PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Toni Rajamaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bransen Garibold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rajamaki might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Absolute Monster . Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rajamaki
vs
Garibold

176 cm
37
174 lbs
21 - 8 - 2

179 cm
26
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Divinity 160Q

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 21 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Toni Rajamaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bransen Garibold!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garibold lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rajamaki circles away quickly and effectively.
Rajamaki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Garibold.
Rajamaki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rajamaki wants to clinch up but Garibold keeps it at a distance.
Rajamaki wants to clinch but Garibold slips to the side

and Garibold holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rajamaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garibold has him pressed against the cage.
Rajamaki throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Garibold breaks the clinch.
Rajamaki looks to clinch

and Garibold counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Garibold.
Garibold stalling in the clinch.
Garibold looking to throw knees to the head but Rajamaki is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Rajamaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Knees to the body from Garibold.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rajamaki takes a knee to the side of the body.
Garibold controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garibold pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bransen Garibold is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garibold moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rajamaki moves in looking to clinch but Garibold pushes him off.
Bransen Garibold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Rajamaki.
Rajamaki moves in looking to clinch but Garibold pushes him off.
Garibold blocks a jab.
Rajamaki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rajamaki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Garibold. Garibold obviously looking to wear him down.
Garibold scores with a sloppy right hand. Rajamaki should have avoided that one.

Rajamaki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Garibold with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Garibold scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Toni Rajamaki has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rajamaki is trying to break the clinch but Garibold is controlling him.
Rajamaki can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garibold has him pressed against the cage.
Rajamaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Garibold with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Garibold.
Rajamaki tries to circle away but Garibold has him pinned against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Garibold - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rajamaki is trying to stall.
Garibold tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garibold misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rajamaki.
Garibold tries a body shot but Rajamaki blocks it.

Rajamaki manages to break the clinch.
That kick from Garibold tenderised Rajamaki's leg. Rajamaki is trying to keep his angry face on.

Garibold closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki avoiding damage as Garibold throws knees to the body.
Garibold displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rajamaki up against the cage.
Garibold is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rajamaki is defending well for now.
Garibold is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rajamaki is defending well for now.
Garibold tries to land knees in the clinch but Rajamaki avoids the damage to the body.
Garibold lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Garibold takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Bransen Garibold has been cut.
Garibold keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rajamaki's efforts to push away.
Rajamaki is trying to maintain a safe position but Garibold gets an underhook and turns Rajamaki into the cage.
Garibold connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rajamaki's face.
Garibold has Rajamaki pushed against the cage.
Garibold tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki is trying to push Garibold away but Garibold has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Garibold is pushing Rajamaki up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Garibold is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rajamaki is defending well for now.
Garibold tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rajamaki avoids it.
Garibold tries a knee to the head but Rajamaki blocks it.
Rajamaki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Garibold misses with a knee strike.
Rajamaki tries to land a knee to the head but Garibold blocks with his arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Garibold.
Garibold scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rajamaki as Garibold tries to tie him up.
Garibold lands an elbow just above Rajamaki 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bransen Garibold dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Garibold moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Garibold scores with the left hand. Rajamaki knows he should have avoided that one.

Garibold has Rajamaki up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Garibold.
Garibold's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Rajamaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Garibold, right into the meat.
Garibold pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Garibold thows a body shot but no joy.
Rajamaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rajamaki shoots in and bounces Garibold off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajamaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rajamaki looking to pass the guard.
Garibold is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rajamaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Garibold has wrist control.
Garibold avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki throwing strikes from guard but Garibold blocks nicely.
Rajamaki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rajamaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Garibold is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rajamaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garibold swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Garibold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rajamaki walks into a stiff left hand from Garibold.
Rajamaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garibold circles away.
Garibold blocks a head kick by Rajamaki.
Garibold throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Garibold lands a jab-cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Garibold, right into the meat.
Rajamaki is looking to clinch but Garibold is avoiding it.
Garibold misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rajamaki counters with a nice body shot.
Garibold dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Garibold throws a nice outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garibold ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rajamaki moves away.

Garibold clinches with his opponent.
Rajamaki stalling in the clinch but Garibold improves position.
Garibold lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Garibold.
Rajamaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Garibold.
Garibold will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rajamaki up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Garibold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rajamaki being controlled against the cage.
Rajamaki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Garibold is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bransen Garibold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Rajamaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Garibold tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Garibold scores with the left hand. Rajamaki knows he should have avoided that one.
Garibold lands a jab-cross combination.
Garibold lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rajamaki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rajamaki wants to clinch up but Garibold keeps it at a distance.
Garibold throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rajamaki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Garibold thinking.
Garibold fails to land with a series of punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Garibold lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Garibold misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rajamaki.
Rajamaki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Garibold takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajamaki avoiding damage as Garibold throws knees to the body.
Garibold blocks an elbow strike from Rajamaki.
Bransen Garibold seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rajamaki avoiding damage as Garibold throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rajamaki as Garibold tries to tie him up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Garibold has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garibold prevents Rajamaki from breaking the clinch.
Rajamaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Garibold avoids it.
Garibold using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rajamaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Garibold avoids the damage to the body.
Rajamaki pushes off an throws an elbow but Garibold leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Garibold struggles to land a body shot inside as Rajamaki controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki fails to pull guard.
Garibold stalling.
Rajamaki avoiding damage as Garibold throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rajamaki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Garibold's brow.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Garibold.
Rajamaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Garibold is defending well for now.
Garibold misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Garibold throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rajamakis head.
Rajamaki letting Garibold take a breather here.

Garibold breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garibold thumps Rajamaki with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rajamaki closes the distance and clinches up with Garibold, looking for a takedown. Rajamaki pushes Garibold against the cage but Garibold circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bransen Garibold seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Garibold clinches up with Rajamaki and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajamaki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Garibold to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toni Rajamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rajamaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Garibold has double underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Garibold landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garibold scores with a nice hook to the head.
Garibold lands a knee to the head.
Garibold stalling against the cage.
Garibold keeps control of Rajamaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Garibold missing with knees to the body.
Garibold lands a left hand.
Rajamaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rajamaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Garibold has double underhooks.
Garibold stalling.
Rajamaki tries to pull guard but Garibold won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garibold throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rajamaki tries to pull guard but Garibold holds him up against the cage and eventually Rajamaki drops back down to his feet.
Garibold lands a hook that snaps the head of Rajamaki backwards.
Rajamaki tries to circle away but Garibold has him pinned against the cage.
Rajamaki has had enough of the clinch but Garibold keeps him there for the moment.
Garibold tries to land a knee to the head but Rajamaki blocks with his arms.
Garibold stalls.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garibold unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rajamaki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garibold will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rajamaki up against the cage.
Rajamaki can't break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bransen Garibold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Garibold winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bransen Garibold!