PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grzegorz Rakieta Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Blunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rakieta Jr
vs
Blunder

195 cm
23
222 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

184 cm
20
220 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Granite 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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Grzegorz Rakieta Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Harry Blunder!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakieta Jr avoids the head kick by Blunder.

Rakieta Jr takes the fight into the clinch.

Blunder escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blunder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blunder misses with a head kick.
Rakieta Jr seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Blunder fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Rakieta Jr has Blunder up against the cage in a clinch.

Blunder lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Blunder seems to be working for a kimura but Rakieta Jr defends the submission attempt.
Blunder prevents Rakieta Jr from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blunder is looking to take a break and control but Rakieta Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blunder is looking to advance position but Rakieta Jr won't allow it.
Blunder looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Blunder throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Harry Blunder was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rakieta Jr misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Blunder.

Blunder shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Blunder was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rakieta Jr wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blunder is looking to take a break and control but Rakieta Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Blunder is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rakieta Jr is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blunder is looking to take a break and control but Rakieta Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blunder taking a breather here.
Rakieta Jr is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Blunder cracks Rakieta Jr with a big right hand but Rakieta Jr just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rakieta Jr is pushing Blunder's head away, looking to escape. Blunder manages to hold on to the position though.

Blunder has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Blunder fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rakieta Jr.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rakieta Jr fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Blunder.
Blunder avoids the head kick by Rakieta Jr.
Rakieta Jr moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Blunder dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rakieta Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Blunder scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rakieta Jr takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rakieta Jr throws a half hearted mid kick.
Blunder scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Blunder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blunder avoids the body shot from Rakieta Jr.
Rakieta Jr blocks a head kick by Blunder.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick but Blunder moves out of range.
Rakieta Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Rakieta Jr on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick but Blunder moves out of range.
Blunder goes for a double leg but Rakieta Jr avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rakieta Jr continues to drive forward.
Blunder working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Rakieta Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Blunder.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blunder blocks a head kick by Rakieta Jr.
Blunder moves away from the strike by Rakieta Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blunder fails with a takedown attempt.
Blunder lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Blunder.
Rakieta Jr misses with a jab to the body

and Blunder counters by moving into the clinch.

Blunder pulls guard effortlessly.
Rakieta Jr has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Blunder is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rakieta Jr stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Blunder closes the distance and clinches up with Rakieta Jr, looking for a takedown. Blunder pushes Rakieta Jr against the cage but Rakieta Jr circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Grzegorz Rakieta Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Blunder.
Rakieta Jr lands a high kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Blunder clinches.

Blunder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blunder tries a head kick but it misses.

Rakieta Jr forces Blunder back against the cage and clinches.
Blunder avoids the elbow strike from Rakieta Jr, against the cage.

Rakieta Jr breaks from the clinch.
Blunder avoids the head kick by Rakieta Jr.
Rakieta Jr misses with a head kick.
Jab, jab by Blunder - just one landing.
Blunder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rakieta Jr misses with a head kick.
Blunder lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rakieta Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
Harry Blunder seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rakieta Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Blunder is just out of range.
Blunder buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Blunder blocks a head kick by Rakieta Jr.
A head kick misses from Blunder.
Rakieta Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grzegorz Rakieta Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rakieta Jr clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rakieta Jr throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blunder is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rakieta Jr to keep the fight standing.
Blunder missing with knees to the body.
A short right from Blunder on the inside.
Blunder working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Blunder's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rakieta Jr pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Blunder pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Blunder.

Blunder closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rakieta Jr pushes off an throws an elbow but Blunder leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Blunder dodges an elbow strike from Rakieta Jr.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rakieta Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blunder's brow.
Blunder is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rakieta Jr to keep the fight standing.
Rakieta Jr creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blunder has Rakieta Jr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rakieta Jr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Rakieta Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blunder tries a head kick but it misses.
Blunder shoots for a takedown but Rakieta Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rakieta Jr moves into range and clinches up with Blunder.
Rakieta Jr lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Harry Blunder has been cut.
Blunder is trying to pull guard but Rakieta Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rakieta Jr throws an elbow that misses.

Blunder breaks from the clinch.
Blunder fails to land the takedown.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick but Blunder moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rakieta Jr blocks a head kick by Blunder.
Rakieta Jr goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Grzegorz Rakieta Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blunder.
Blunder is breathing heavily.

Rakieta Jr bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Harry Blunder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Harry Blunder's cut.
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!

Blunder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rakieta Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rakieta Jr throws a body kick that misses
and Blunder counters with a nice body kick.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick that Blunder semi-blocks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Blunder.
Rakieta Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blunder throws a leg kick which misses Rakieta Jr's front leg but catches the back leg as Rakieta Jr tries to avoid it.
Blunder lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Rakieta Jr gets a clinch.
Rakieta Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Rakieta Jr misses with an elbow strike.
Rakieta Jr misses with an elbow strike.
Rakieta Jr throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blunder tries to break free but Rakieta Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Blunder lands a damaging elbow.
Rakieta Jr pushes off an throws an elbow but Blunder leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rakieta Jr misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakieta Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Blunder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rakieta Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blunder's brow.
Blunder jumps guard but Rakieta Jr stands there with Blunder around his waist. Blunder gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rakieta Jr breaks from the clinch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rakieta Jr.

Blunder closes the distance and pushes Rakieta Jr back into the cage.
Blunder avoids the elbow strike from Rakieta Jr, against the cage.
Grzegorz Rakieta Jr has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rakieta Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Rakieta Jr looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Blunder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Grzegorz Rakieta Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Blunder.
Blunder takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rakieta Jr pushes off an throws an elbow but Blunder leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakieta Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Blunder is trying to pull guard but Rakieta Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Rakieta Jr pushes off an throws an elbow but Blunder leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rakieta Jr being controlled against the cage.

Rakieta Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grzegorz Rakieta Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blunder throws a sloppy head kick and Rakieta Jr moves out of range easily.
Rakieta Jr throws a body punch but Blunder moves out of range.
Rakieta Jr throws a body punch but Blunder moves out of range.
Blunder throws a quick inside leg kick.
Blunder looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Blunder lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rakieta Jr will feel that in the morning.
A head kick misses from Blunder.
Blunder tried to score with a low kick but Rakieta Jr checks it.
Blunder shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rakieta Jr pinned against the cage. Rakieta Jr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blunder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rakieta Jr takes the fight into the clinch.
Rakieta Jr misses with an elbow over the top.
Rakieta Jr pushes off an throws an elbow but Blunder leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rakieta Jr throws an elbow but misses.
Nice body punch from Blunder.

Rakieta Jr manages to break the clinch.

Rakieta Jr clinches.
Blunder blocks the elbow strike.
Rakieta Jr looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Blunder is trying to pull guard but Rakieta Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Blunder blocks an elbow strike.
Blunder taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blunder dodges an elbow strike from Rakieta Jr.
Rakieta Jr misses with an elbow strike.
Blunder tries to circle away but Rakieta Jr has him pinned against the cage.
Blunder blocks an elbow strike.
Blunder tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rakieta Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Rakieta Jr is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Blunder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rakieta Jr swings for the body but Blunder moves out of range.
Rakieta Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Blunder clinches.
Blunder can't get the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rakieta Jr looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Blunder is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Blunder working hard to break the clinch.

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 Grzegorz Rakieta Jr.
I think Blunder 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Blunder!