PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Khalil Zidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Rakuuna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zidane comes to the cage accompanied by Tool - Jimmy. Rakuuna has chosen Bad Company - Bad Company as his entrance music. Taisto Rakuuna acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Zidane
vs
Rakuuna

178 cm
19
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Valhalla War Gear
MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Khalil Zidane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taisto Rakuuna!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakuuna throws a big shot that misses.
Zidane throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Taisto Rakuuna has been cut.
Rakuuna is looking to clinch.
Zidane avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rakuuna avoids the body shot from Zidane.
Zidane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zidane looks to score with a jab to the body but Rakuuna is just out of range.
Zidane slips under a jab.
Rakuuna throws a hook but Zidane avoids it easily.
Rakuuna throws a sloppy body shot
and Zidane counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Rakuuna darts in and clinches Zidane up against the cage.
Rakuuna has a couple of punches blocked by Zidane.
Rakuuna lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zidane.
Zidane tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rakuuna throws a head punch that misses.
Rakuuna misses with a punch on the inside.
Rakuuna doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zidane blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna prevents the takedown attempt.
Rakuuna lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zidane is trying to drag Rakuuna to the mat but Rakuuna just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khalil Zidane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakuuna misses with the head strike.
Rakuuna is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rakuuna.
Rakuuna keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zidane's efforts to push away.
Rakuuna throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zidanes head.
Rakuuna lands a right hand.
Rakuuna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rakuuna lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zidane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zidane jumps guard but Rakuuna stands there with Zidane around his waist. Zidane gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Zidane breaks the clinch.
Rakuuna slips a jab from Zidane.

Rakuuna clinches up with Zidane and pushes him back against the cage.
Rakuuna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rakuuna throws a punch but it's blocked by Zidane.
Rakuuna misses with a body punch.

Zidane jumps into guard, dragging Rakuuna to the mat.
Rakuuna controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna trying to control but Zidane is working from the bottom.
Rakuuna loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rakuuna looking to sit in guard and control but Zidane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rakuuna is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rakuuna postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rakuuna throws a strike but Zidane rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rakuuna looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Zidane puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rakuuna is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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.
It looks like Zidane is going to stand back up.
Rakuuna wants to control but Zidane is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rakuuna keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rakuuna is looking for a sweep. Zidane is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rakuuna has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zidane is thwarting Rakuuna's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Rakuuna dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taisto Rakuuna's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rakuuna slips a jab and a cross from Zidane.
Rakuuna staying out of range there.
Taisto Rakuuna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zidane throws a body punch but Rakuuna moves out of range.
Zidane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rakuuna moves away.
Rakuuna lands with an uppercut that bounces Zidane off the cage and back into rage.
Rakuuna darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Rakuuna 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zidane lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rakuuna takes a step back to recover.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zidane swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rakuuna wants to clinch
and Zidane counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zidane swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zidane pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rakuuna is out of range and Zidane settles back down.
Some wild striking there from Zidane.
Rakuuna thows a body shot but no joy.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zidane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rakuuna loads up on a big right hand but Zidane slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidane swats away the attempt to clinch by Rakuuna.
Rakuuna avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rakuuna defending well as Zidane loads up on a big left hand.
Rakuuna throws a series of punches but Zidane moves out of range.
Zidane does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rakuuna misses with a hook.
Rakuuna looks to land a left hand but Zidane moved out of range nicely.
Zidane swats away the attempt to clinch by Rakuuna.
Zidane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rakuuna misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zidane.
Zidane takes a swing at Rakuuna's ribcage but misses.
Rakuuna fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rakuuna comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rakuuna clinches but Zidane breaks the clinch
and Zidane counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zidane fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rakuuna checks it well.
Rakuuna fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rakuuna uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zidane.
Rakuuna swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zidane circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rakuuna throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rakuuna scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rakuuna throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zidane. Rakuuna does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rakuuna lands a glancing blow to the side of Zidane's head.
Zidane throws a shot to the body.
A big left from Zidane misses.
Rakuuna misses the shot to the body.
Rakuuna throws a lazy right hand but Zidane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zidane misses with the combination.
Rakuuna misses with a wild body shot.
Zidane attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zidane throws a shot from downtown. Rakuuna moves away and avoids it.
Rakuuna is looking to clinch.
Rakuuna takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zidane takes a swing at Rakuuna's ribcage but misses.
Rakuuna fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rakuuna keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zidane.
Rakuuna takes a swing at Zidane's ribcage but misses.
Zidane pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Rakuuna throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rakuuna takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rakuuna connects with a right hand. Zidane shakes it off.
Jab from Rakuuna.
Rakuuna slips a jab from Zidane.
Zidane throws a body punch but Rakuuna moves out of range.
Rakuuna tries to clinch
and Zidane counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Rakuuna finds it's way through Zidane's defenses.
Rakuuna is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Rakuuna.
Zidane throws a good cross that connects.
Rakuuna takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rakuuna misses with an uppercut. Zidane saw that one coming.
Zidane with a jab.
Rakuuna on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zidane. Zidane obviously looking to wear him down.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zidane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rakuuna is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zidane.
Rakuuna stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rakuuna will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rakuuna showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zidane.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Zidane connects with a nice looking jab.
Khalil Zidane is winning the standup battle so far.
Rakuuna slips under a jab.
Rakuuna lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zidane with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zidane getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zidane looks to land a left hand but Rakuuna moved out of range nicely.
Zidane misses with a straight right.
Zidane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rakuuna sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rakuuna misses the shot to the body.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up but Zidane circles away and keeps his distance.
Good exchange - Rakuuna coming out on top.
Rakuuna looks to throw the jab but Zidane is out of range.
Rakuuna connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rakuuna throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zidane.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but Zidane moves out of range.
Rakuuna fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rakuuna misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalil Zidane dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Taisto Rakuuna's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Zidane misses.
Zidane cracks Rakuuna with a good jab.
Zidane throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rakuuna uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zidane.
Zidane throws a body punch but Rakuuna moves out of range.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch but Zidane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zidane tries to bum rush Rakuuna with a series of wild strikes but Rakuuna uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zidane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zidane looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rakuuna drops his hands momentarily and Zidane takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rakuuna throws a lazy right hand but Zidane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zidane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rakuuna.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch but Zidane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rakuuna moves in looking to clinch but Zidane pushes him off.
No joy there for Rakuuna, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rakuuna throws a hook but Zidane avoids it easily.

