PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Empire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Raysor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Empire
vs
Raysor

188 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Attliction

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roman Empire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aaron Raysor!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Empire shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Empire showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raysor is trying to maintain the position but Empire is very close to passing his half guard.
Raysor is trying to stand back up but Empire is controlling him
Empire wants to control but Raysor is keeping him busy.
Empire sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Raysor defending well though.
Raysor wants to control but Empire is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Empire wants to stand but Raysor has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Raysor won't allow Empire to pass to mount.
Empire is thwarting Raysor's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Empire closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Empire wants to stand but Raysor has his arm trapped.
Raysor is trying to control Empire's posture but Empire avoids it.
Empire prevents Raysor from escaping the position.
Empire landing a few strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raysor regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Empire landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Empire is breathing heavily.
Empire trying to control the action but Raysor is working from the bottom.

Empire looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Raysor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raysor working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raysor wants to stand but Empire is controlling the position.
Raysor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Empire with a nice head shot there.
Raysor keeping moving, preventing Empire from controlling successfully.
Raysor wants to stand but Empire is controlling the position.
Empire postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Empire trying to control but Raysor is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Empire thows a left - swing and a miss!
Empire looks for a takedown but Raysor sprawls well.
Roman Empire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raysor tries to clinch but Empire moves out of range.

Empire gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Raysor landing knees to the head.
Raysor misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Empire turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Empire manages to end up in side control.
Empire looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Raysor is avoiding damage well.
Sloppy strikes there by Empire.
Empire happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Empire dominated that round.
That's time! Empire's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Empire scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Raysor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Empire has a takedown stuffed.

Empire drives through with a takedown into guard.
Raysor is trying to keep Empire in close.
Empire trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raysor looking to control.

Empire decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Raysor, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raysor avoids the head kick by Empire.
Empire throws a series of punches but Raysor moves out of range.
Raysor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Empire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raysor wants to clinch

and Empire counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Raysor is trying to stand up here but Empire is controlling him well.
Empire lands with a punch from half guard.
Empire throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Empire missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Empire content to control rather than advance.
Empire is looking to advance position but Raysor won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Empire is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raysor doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Empire.
Empire lands strikes from half guard.
Empire drops an elbow to the side of Raysor's head.
Empire controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Empire wants to get back to his feet.
Empire seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Empire tries to pass to full mount but Raysor defends it.
Empire not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Empire working Raysor over with strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Empire wants to pass the guard but Raysor is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Empire wants to get back to his feet.
Roman Empire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Empire trying to pass the guard but Raysor defending well.
Empire not doing much here.
Empire seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Raysor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Empire passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Empire dominated that second round.
That's time! Empire's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Empire lands a jab to Raysor's midsection.
Raysor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Empire shoots in looking for a takedown. Raysor tries to sprawl out of it but Empire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Raysor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Empire shoots in but Raysor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Empire lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Empire changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Raysor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Empire trying to control the position but Raysor is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Empire stands up and beckons Raysor to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Empire changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raysor tries to avoid it but Empire manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raysor to the ground. Raysor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Empire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Empire fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raysor tries to clinch
and Empire counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Decent striking displayed by Empire there.
Horrible takedown by Empire or perhaps it was just good defense by Raysor which made him look bad.

Empire closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Empire lands in his opponent's guard.

Empire is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Empire is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Empire trying to control the position from guard on top but Raysor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Empire looking to pass the guard.

Empire drops back looking for a leg! Raysor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Raysor manages to kick Empire off! Empire jumps back into Raysor's guard.
Raysor is trying to keep Empire in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Empire takes the fight into the clinch.
Empire has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raysor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Raysor.
Raysor looking to stall.
Empire wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raysor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Empire wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raysor tries to land knees in the clinch but Empire avoids the damage to the body.
Aaron Raysor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Empire is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raysor lands a knee to the head.
Raysor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Empire is rocked!
Empire tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raysor is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Raysor stops a takedown attempt from Empire.
A knee to the head by Raysor.
Oh Empire is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Raysor looking to stall.
Raysor lands a big knee to the head and Empire goes down! Raysor pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aaron Raysor!