PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julian Class (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Raczynski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Class
vs
Raczynski

192 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

206 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Julian Class!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Damian Raczynski!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raczynski misses with a series of wild punches.
Raczynski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raczynski wants it to stay on the feet.
Raczynski looks to land a right hand but Class moved out of range.
Raczynski ducks under a wild hook from Class.
Raczynski lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Class at a distance.
Raczynski misses with the combination.
Class looks for a takedown but Raczynski sprawls well.
Class fails to land with a series of punches.

Class scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raczynski manages to get back to half guard.
Class is looking to take a break and control but Raczynski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raczynski is looking to escape.
Class slows the pace down in half guard.
Raczynski tries to get to full guard but Class has control of the leg.
Raczynski makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Raczynski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raczynski is trying to keep Class in close.
Raczynski has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Class has passed into side control.
Raczynski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Class's best efforts.
Raczynski preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Raczynski wants to get back to full guard.
Class missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Class is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Class is breathing heavily.
Raczynski is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Class is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Raczynski holds of for dear life.
Raczynski can't escape the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Raczynski can do anything to dispel that myth.

Class stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Raczynski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Class counters by clinching up.
Class jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Raczynski walks away with a smile on his face. Class gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Class. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raczynski throws a one two combo.
Class looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Class tries to clinch but Raczynski is having none of it.
Raczynski lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Class backs up against the cage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Raczynski.
Raczynski scores with a jab to the jaw.
Raczynski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Class counters with a single leg into guard. Raczynski didn't expect that.
Class is fighting to break Raczynski's control of his arms but Raczynski is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Class won't allow Raczynski to sweep him here.
Class throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Class stopping the sweep attempt from Raczynski.
Class trying to control the position from guard on top but Raczynski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Class stopping the sweep attempt from Raczynski.
Raczynski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Class. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raczynski is trying to control the position but Class postures up.

Class gets to his feet. Raczynski looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Raczynski!
Raczynski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Raczynski. That snapped Class's head back.
Class shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raczynski defends it nicely.
Class showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raczynski.
Raczynski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Raczynski is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Class lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Raczynski has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Raczynski and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Class looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Class dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raczynski scores with a one two! Class had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Class tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raczynski was well out of range. Poor timing from Class.
Raczynski connects with a body shot.
Class avoids a punch combination nicely.
Damian Raczynski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raczynski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Class tries a head kick but it misses.
Julian Class is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raczynski moves out of range as Class throws a body kick.
Class cracks Raczynski with a right hand to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Raczynski misses.

Class moves into the clinch.
Raczynski tries to stall but Class uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Class wants to stall.

Class pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raczynski swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Class holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Class drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Raczynski gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Class changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raczynski fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raczynski throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Raczynski darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Raczynski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raczynski throws a series of punches but Class moves out of range.
Raczynski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raczynski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raczynski wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Class. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Class looks for a takedown but Raczynski sprawls well.
The fighters circle momentarily. Raczynski darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Raczynski falls off balance throwing a combination

and Class holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Class lands with a right to the head.
Class could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Class pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raczynski stands up and waves to Class to follow him.
Class showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raczynski.

Class drives through and clinches with Raczynski against the cage.
Class tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raczynski just stands there and leans against the cage.

Class manages to pull guard.
Raczynski wants to get up but he can't break Class's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Raczynski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Class, up you get!
Class avoids a punch combination nicely.
Class walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Raczynski checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A combination from Raczynski does no damage.
Raczynski has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Raczynski slips a jab and a cross from Class.
Class takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raczynski throws a combination that misses

and Class counters by moving into the clinch.
Raczynski wants to stall.
Raczynski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raczynski can't break the clinch.

Class breaks from the clinch.
Class shoots in and drives through. Raczynski sprawls well.
A jab from Raczynski does it's job there.
Raczynski defending well as Class loads up on a big left hand.
Raczynski misses with a wild combination.
Raczynski misses with a double jab

and Class counters by clinching up.
Raczynski is trying to force a seperation but Class has the dominant position.
Raczynski working hard to break the clinch.

Class manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Raczynski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Class, up you get!
Raczynski works Class's body with a nice hook.
Class shoots in for a double leg but Raczynski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raczynski closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Class looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Raczynski is fending him off so far but Class persists. Nope, Raczynski circles away and we're back to standing.
Raczynski throws a combination. Class tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Class steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raczynski.
Raczynski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Raczynski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Class.

Class has managed to clinch.

Class jumps guard and drags Raczynski to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Raczynski postures up.
Raczynski wanted to stand there but Class had control of the position.
Raczynski postures up.
Raczynski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Class is proving hard to escape from.
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 Julian Class will probably get the nod.
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!

Class tries to clinch up.
Class walks into a straight right hand from Raczynski.
Class shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for Raczynski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Class showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raczynski.
Raczynski throws out a powerful jab.
Some wild striking there from Class.
Raczynski throws a series of punches but Class moves out of range.
Class fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raczynski misses with a combination

and Class counters by moving into the clinch.
Raczynski looking to slow down the pace here.
Raczynski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raczynski is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Class has denied him.

Class breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raczynski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Class. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raczynski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Raczynski is trying to stall.

Class pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Raczynski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Class slips under a jab.
Raczynski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Raczynski missing with a left hand there. Class was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Damian Raczynski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raczynski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Class throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Raczynski connects with a single shot there.
Class looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Raczynski is fending him off so far but Class persists. Nope, Raczynski circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two 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.
Raczynski lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Class closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Raczynski tries to break the clinch but Class is controlling the position.
Class tries to pull guard but Raczynski won't allow it.
Class tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raczynski just stands there and leans against the cage.
Class keeps control of Raczynski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Class is working for takedown but Raczynski is calmly controlling the position for now.
Raczynski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raczynski wants to break free but Class has control.
Raczynski looking to stall.

Class pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raczynski throws a series of punches but Class avoids them all with ease.
Class takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Class takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Raczynski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raczynski misses with a few strikes there.
Raczynski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Class shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Class shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Raczynski pinned against the cage. Raczynski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Raczynski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Class.
Raczynski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Class has a takedown stuffed.
Raczynski scores with a one two! Class had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Raczynski scores with a nice strike.

Class pushes Raczynski up against the cage in a clinch.
Class tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Class misses with a body punch.
Class prevents Raczynski from breaking the clinch.
Raczynski can't break the clinch.
Class tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raczynski is trying to stall.
Class looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Raczynski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Class prevents Raczynski from breaking the clinch.
Raczynski is trying to force a seperation but Class has the dominant position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Raczynski is looking to break free of the clinch but Class has double underhooks.
Class tries for a takedown but Raczynski manages to get underhooks.
Raczynski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Raczynski is trying to force a seperation but Class has the dominant position.
Class wants to stall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Raczynski tries to circle away but Class has him pinned against the cage.

Class manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Class is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Raczynski decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A punch combination from Raczynski misses.
Damian Raczynski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julian Class is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raczynski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damian Raczynski.
I think Class 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!