Rakuuna gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Zidane breaks from the clinch.
Rakuuna swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakuuna moves in looking to clinch but Zidane pushes him off.
Rakuuna scores with a sloppy right hand. Zidane should have avoided that one.
Rakuuna is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zidane throws a jab but it's blocked by Rakuuna.
Zidane throws a hook but Rakuuna avoids it easily.
Rakuuna waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zidane.
Zidane just misses with a punch to the body.
Rakuuna comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zidane turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Zidane.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rakuuna, as that shot connected.
Zidane slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zidane circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rakuuna throws a hook but Zidane avoids it easily.
Zidane swats away the attempt to clinch by Rakuuna.
Rakuuna moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rakuuna tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zidane counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rakuuna tries to clinch up
and Zidane counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakuuna drops his hands momentarily and Zidane takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rakuuna jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab by Zidane.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zidane.
Zidane slips a jab from Rakuuna.
Zidane avoids the body shot from Rakuuna.
Zidane avoids the body shot from Rakuuna.
Zidane circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zidane counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rakuuna looks to land a right hand but Zidane moved out of range.
Rakuuna thuds a left hand into Zidane's body.
Rakuuna avoids the body shot from Zidane.
Rakuuna ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zidane moves away.
Zidane is looking to slow Rakuuna down with leg kicks.
Zidane lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zidane lands a nice shot to the body.
Rakuuna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zidane connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rakuuna's hands.
Zidane misses the shot to the body.

Rakuuna closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidane has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zidane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rakuuna lands a body punch.
Rakuuna tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zidane's elbow.
Zidane blocks an uppercut.
Rakuuna is leaning against Zidane and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rakuuna doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rakuuna lands a nice shot to the body.
Rakuuna doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rakuuna misses with a body punch.
Rakuuna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zidane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rakuuna struggles to land a body shot inside as Zidane controls his hands.
Rakuuna misses with a punch on the inside.
Zidane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rakuuna swings wildly with an uppercut but Zidane uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Rakuuna.

That's four 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.
Rakuuna has a couple of punches blocked by Zidane.
Rakuuna can't find room to land a body shot as Zidane controls the action.

Zidane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zidane connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rakuuna's hands.
Rakuuna takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rakuuna lands a really nice looking cross but Zidane seems unphased.
Zidane feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rakuuna's calf.
Rakuuna throws a jab when Zidane was well out of range.
Rakuuna tries to close the distance and clinch but Zidane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zidane 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.
Zidane bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rakuuna's head backwards.
No joy there for Rakuuna, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rakuuna misses the shot to the body.
Rakuuna closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zidane counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Zidane.
Zidane lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rakuuna at a distance.
Rakuuna swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zidane counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalil Zidane showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zidane 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalil Zidane!