PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antti Rannanjarvi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Z (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rannanjarvi comes into the arena with Stonehenge by Spinal Tap blaring out of the sound system. Z has chosen New York as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rannanjarvi
vs
Z

195 cm
32
169 lbs
28 - 8 - 0

177 cm
30
167 lbs
19 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

QFClothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Antti Rannanjarvi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Jay Z!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Z shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Z was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Z goes for an armbar but Rannanjarvi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Z keeping moving, preventing Rannanjarvi from controlling successfully.
Rannanjarvi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Z scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rannanjarvi misses with a head kick.
Rannanjarvi stuffs the takedown.
Rannanjarvi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice straight punches there by Z. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Z.
Z throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Z lands with an overhand left.
Rannanjarvi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Z lands the left hand.
Rannanjarvi throws a sloppy head kick and Z moves out of range easily.
Rannanjarvi cracks Z with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rannanjarvi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rannanjarvi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rannanjarvi wants it to stay on the feet.
Z looks to score with a jab to the body but Rannanjarvi is just out of range.
Z shoots in but no luck this time.
Antti Rannanjarvi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Z.
Rannanjarvi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rannanjarvi just misses with a punch to the body.
Z misses the jab.
Z closes the distance and clinches up with Rannanjarvi, looking for a takedown. Z pushes Rannanjarvi against the cage but Rannanjarvi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Z works the jab nicely.
Rannanjarvi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Z dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rannanjarvi throws a body punch but Z moves out of range.
Jay Z seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rannanjarvi throws a head kick but Z moves out of range.
Z keeps the fight on the outside.
Z moves out of range of the body kick from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi moves away from the strike by Z.
Z scores with a decent looking hook.
Z doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Z jabs at Rannanjarvi's body.

Z fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rannanjarvi to the ground. Z is now in Rannanjarvi's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Z trying to control the position from guard on top but Rannanjarvi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rannanjarvi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Z is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Z wants to pass the guard but Rannanjarvi is keeping the position.
Rannanjarvi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rannanjarvi pulls Z in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Antti Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rannanjarvi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rannanjarvi loads up on a big right hand but Z slips the punch.
Rannanjarvi connects with a right hand. Z shakes it off.
Z takes one to the chin there.
A combination from Rannanjarvi does no damage.
Z ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheers as Rannanjarvi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Z doesn't seem phased though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Z with a hook.
A punch combination from Rannanjarvi misses.
Z defending well as Rannanjarvi loads up on a big left hand.
Rannanjarvi throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Z dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rannanjarvi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rannanjarvi throws a low kick but Z moves out of range easily.
Nice straight punches there by Rannanjarvi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rannanjarvi.
Sloppy strikes from Z. Those never looked like landing.
Z uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rannanjarvi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rannanjarvi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Z throws out a loose jab but Rannanjarvi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Z lands with an overhand left.

Z shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rannanjarvi's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rannanjarvi is on top in guard.
Rannanjarvi looking to sit in guard and control but Z gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rannanjarvi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Z passes into half guard.
Z sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rannanjarvi defending well though.

Z is looking for a kimura here.
Z trying to pass the guard but Rannanjarvi defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Z is trying to control the action in half guard but Rannanjarvi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jay Z has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rannanjarvi is trying to maintain the position but Z is very close to passing his half guard.
Z tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rannanjarvi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Z scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Z thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rannanjarvi's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi is looking for a sweep. Z is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rannanjarvi wants to get back to full guard but Z has passed into side control.
Rannanjarvi dodges the ground and pound from Z.
Rannanjarvi is looking to regain half guard here but Z keeps moving and retains side control.
Rannanjarvi is letting Z control him for a moment.
Z is working Rannanjarvi over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rannanjarvi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Z's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi is looking to control Z's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rannanjarvi avoid being mounted?
Z prevents Rannanjarvi from improving his position.
Rannanjarvi moves into full guard.
Z looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rannanjarvi is trying to hold Z in close to prevent damage but Z has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Z showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A jab from Z does it's job there.
Z avoids the head kick by Rannanjarvi.
Nice jab there from Z.
Jay Z seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Z throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Z wants to clinch up but Rannanjarvi keeps it at a distance.
Z misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi misses with an uppercut.
Z shoots in but no luck this time.
Rannanjarvi connects with a crisp jab.
Z jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Z shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rannanjarvi as he jumps to the side.
Rannanjarvi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Z gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi gets back to full guard.
Z trying to control but Rannanjarvi is working from the bottom.
Z pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rannanjarvi is keeping the position for now.
Z trying to control the position from guard on top but Rannanjarvi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Antti Rannanjarvi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rannanjarvi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Z doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Z manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rannanjarvi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Z stopping the sweep attempt from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi keeping moving, preventing Z from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Z wants to pass the guard but Rannanjarvi is keeping the position.
Rannanjarvi keeping moving, preventing Z from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jay Z.
Rannanjarvi lands a lovely overhand right.
Rannanjarvi throws a leg kick but Z sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Z circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Z blocks a head kick by Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi slips under a jab.
Z scores with a jab.
Z moves out of range of the body kick.
Z throws a big shot that misses.

Z throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rannanjarvi was covering up waiting for the punch and Z finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rannanjarvi working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rannanjarvi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Z comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Z 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Z!
Jay Z seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.