PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wladyslaw Raginis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Ventura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Ventura will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Raginis
vs
Ventura

182 cm
31
265 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

204 cm
30
265 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wladyslaw Raginis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Ventura!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raginis goes for a double leg but Ventura avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ventura continues to drive forward.

Raginis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Raginis working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Raginis tries to advance to mount but Ventura denies him.
Ventura is trying to get back to half guard.
The strikes coming from Raginis are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raginis throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Raginis tries to score with some ground and pound. Ventura controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ventura is looking for a sweep.
Ventura is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Raginis is controlling him well.
Raginis working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Raginis seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
An elbow from Raginis crashes against the mat.
Ventura is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raginis has knee on belly momentarily but Ventura bucks him off and regains half guard.
Raginis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ventura defending well though.
Raginis thows a huge punch but Ventura dodges it nicely.

Raginis is looking for a kimura here.
Raginis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ventura defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis throwing shots but Ventura is blocking nicely.
Raginis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ventura keeps working.
Ventura keeping hold of Raginis's head, controlling as best he can.
Ventura pushes Raginis off looking to stand but Raginis dives back in and keeps control.
Raginis is trying to control. Ventura wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Raginis is trying to work for a kimura but Ventura is defending well.
Raginis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis misses with a head shot. Ventura uses the momentum to regain guard.
Raginis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raginis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Raginis trying to control the position from guard on top but Ventura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ventura working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Raginis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ventura.
Raginis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ventura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raginis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ventura throws out a counter right but Raginis avoids it with no problem.
Nice uppercut there from Ventura.
Raginis misses with a straight left.
Raginis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ventura circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raginis fails with the takedown
and Ventura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wladyslaw Raginis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raginis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ventura is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Ventura. Those never looked like landing.
Raginis was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Raginis shoots in for a takedown but Ventura shows good takedown defense.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ventura! But no joy.
Good standup being displayed there by Ventura as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Wladyslaw Raginis has been cut.
Ventura dips to his left and cracks Raginis with an uppercut!
Raginis avoids the body shot from Ventura.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raginis closes the distance and clinches up with Ventura, looking for a takedown. Raginis pushes Ventura against the cage but Ventura circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Anthony Ventura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ventura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ventura lands with an uppercut that bounces Raginis off the cage and back into range.
Ventura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ventura misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Ventura will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wladyslaw Raginis's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raginis.
Raginis swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ventura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Raginis tries to clinch up but Ventura circles away and keeps his distance.
Ventura lands a really nice looking cross but Raginis seems unphased.
Raginis connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ventura's hands.

It looks like Anthony Ventura has been cut.
Raginis with a poor takedown
and Ventura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ventura throws a jab when Raginis was well out of range.
Raginis tries to clinch up but Ventura circles away and keeps his distance.
Ventura sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ventura is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raginis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ventura might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raginis tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ventura is able to avoid easily.
Ventura cracks Raginis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Anthony Ventura seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raginis slips under a jab from Ventura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis throws a leg kick
and Ventura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wladyslaw Raginis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raginis will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ventura swings widly with a right hand

and Raginis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Raginis.
Ventura is breathing heavily.
Raginis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Raginis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Raginis tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raginis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ventura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wladyslaw Raginis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ventura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raginis has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ventura is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Ventura breaks from the clinch.
Ventura has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Raginis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raginis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Raginis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Raginis drops an elbow to the side of Ventura's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ventura is trying to get back to full guard.
Raginis controlling the action here.
Ventura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ventura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ventura flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ventura's head.
Ventura avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Raginis.
Raginis is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ventura reverses the position - he's now on top in Raginis's guard.
Raginis is trying to keep Ventura in close.
Raginis wants to sweep but no luck.
Ventura is stalling in the full guard.
Raginis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ventura moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Raginis throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raginis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Raginis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ventura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raginis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ventura keeping moving, preventing Raginis from controlling successfully.
Ventura working a defensive guard here.
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 Wladyslaw Raginis will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Raginis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raginis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A clash of legs there as Raginis blocks the low kick.
Raginis fails with the takedown.
Ventura throws a counter combo.
Raginis tries to clinch up but Ventura circles away and keeps his distance.
Raginis looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A punch combination from Ventura misses.
Ventura throws a right hand that Raginis ducks under and follows up with a left that Raginis also avoids with ease.
Ventura throws a hook to the side of Raginis's head but Raginis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ventura misses the jab.
Raginis swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Ventura jabs Raginis right on the nose. Raginis blinks but takes it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Raginis.
Raginis on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ventura cracks Raginis with a good jab.

Raginis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ventura!
Raginis cracks Ventura with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Raginis trying to control the position but Ventura is working away.
Raginis lands an elbow.
Ventura is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Raginis has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Raginis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ventura is avoiding damage well.
Ventura wants to control but Raginis postures up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis throws a strike aimed at the side of Ventura's head but Ventura avoids it well.
Raginis connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ventura some visible discomfort.
Ventura is looking to regain half guard here but Raginis keeps moving and retains side control.
Raginis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raginis throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ventura works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Raginis is trying to control. Ventura wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raginis thows a huge punch but Ventura dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ventura blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raginis.
Raginis trying to control from half guard but Ventura is working away.
Raginis throws a strike but Ventura avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Raginis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raginis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Raginis postures up and lands a big shot to Ventura's brow.
Raginis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Raginis chips away with some ground and pound.
Ventura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ventura keeping moving, preventing Raginis from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raginis is looking to work some ground and pound but Ventura has wrist control.
Ventura keeping moving, preventing Raginis from controlling successfully.
Raginis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ventura works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raginis throws a big elbow that misses.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Raginis postures up in Ventura's guard and throws a big left but Ventura blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ventura wants to sweep here but Raginis controlling him for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Raginis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wladyslaw Raginis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Raginis closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ventura quickly recovers to half guard.

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 Wladyslaw Raginis.
I think Raginis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wladyslaw Raginis!