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Niemi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rainey has managed to get both his arms back between Niemi's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Niemi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rainey wants to stand but Niemi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Niemi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rainey wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Niemi jumps guard but Rainey turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Rainey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rainey lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Niemi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rainey swinging wildly here.
Rainey lands with an overhand left.
Rainey is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niemi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rainey throws a nice looking combination but Niemi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Niemi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Niemi blocks a leg kick.
Rainey lands a head shot.
Rainey pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Niemi back to the cage. Rainey follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Chris Rainey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rainey has managed to clinch.
Niemi tries to pull guard but Rainey forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Chris Rainey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raimo Niemi.

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

Niemi 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.
Rainey wants to get back to his feet but Niemi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rainey trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Niemi trying to control but Rainey is working from the bottom.
Rainey will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Raimo Niemi.
Niemi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rainey fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raimo Niemi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rainey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Niemi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Niemi moves in looking to clinch but Rainey pushes him off.

Rainey gets tackled into the cage by Niemi. Niemi maintains the clinch.
Niemi looking to slow down the pace here.
Rainey tries to break free but Niemi pushes him back against the cage.
Rainey being controlled against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rainey has closed the distance and engaged Niemi in a clinch.
Niemi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rainey tries to break the clinch but Niemi is controlling the position.
Rainey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niemi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rainey's efforts to push away.
Rainey gets underhooks to prevent Niemi's takedown attempt.
Rainey is trying to break the clinch but Niemi is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niemi looking for a takedown.
Chris Rainey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raimo Niemi.

Rainey breaks from the clinch.

Rainey closes the distance and clinches.
Niemi wants to get back to striking at distance but Rainey won't allow it.

Rainey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Rainey misses.

Rainey closes the distance and clinches.
Rainey is trying to push Niemi away but Niemi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Niemi tries to score a body lock takedown but Rainey shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Rainey's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rainey is trying to break the clinch but Niemi has him pressed against the cage.
Rainey can't break the clinch.
Rainey tries to pull guard but Niemi won't allow it.
The referee calls for Niemi to work.

Rainey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Niemi keeps the fight on the outside.
Rainey scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rainey throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Niemi.
Rainey throws a series of punches but Niemi avoids them all with ease.
Rainey lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rainey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Niemi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niemi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Niemi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rainey.
Rainey feints a jab promting Niemi to slip. Rainey then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Niemi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Rainey throws a series of punches but Niemi avoids them all with ease.
Nice straight punches there by Rainey. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rainey.
Rainey throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Chris Rainey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raimo Niemi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Niemi shoots for a double leg takedown but Rainey sprawls well. He's pushed Niemi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Rainey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Niemi 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Raimo Niemi!