PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Veikko Rastila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kinfe Kidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rastila comes to the cage accompanied by One Hit. Kidane has chosen Buraka Som Sistema - Kalemba (wegue wegue) as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rastila
vs
Kidane

209 cm
24
285 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

196 cm
24
261 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veikko Rastila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kinfe Kidane!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rastila misses with the combination.
Kidane blocks a head kick by Rastila.
Rastila lands the left hand.

Kidane clinches up against the cage.
Kidane tries a body shot but Rastila blocks it.
Kidane lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Veikko Rastila has been cut.
Kidane keeps control of Rastila as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rastila wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rastila is trying to push Kidane away but Kidane has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Rastila manages to break the clinch.
Kidane throws a series of punches but Rastila moves out of range.
Kidane throws a front kick aimed at Rastila's knee but Rastila avoids it well.
Rastila throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rastila wants to land a leg kick but Kidane is out of range.
Kidane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kidane misses with a looping left.
Kidane fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rastila throws a head kick that misses

and Kidane counters by clinching up.
Kidane lands a body punch.
Kidane tries to work over Rastila's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rastila is looking to break free of the clinch but Kidane has double underhooks.

Rastila breaks from the clinch.
Rastila throws the left hand but Kidane avoids the punch easily.
Rastila checks the leg kick.
Rastila buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kidane tries to clinch but Rastila is having none of it.
Kidane throws a combination that misses
and Rastila counters with a big head kick but Kidane shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kidane fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rastila, pushing him back against the cage.
Rastila wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kidane has him pressed against the cage.
Rastila is trying to push Kidane away but Kidane has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kidane has Rastila pressed against the cage, preventing Rastila from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rastila is trying to force a seperation but Kidane has the dominant position.
Kidane misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rastila.
Kidane working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rastila.
Kidane misses with a knee strike.
Rastila tries to circle away but Kidane has him pinned against the cage.
Kidane tries a body shot but Rastila blocks it.
Kidane lands with a short shot to the head.

Rastila breaks from the clinch.
Kidane looks to score with a jab to the body but Rastila is just out of range.
Rastila uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kidane.
Rastila throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some wild striking there from Rastila.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kidane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kidane staying out of range there.
Veikko Rastila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rastila scores with a sloppy right hand. Kidane should have avoided that one.
A punch combination from Kidane misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidane lands a right hook to the body.
Kidane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kidane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A swing and a miss from Kidane.
Kidane doesn't manage to clinch there - Rastila circles away.
A low kick from Rastila misses
and Rastila takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kidane throws a nice looking combination but Rastila bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kidane tries to clinch up but Rastila circles away and keeps his distance.
Kidane throws a leg kick but Rastila sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rastila throws a right and a left that Kidane avoids nicely.
Rastila motions for Kidane to come forward. Rastila throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kidane doesn't manage to clinch there - Rastila circles away.
Kidane throws a looping overhand right but Rastila ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rastila wants to slow Kidane down by chopping away at his legs.
Rastila throws the kick towards the body but Kidane avoids it.
Kidane throws a wild body kick that Rastila sees coming a mile off.
Rastila throws a series of punches but Kidane avoids them all with ease.
Rastila looks to throw the jab but Kidane is out of range.
Kidane tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rastila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kidane dodges the punch combination from Rastila.
Kidane takes a swing at Rastila's ribcage but misses.
Kidane dodges the punch combination from Rastila.
Kidane connects with a body shot.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rastila lunges at Kidane with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kidane's hand.
Kidane takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kidane throws a body punch but Rastila moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kinfe Kidane will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Veikko Rastila's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rastila tries to bum rush Kidane with a series of wild strikes but Kidane uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rastila scores with a punch to the head.
Kidane blocks a jab.
Kidane gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kidane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rastila tries to land a leg kick but Kidane saw it coming and moves away.
Rastila throws an overhand right that lands on Kidane's shoulder, as Kidane tries to avoid the shot.
Rastila is looking to slow Kidane down with leg kicks.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kidane, as that shot connected.
A left lands for Rastila.
Rastila cracks Kidane with a right hand to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rastila thuds his shin into the meat of Kidane's side.
Kidane checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kidane wants to clinch.
Kidane staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kidane gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rastila tries to break free but Kidane pushes him back against the cage.
Rastila can't break the clinch.

