PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rauno Korpi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Ratila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Korpi
vs
Ratila

172 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rauno Korpi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Ratila!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ratila slips a straight right by Korpi.
Ratila keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Korpi.
A telegraphed right hand from Korpi misses the target.
Ratila shoots in but no luck this time.
Ratila moves out of range as Korpi strikes.
A big left from Korpi misses.
Korpi misses with a two punch combination.

Ratila shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Korpi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Korpi tries to kick Ratila off but Ratila keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ratila is trying to control. Korpi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ratila in particular looking to stall.
Ratila stops Korpi from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ratila is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ratila is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Ratila is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Korpi sees it coming and defends easily.
Korpi wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Korpi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Korpi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ratila moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Korpi wants to get back to striking at distance but Ratila won't allow it.
Korpi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Korpi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Korpi prevents the takedown attempt.
Korpi tries to circle away but Ratila has him pinned against the cage.
Korpi has had enough of the clinch but Ratila keeps him there for the moment.
Ratila keeps control of Korpi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Korpi tries to break free but Ratila pushes him back against the cage.
Ratila has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Korpi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rauno Korpi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Ratila.
Korpi is pressed up against the cage. Ratila has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Korpi down to the mat. Korpi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rauno Korpi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ratila shoots for a takedown but Korpi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ratila.
Korpi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Korpi wants it to stay on the feet.
Ratila looks gassed!
Korpi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ratila circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korpi misses with the combination.
Korpi is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ratila's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Korpi lands a nice hook to Ratila's body. Ratila takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ratila moves out of range of the strikes.
Korpi misses with a looping right.
Ratila moves out of range as Korpi strikes.
Ratila slips under a jab.
Ratila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Korpi stuffs the takedown.
Korpi tries to bum rush Ratila with a series of wild strikes but Ratila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Korpi throws a series of punches but Ratila avoids them all with ease.
Ratila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Korpi misses with a looping right.
Ratila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Korpi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ratila.
Korpi throws a shot from downtown. Ratila moves away and avoids it.
Korpi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ratila shoots in but no luck this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ratila is trying hard to land a takedown here. Korpi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Korpi misses with a series of wild punches.
Korpi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rauno Korpi will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Korpi looks to land a combination. Ratila sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Korpi misses with a hook.

Ratila feints and as Korpi raises his hands in defense, Ratila changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ratila trying to control the position from guard on top but Korpi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Korpi wants to stand but Ratila is controlling the position.

Korpi pushes Ratila off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ratila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Korpi thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratila moves out of range of the strikes.
Korpi misses with a hook.
Ratila is looking to clinch.
Ratila displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Korpi throws out the jab.
Korpi leaves Ratila with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Korpi tries to bum rush Ratila with a series of wild strikes but Ratila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ratila fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ratila.
Rauno Korpi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Ratila.

Ratila 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.
Ratila missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Korpi pushes Ratila off and gets back to his feet.
Ratila showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Korpi.
Ratila shoots in for a takedown but Korpi shows good takedown defense.
Ratila is breathing heavily.
Ratila shoots in and drives through. Korpi sprawls well.
Korpi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Korpi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Korpi throws a shot from downtown. Ratila moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Korpi.
Korpi misses with the combination.
Korpi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Korpi misses with a looping right.
Korpi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Korpi throws a series of punches but Ratila avoids them all with ease.
Korpi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Korpi wants it to stay on the feet.
Ratila ducks under a wild hook from Korpi.
Korpi scores with a decent looking hook.
Ratila misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rauno Korpi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Korpi moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korpi.
Ratila shoots in for a takedown but Korpi shows good takedown defense.
Ratila tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Korpi swivels and escapes.
Korpi throws an overhand right that lands on Ratila's shoulder, as Ratila tries to avoid the shot.
Korpi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ratila circles away quickly and effectively.
Korpi throws a right and a left that Ratila avoids nicely.
Ratila ducks under a wild hook from Korpi.
Korpi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Korpi throws a hook to the side of Ratila's head but Ratila sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ratila avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Korpi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Korpi - just one landing.
Korpi digs a good body shot into Ratila's ribs.
Korpi missing with a left hand there. Ratila was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Korpi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ratila's head backwards.
Rauno Korpi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korpi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ratila looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Korpi is fending him off so far but Ratila persists. Nope, Korpi circles away and we're back to standing.
Ratila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Korpi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Korpi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ratila shoots in for a double leg but Korpi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Korpi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ratila takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korpi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ratila.
Korpi throws a shot from downtown. Ratila moves away and avoids it.
No joy there for Korpi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Korpi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A telegraphed right hand from Korpi misses the target.
Ratila tries to clinch there but Korpi circles away.
Ratila fails with the takedown.
Rauno Korpi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Ratila.
Korpi misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Korpi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Korpi wants it to stay on the feet.
Korpi looks to land a left hand but Ratila moved out of range nicely.
Ratila uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Korpi.
Korpi misses the jab.
Korpi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ratila tries to close the distance and clinch but Korpi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ratila closes the distance and clinches up with Korpi, looking for a takedown. Ratila pushes Korpi against the cage but Korpi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ratila doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Korpi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Korpi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Korpi misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratila shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Korpi pinned against the cage. Korpi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ratila shoots in looking for a takedown. Korpi tries to sprawl out of it but Ratila keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Korpi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Korpi throws out a powerful jab.
Korpi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ratila looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Korpi is fending him off so far but Ratila persists. Nope, Korpi circles away and we're back to standing.
Ratila avoids the body shot from Korpi.
Korpi throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ratila fails to land the takedown.
Korpi scores with a three punch combo!
Korpi throws a nice looking combination but Ratila bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Korpi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ratila moves away from the strike by Korpi.
Korpi throws a right and a left that Ratila avoids nicely.

Ratila closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ratila is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Korpi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ratila jumps guard but Korpi stands there with Ratila around his waist. Ratila gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ratila prevents Korpi from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rauno Korpi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Korpi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rauno Korpi!