PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Hannigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Raith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hannigan's entrance music is TobyMac - Showstopper. A fine choice. Thomas Raith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ronnie Hannigan's chin.

Hannigan
vs
Raith

188 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
28
175 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ronnie Hannigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hannigan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hannigan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hannigan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nice takedown defense from Hannigan. No joy for Raith on that attempt.
Raith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A big right from Hannigan misses.
Thomas Raith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Raith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hannigan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raith moves in looking to clinch but Hannigan pushes him off.
Raith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hannigan swivels and escapes.
Ronnie Hannigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.
Hannigan misses with a hook. Raith ducked under it nicely.
Raith moves away from the strike by Hannigan.
A slow jab from Hannigan misses its intended target.
Raith fails with a takedown attempt.
Raith slips under a jab from Hannigan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Hannigan.
Hannigan stuffs the takedown attempt from Raith. Raith gets slowly back to his feet.
Raith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hannigan lands a lovely overhand right.
Hannigan throws a right hand that misses

and Raith counters with a takedown into side control.
Raith taking a breather here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Raith stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Raith dives in and grabs Hannigan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hannigan pushes down on Raith's head and hops out.
Raith takes one on the button.

Hannigan cracks Raith with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Hannigan has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Raith to stand back up!

Raith is rocked!

It looks like Thomas Raith has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raith rushes Hannigan and presses him up against the cage.
Raith is still on wobbly legs! Can Hannigan finish him?
Hannigan wants to get back to striking at distance but Raith won't allow it.
Raith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hannigan's efforts to push away.
Hannigan avoids a wild elbow strike from Raith.
Raith seems to have recovered his senses.
Raith prevents Hannigan from breaking the clinch.
Raith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hannigan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raith has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Hannigan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hannigan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hannigan working aggressively here.
Hannigan wants to break free but Raith has control.
Hannigan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannigan is pressed up against the cage. Raith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hannigan down to the mat. Hannigan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hannigan is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Raith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hannigan.
A telegraphed right hand from Hannigan misses the target.
Hannigan swings widly with a right hand

and Raith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hannigan managing to control the position.
Raith won't allow Hannigan to get back to his feet.
Hannigan keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.
Hannigan wants to stand and escape but Raith is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raith tries to free his leg and advance position but Hannigan is retaining full guard.
Raith controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Thomas Raith wasn't active enough on the ground.
Raith looks for a takedown but Hannigan sprawls well.
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!
Hannigan jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hannigan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Raith looks gassed!
Hannigan with a jab.
Raith slips under a jab from Hannigan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hannigan connects with the punch.
Hannigan misses with a two punch combination.
Hannigan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hannigan dips to his left and cracks Raith with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Hannigan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Raith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hannigan misses the jab.
Hannigan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Raith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hannigan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hannigan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hannigan keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.
Raith advances position into side control!

Raith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hannigan has escaped the position, nice work there.
Raith is looking to take a break and control but Hannigan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith prevents Hannigan from escaping the position.

Raith goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hannigan has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Raith but great work by Hannigan.
Hannigan wants to stand but Raith has his arm trapped.
Raith managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hannigan.
Hannigan tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hannigan controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raith is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hannigan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Hannigan stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Raith to get to his feet.
Hannigan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hannigan's waist but Hannigan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Raith off to one side.
Hannigan throws a hook but Raith avoids it easily.
Raith fails to land the takedown.
Raith is breathing heavily.
Raith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hannigan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hannigan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannigan with a nice cross.
Hannigan scores with a jab. Raith acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Raith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hannigan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hannigan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hannigan misses with a straight right.
Hannigan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Hannigan misses its intended target.
Hannigan throws a big shot that misses.
A combination from Hannigan does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Hannigan.
Raith staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raith closes the distance and clinches up with Hannigan, looking for a takedown. Raith pushes Hannigan against the cage but Hannigan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ronnie Hannigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.
Raith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hannigan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raith moves away.
Hannigan throws a jab when Raith was well out of range.
Hannigan misses with a left hand

so Raith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Raith forces his way into half guard.

Raith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hannigan pushes Raith off looking to stand but Raith dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Hannigan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Raith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hannigan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Raith tries to clinch but Hannigan moves out of range.
Raith blocks a jab.
Raith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hannigan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hannigan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raith.
Hannigan's corner calls for a 1-2. Hannigan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Raith shoots in looking for a takedown but Hannigan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Raith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hannigan digs a good hook to Raith's body.
Raith needs to keep his hands up - Hannigan had a free shot at his head there.
Hannigan works over Raith's head and body with a nice combination.
Hannigan cracks Raith with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Raith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hannigan lands a big uppercut and Raith crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Raith looks OK. Hannigan waves Raith back to his feet!
Raith slips under a jab.
Hannigan drops Raith with a huge uppercut! Raith drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Hannigan is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ronnie Hannigan!
Our winner, Ronnie Hannigan, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.