Rastila's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rastila pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rastila swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rastila scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A jab from Rastila misses.
Kidane blocks a head kick by Rastila.
Kidane tries to clinch up.
Kidane slips under a jab from Rastila.
Rastila uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kidane.
Kidane is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rastila rather than just go for the knockout.
Rastila swats away the attempt to clinch by Kidane.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rastila throws a lazy right hand but Kidane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rastila throws a leg kick but Kidane checks it.
Kidane blocks a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rastila.
Rastila misses with a straight right.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kidane bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kidane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kidane scores with a nice body kick.
Kidane walks into a jab.
Kidane thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rastila loads up on a big right hand but Kidane slips the punch.
Kidane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rastila moves out of range of the strikes.
Rastila connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kidane momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kidane.
Veikko Rastila is winning the standup battle so far.
Kidane bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kidane tries to clinch up but Rastila circles away and keeps his distance.
Rastila throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rastila swings for the body but Kidane moves out of range.
Rastila attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rastila is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A low kick from Rastila is predictable there
and Kidane counters with a low kick, right behind Rastila 's knee.
Kidane slips under a jab.
Kidane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kidane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rastila.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kidane pushes Rastila up against the cage in a clinch.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rastila's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rastila misses with the combination.
Good exchange - Kidane coming out on top.
Rastila looks to land a combination but Kidane avoids it well.
Kidane doesn't manage to clinch there - Rastila circles away.
Rastila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kidane.
Kidane tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rastila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rastila throws a jab but it's blocked by Kidane.
A low kick from Rastila misses
and Kidane counters with a stiff right hand.
Rastila looks to throw the jab but Kidane is out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kidane avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rastila keeps the fight on the outside.
Rastila scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
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 Veikko Rastila will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Veikko Rastila's cut.
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.

Kidane lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kidane.
Kidane is looking to clinch.
A combination from Rastila does no damage.
Donk. Rastila catches Kidane right on the button with a cross.
Rastila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kidane moves away.

Kidane takes the fight into the clinch.
Rastila blocks a body shot from Kidane.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Rastila blocks with his arms.
Kidane tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kidane misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kidane missing with knees to the body.
Kidane misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rastila has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kidane goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rastila tries to break free but Kidane pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kidane missing with knees to the body.
Kidane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kidane swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Rastila blocks with his arms.
Kidane misses with a knee strike.
Kinfe Kidane seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rastila is trying to break the clinch but Kidane has him pressed against the cage.
Kidane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rastila's elbow.
Kidane is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rastila is defending well for now.
Kidane tries to work over Rastila's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Rastila breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rastila pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kidane throws an overhand right that lands on Rastila's shoulder, as Rastila tries to avoid the shot.
Kidane chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rastila can pounce on him.
Kidane tries to clinch but Rastila is having none of it.
Rastila keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kidane.
Rastila finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rastila swats away the attempt to clinch by Kidane.
Rastila throws a right hand that misses
and Kidane counters with an outside leg kick.
Rastila throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rastila moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kidane connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kidane wants to clinch up but Rastila keeps it at a distance.
Rastila comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rastila is looking to slow Kidane down with leg kicks.
Rastila misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rastila.
Rastila throws a leg kick but Kidane moved away.

Kidane rushes Rastila and presses him up against the cage.

Rastila manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rastila looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rastila misses with a hook. Kidane ducked under it nicely.

Kidane takes the fight into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Kidane.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kidane throws a punch but it's blocked by Rastila.
Kidane misses with a knee to the head.
Kidane keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rastila's efforts to push away.
Kidane's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Rastila blocks with his arms.
Kidane tries a knee to the head but Rastila blocks it.
Kidane prevents Rastila from breaking the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in the clinch, Kidane scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kidane cracks Rastila with a nice body shot.
Rastila takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidane can't find room to land a body shot as Rastila controls the action.
Kidane tries to throw a body punch but Rastila avoids it by throwing Kidane back against the cage.
Rastila is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kidane connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rastila's face.
Kidane stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kidane lands with a left to the head.
Kidane keeps control of Rastila as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rastila can't break the clinch.
Kidane throws a punch but it's blocked by Rastila.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kidane.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Rastila blocks with his arms.
Rastila has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rastila is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rastila's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kidane with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rastila wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kinfe Kidane really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Veikko Rastila'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.

Rastila swats away the attempt to clinch by Kidane.
Kidane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kidane tries to clinch up.

