PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keith Raw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Rudolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raw comes into the arena with DMX - X Gonna Give It To Ya blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Raw
vs
Rudolph

190 cm
21
219 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Raw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christian Rudolph!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raw lands a lovely overhand right.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raw checks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Raw throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rudolph throws a head kick but Raw moves out of range.
Raw swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Raw dives in and scores a takedown into Rudolph's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Raw pushing down on Rudolph's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rudolph is trying to maintain the position but Raw is very close to passing his half guard.
Rudolph is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Raw seems to be looking for submissions.
Rudolph wants to improve his position but Raw is controlling well.

Raw is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rudolph has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raw wants to work for an arm triangle but Rudolph is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Raw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rudolph keeps working.
Rudolph manages to get to full guard.
Rudolph controlling the position.
Raw with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rudolph is trying to keep Raw in close.
Rudolph is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Raw is pressing down on Rudolph's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rudolphis looking to pass into half guard but Raw pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Raw is in guard.

Raw is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Raw is pushing down on Rudolph's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rudolph is fighting to maintain full guard but Raw has managed to sneak the leg through.
Raw wants to control but Rudolph is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raw is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Raw is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rudolph sees it coming and defends easily.
Raw not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rudolph tries to roll over but Raw keeps him under control.
Raw sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rudolph defending well though.

Raw is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raw is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Raw is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rudolph really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raw. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Raw is trying to work for a kimura but Rudolph is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rudolph is trying to maintain the position but Raw is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Raw dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Raw throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Raw throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rudolph counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rudolph is trying to control the action in half guard but Raw is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Raw gets back to full guard.
Raw has momentary wrist control but Rudolph slips an elbow through the middle.
Rudolph looking to sit in guard and control but Raw gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Raw thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Raw is fighting to break Rudolph's control of his arms but Rudolph is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raw postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rudolph is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Raw, into his guard.

Raw kicks Rudolph off and gets to his feet.
Raw tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rudolph was well out of range. Poor timing from Raw.
Raw ducks under a wild hook from Rudolph.
Rudolph misses the jab.
Raw throws a hook to the side of Rudolph's head but Rudolph sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from Raw misses.
Rudolph tries to score a power double leg takedown but Raw sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rudolph somewhat.
Raw scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raw looks to land a combination. Rudolph sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Christian Rudolph has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Raw throws a looping overhand right but Rudolph ducks down to avoid it.
Raw shoots in but Rudolph avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rudolph throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rudolph slips under a jab.
Raw throws a solid leg kick but Rudolph takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Raw.
Raw shoots in looking for a takedown. Rudolph tries to sprawl out of it but Raw keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rudolph manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rudolph takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Keith Raw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raw is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rudolph's half guard.

Raw is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Raw looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Raw is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rudolph is just riding it out for now. Raw eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raw is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rudolph is just riding it out for now. Raw eventually gives up the hold.
Raw wants to take a breather but Rudolph is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Raw dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Christian Rudolph'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. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Raw.
Rudolph shoots for a double leg takedown but Raw sprawls well. He's pushed Rudolph's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Raw feints and as Rudolph raises his hands in defense, Raw changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Raw passes Rudolph's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Raw is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rudolph has managed to free his arm - good work.
Raw thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Raw is looking for a kimura here.

Raw is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raw is working for a kimura but Rudolph is defending it quite comfortably.
Raw missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Raw is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rudolph has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rudolph is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Raw's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Raw's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rudolph is striking from the back but Raw escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Rudolph controlling the action here.
Rudolph prevents Raw from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Raw actively working from the bottom here.
Raw on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Rudolph is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raw doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rudolph.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rudolph moves into full mount! Raw won't be happy about that!
Rudolph won't let Raw get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rudolph avoids the attempt from Raw to control.
Raw really wants to buck Rudolph off and get back to his feet.
Raw slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rudolph trying to advance position but Raw counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rudolph stands up over Raw, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Raw looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rudolph loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rudolph stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raw swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raw is looking to stand up but Rudolph isn't so interested in that idea.
Keith Raw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rudolph's guard.
Keith Raw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rudolph wants to improve his position but instead Raw has moved into half guard.
Rudolph is refusing to be controlled, as Raw sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Raw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raw has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Roberts scores the fight for Keith Raw!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Keith Raw!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Keith Raw!

Keith Raw wins by unanimous decision!
Keith Raw seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.