PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan LaVelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Ratila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

LaVelle
vs
Ratila

179 cm
23
199 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

189 cm
24
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nathan LaVelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juha Ratila!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaVelle throws a head kick that misses.
Ratila tries to close the distance and clinch but LaVelle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ratila moves in looking to clinch but LaVelle pushes him off.

Ratila closes the distance and clinches.
LaVelle tries to score a body lock takedown but Ratila shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Ratila pulls LaVelle into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ratila working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from LaVelle.
LaVelle advances position into side control!
Ratila is not content to let LaVelle control the position.
Ratila is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, LaVelle asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The strikes coming from LaVelle are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratila is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but LaVelle has just dragged him back down to the mat.

LaVelle thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
LaVelle lands some shots froms side control.

That's two 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.
LaVelle creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ratila sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ratila is looking to work his way out of this bad position but LaVelle is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

LaVelle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ratila wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratila defending against the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ratila gets a clinch.

LaVelle ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. LaVelle no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ratila would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

LaVelle is working an open guard so Ratila takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
LaVelle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ratila tries to clinch there but LaVelle circles away.
Ratila tries to close the distance and clinch up but LaVelle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
LaVelle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratila tries to clinch up.
LaVelle circles away from the clinch attempt.
LaVelle shoots in for a takedown but Ratila shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan LaVelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LaVelle tries to bum rush Ratila with a series of wild strikes but Ratila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ratila pushes LaVelle up against the cage in a clinch.
Ratila tries to pull guard but LaVelle holds him up against the cage and eventually Ratila drops back down to his feet.
Ratila has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. LaVelle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ratila lands with a right to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
LaVelle is working for takedown but Ratila is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ratila tightens his grip and picks LaVelle up, before dumping him to the ground. LaVelle manages to land in guard.

LaVelle is working an open guard so Ratila takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ratila tries to clinch but LaVelle moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Ratila dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ratila fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ratila attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
LaVelle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ratila pinned against the cage. Ratila gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ratila tries to clinch there but LaVelle circles away.
Ratila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
LaVelle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ratila.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratila tries to clinch there but LaVelle circles away.
Ratila is looking to clinch but LaVelle is avoiding it.
LaVelle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
LaVelle throws a head kick but Ratila moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nathan LaVelle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ratila tries to clinch but LaVelle moves out of range.
Ratila tries to clinch up but LaVelle circles away and keeps his distance.
LaVelle keeps the fight on the outside.
Ratila tries to clinch but LaVelle is having none of it.
Ratila moves in looking to clinch but LaVelle pushes him off.
LaVelle dives in and grabs Ratila's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ratila pushes down on LaVelle's head and hops out.
LaVelle keeps the fight on the outside.
LaVelle tries for a takedown but Ratila sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan LaVelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ratila throws a front kick aimed at LaVelle's knee but LaVelle avoids it well.
Ratila moves in looking to clinch but LaVelle pushes him off.
Ratila doesn't manage to clinch there - LaVelle circles away.

That's two 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.
Ratila tries to clinch but LaVelle is having none of it.
Ratila moves in looking to clinch but LaVelle pushes him off.
Ratila stuffs the takedown attempt from LaVelle. LaVelle gets slowly back to his feet.
A combination from LaVelle does no damage.
Ratila displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from LaVelle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice straight punches there by Ratila. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ratila.

LaVelle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ratila sprawls well initially but LaVelle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Ratila has one foot on LaVelle's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
LaVelle is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ratila sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ratila moves in looking to clinch but LaVelle pushes him off.
Ratila tries to clinch but LaVelle moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ratila rushes LaVelle and presses him up against the cage.
Ratila cracks LaVelle with a nice body shot.

LaVelle ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. LaVelle no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Ratila gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ratila tries to clinch up but LaVelle circles away and keeps his distance.
Ratila wants to clinch.
Ratila stuffs the takedown.
Ratila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horrible takedown by LaVelle or perhaps it was just good defense by Ratila which made him look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaVelle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ratila just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ratila lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Ratila jumps into guard, dragging LaVelle to the mat.
Ratila wants to stand and escape but LaVelle is having none of it.
LaVelle trying to control the position from guard on top but Ratila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LaVelle 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.
Ratila wants to stand and escape but LaVelle is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
LaVelle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ratila uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Ratila showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ratila clinches up with LaVelle and pushes him back against the cage.
LaVelle goes for a takedown attempt but Ratila pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ratila doesn't manage to clinch there - LaVelle circles away.
Ratila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ratila is looking to clinch but LaVelle is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratila moves in looking to clinch but LaVelle pushes him off.

Ratila forces LaVelle back against the cage and clinches.
LaVelle jumps guard but Ratila stands there with LaVelle around his waist. LaVelle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
LaVelle wants to break free but Ratila has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ratila manages to pull guard.
Ratila is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Ratila has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes LaVelle off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
LaVelle misses with a takedown attempt - Ratila sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan LaVelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ratila tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ratila tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
LaVelle avoids a punch combination nicely.
LaVelle keeps the fight on the outside.

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.
No luck for LaVelle with that takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ratila lands a takedown into guard.
Ratila wanted to stand there but LaVelle had control of the position.

Ratila wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of LaVelle's closed guard. He's half up but LaVelle has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! LaVelle pivots and extends the arm, Ratila falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by LaVelle! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nathan LaVelle!