|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karol Rafal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Touko Vanhanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
 |
|
 |
| 180 cm
25
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
|
179 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karol Rafal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Touko Vanhanen!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafal throws a combination that misses
and Vanhanen counters with a nice body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Vanhanen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Vanhanen.
Rafal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vanhanen swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rafal is defended easily by Vanhanen.
Rafal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vanhanen's waist but Vanhanen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafal off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karol Rafal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vanhanen lands with a good body shot.
Vanhanen jabs at Rafal's body.
Rafal misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vanhanen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Vanhanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vanhanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rafal circles away.
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!
Vanhanen stuns Rafal with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Vanhanen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Vanhanen shoots in for a takedown but Rafal shows good takedown defense.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal takes the fight into the clinch.
Vanhanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vanhanen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rafal prevents it.
Vanhanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vanhanen wants a takedown.
Rafal lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vanhanen.
Rafal has Vanhanen pressed against the cage, preventing Vanhanen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vanhanen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rafal pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanhanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rafal on the side of the head.
Vanhanen leaves Rafal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rafal blocks a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rafal is defended easily by Vanhanen.
Vanhanen misses with a jab to the body
and Rafal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rafal is taking a breather. Vanhanen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vanhanen is looking for a sweep. Rafal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rafal could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vanhanen's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vanhanen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rafal wants to work for an arm triangle but Vanhanen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vanhanen trying to control but Rafal postures up.
Rafal is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Vanhanen wants to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafal passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rafal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafal misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Touko Vanhanen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Rafal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vanhanen defends well and Rafal ends up having to push Vanhanen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rafal stops a takedown attempt from Vanhanen.
Rafal breaks the clinch.
Vanhanen throws a leg kick
and Rafal counters with a good, hard body kick but Vanhanen shrugs it off.
Vanhanen digs a good body shot into Rafal's ribs.
Vanhanen lands a nice looking body shot.
Rafal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rafal goes for a double leg but Vanhanen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vanhanen continues to drive forward.
Rafal fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karol Rafal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vanhanen letting Rafal take a breather here.
Rafal looking for a takedown.
Rafal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vanhanen's efforts to push away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vanhanen can't get the takedown.
Rafal breaks from the clinch.
Vanhanen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rafal counters with a head kick.
Karol Rafal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rafal pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vanhanen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rafal connects with a solid leg kick.
Vanhanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rafal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rafal chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rafal misses with a takedown attempt - Vanhanen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vanhanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanhanen thuds a left hand into Rafal's body.
Vanhanen throws a head kick but Rafal moves out of range.
A left lands for Vanhanen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanhanen throws a leg kick but Rafal moved away.
Vanhanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rafal manages to avoid it.
Rafal gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A bone on bone clash there as Rafal blocks the leg kick.
Touko Vanhanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rafal throws a head kick that misses.
Vanhanen lands a slapping body shot.
Vanhanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rafal is looking to clinch but Vanhanen is avoiding it.
Vanhanen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rafal rather than just go for the knockout.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhanen closes the distance and clinches up with Rafal, looking for a takedown. Vanhanen pushes Rafal against the cage but Rafal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vanhanen digs a good body shot into Rafal's ribs.
Vanhanen connects with a single shot there.
Vanhanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rafal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rafal takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rafal is defended easily by Vanhanen.
Vanhanen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rafal under the eye.
Vanhanen swinging wildly here.
A combination from Vanhanen does no damage.
No joy there for Vanhanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafal rushes Vanhanen and presses him up against the cage.
Vanhanen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rafal after a bit of a struggle.
Rafal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rafal shoots in for a double leg but Vanhanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vanhanen shoots in for a takedown but Rafal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vanhanen misses with a body shot
and Rafal counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rafal goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vanhanen prevents it.
Vanhanen successfully pulls guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vanhanen is trying to keep Rafal in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Touko Vanhanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Vanhanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vanhanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rafal moves away.
Vanhanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rafal.
Rafal is looking to clinch.
Vanhanen misses with a body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Vanhanen misses with an uppercut.
Rafal takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vanhanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Rafal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rafal wants it to stay on the feet.
Vanhanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vanhanen gets tackled into the cage by Rafal. Rafal maintains the clinch.
Vanhanen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rafal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rafal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vanhanen looks to land a body kick but Rafal moved away.
Rafal goes for a double leg but Vanhanen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vanhanen continues to drive forward.
Vanhanen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rafal after a bit of a struggle.
Karol Rafal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Touko Vanhanen.
Rafal wants a takedown.
Rafal jumps guard but Vanhanen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafal wants to take the fight to the mat but Vanhanen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rafal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vanhanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Vanhanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rafal moves away.
Vanhanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rafal was well out of range. Poor timing from Vanhanen.
Vanhanen loads up on a big right hand but Rafal slips the punch.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vanhanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Rafal won't allow it.
Vanhanen wants to break free but Rafal has control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal pulls guard effortlessly.
Rafal working a defensive guard here.
Vanhanen won't allow Rafal to sweep him here.
Vanhanen postures up in Rafal's guard and throws a big left but Rafal blocks it.
Vanhanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rafal looking to control.
Rafal has an active guard here but Vanhanen has managed to pass into half guard.
Vanhanen trying to control the action but Rafal is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanhanen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rafal.
Vanhanen is keen to just control but Rafal is a slippery customer.
Vanhanen is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Touko Vanhanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vanhanen trying to control the action but Rafal is working from the bottom.
Rafal tries to roll over but Vanhanen keeps him under control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Touko Vanhanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rafal moves forwards but Vanhanen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Karol Rafal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafal fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Touko Vanhanen.
I've got Vanhanen 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Touko Vanhanen!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
62% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