Kidane clinches.
Kidane throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rastila blocks it with crossed arms.
Rastila is trying to break free.
Rastila tries to break free but Kidane pushes him back against the cage.

Rastila manages to break the clinch.
Kidane is looking to clinch but Rastila is avoiding it.
Rastila lands a jab.
Kidane wants to clinch.
The fighters circling - Rastila throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Rastila misses.
Kidane tries to close the distance and clinch but Rastila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kidane keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kidane avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rastila misses the shot to the body.
Kidane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rastila.
Rastila tries to land a leg kick but Kidane saw it coming and moves away.
Kidane is looking to clinch but Rastila is avoiding it.
Rastila misses with a looping right.
A jab from Kidane misses.
Rastila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Kidane to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidane swings for the body but Rastila moves out of range.
Kidane blocks a jab.
Rastila fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kidane has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kidane walks into a straight right hand from Rastila.
Rastila connects with the punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kidane thuds his right hand into Rastila's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kidane swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rastila.
Rastila uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kidane.
Kidane tries to clinch up.
Kidane looks to land a body kick but Rastila moved away.
Rastila throws a head kick that misses
and Kidane connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kidane slips a jab and a cross from Rastila.
Rastila sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Kidane gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidane misses with the head strike.
Rastila blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rastila.
Rastila looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kidane using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rastila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rastila takes a knee right on the jaw!

Rastila escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rastila throws a looping overhand right but Kidane ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rastila. Kidane does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kidane closes the distance and pushes Rastila back into the cage.

Rastila breaks from the clinch.
Rastila misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Kidane.
Rastila on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidane misses with a head kick.
Rastila moves out of range of the body kick.
Rastila misses with a left hand
and Kidane counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kidane misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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!
Kidane uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rastila.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kidane. That's going to slow Rastila down.
Rastila takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rastila throws a body kick that misses.
Kidane throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kidane cracks Rastila with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rastila keeps the fight on the outside.
Rastila blocks the body kick.
Kidane ducks under a wild hook from Rastila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kinfe Kidane dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Veikko Rastila's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Rastila swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Kidane blocks the leg kick.
Rastila misses with a leg kick.
Rastila throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kidane takes one to the side of the head.
Rastila thows a body shot but no joy.
Kidane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rastila.
Kidane looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rastila throws a right and a left that Kidane avoids nicely.
Kidane uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rastila throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rastila throws an overhand right that lands on Kidane's shoulder, as Kidane tries to avoid the shot.
Kidane throws out a loose jab but Rastila uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rastila misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rastila attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rastila lands the left hand.
Kidane tries to clinch but Rastila is having none of it.
Rastila tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kidane tries to clinch up.

Kidane has managed to clinch.
Rastila is looking to break free of the clinch but Kidane has double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kidane.
Rastila has had enough of the clinch but Kidane keeps him there for the moment.
Rastila wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rastila's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rastila shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rastila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kidane moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kidane displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rastila throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidane doesn't manage to clinch there - Rastila circles away.
Kidane throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kidane takes a swing at Rastila's ribcage but misses.
Kidane throws a right hand that Rastila ducks under and follows up with a left that Rastila also avoids with ease.
Rastila lands a right hook to the body.
Kidane looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kidane moves out of range as Rastila strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kidane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rastila.
Rastila swats away the attempt to clinch by Kidane.
Kidane misses the shot to the body.
Rastila lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidane takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rastila throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kidane tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rastila swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kidane takes one to the chin there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rastila, right into the meat.
A big right from Rastila misses.
Kidane tries to clinch up but Rastila circles away and keeps his distance.
Rastila circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kidane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kidane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kidane on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rastila throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rastila digs a good hook to Kidane's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rastila throws a head kick that misses.
Rastila jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kidane feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rastila's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rastila just misses with a punch to the body.
Rastila tried to score with a low kick but Kidane checks it.
Rastila moves out of range of the body kick from Kidane.

Kidane closes the distance and pushes Rastila back into the cage.
Veikko Rastila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rastila is trying to push Kidane away but Kidane has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rastila wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kinfe Kidane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kidane lands a knee to the head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kidane using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rastila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kidane cracks Rastila with a nice body shot.
A short right from Kidane on the inside.
A short right from Kidane.

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 Veikko Rastila.
I think Kidane 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 48:48
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 48:48
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 47:49

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Veikko Rastila retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!