PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lauri Pasanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pasi Rauha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rauha has chosen Age of Aquarius as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pasanen
vs
Rauha

185 cm
23
188 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
28
200 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lauri Pasanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pasi Rauha!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rauha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pasanen.
Rauha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rauha throws a right and a left that Pasanen avoids nicely.
Pasanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Pasanen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Pasanen stalks Rauha and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rauha's face. Rauha staggers backwards, shaken.
Pasanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rauha takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pasanen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Pasanen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rauha was covering up waiting for the punch and Pasanen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rauha keeping full guard, as Pasanen tries to pass.
Pasanen is pushing down on Rauha's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rauha is fighting to maintain full guard but Pasanen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pasanen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rauha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pasanen lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rauha defending well though.
Rauha is trying to get back to full guard.
Pasanen is taking a breather. Rauha says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rauha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pasanen.
Pasanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pasanen prevents Rauha from improving his position.
Pasanen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rauha trying to control but Pasanen postures up.
Pasanen works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pasanen goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rauha is on top in guard.
Rauha wants to pass the guard but Pasanen is keeping the position.
Pasanen looking to control.
Rauha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pasanen with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Rauha can't handle though.
Rauha wants to control from the top but Pasanen keeps moving.
Pasanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pasanen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rauha stands and throws Pasanen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rauha tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Pasanen 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.
Pasanen is trying to control Rauha's posture but Rauha avoids it.
Rauha trying to control the action but Pasanen is working from the bottom.
Rauha throws a strike aimed at the side of Pasanen's head but Pasanen avoids it well.

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.
Pasanen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pasanen is looking to reverse the position.
Pasanen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rauha's best efforts.
Rauha missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rauha is thwarting Pasanen's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pasanen is pressing down on Rauha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pasanen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rauha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pasanen throws a front kick aimed at Rauha's knee but Rauha avoids it well.
Pasanen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rauha as he avoids it easily.
Rauha misses with a body punch
and Pasanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rauha misses the body punch
and Pasanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pasanen catches Rauha with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rauha just misses with a punch to the body.
Pasanen scores with a nice right hand.
Lauri Pasanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pasanen loads up on a big right hand but Rauha slips the punch.
Rauha stuns Pasanen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rauha stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pasanen.
Pasanen avoids the body shot from Rauha.
Pasanen cracks a nice hook into Rauha's ribs.
Rauha misses with a body punch
and Pasanen counters with a straight right hand.
Pasanen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rauha sprawls well. Rauha wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pasanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Pasanen keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauha falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pasanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pasanen shoots in but Rauha avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauri Pasanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Pasanen misses the target.
Pasanen lands a nice shot that snaps Rauha's head back.
Pasanen shoots in for a double leg but Rauha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pasanen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pasanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rauha is just out of range.
Pasanen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rauha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pasanen moves away.
Pasanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rauha.
Pasanen lands a nice hook to Rauha's body. Rauha takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pasanen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauha swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Pasanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pasi Rauha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body punch from Rauha.
Pasanen avoids the body shot from Rauha.
Pasanen missing with a left hand there. Rauha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pasanen avoids the body shot from Rauha.
Pasanen lands with a shot to the body.
Pasanen throws a low kick but Rauha avoids it.
Rauha takes one to the side of the head.

Pasanen scores with a takedown into Rauha's guard.
Pasanen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rauha's head.
Rauha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rauha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pasanen is aware though and is defending well.
Rauha is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rauha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rauha has momentary wrist control but Pasanen slips an elbow through the middle.
Pasanen advances position into side control!
Rauha is not content to let Pasanen control the position.
Rauha manages to get back to half guard.
Rauha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pasanen lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen wants to free his trapped foot but Rauha is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rauha is trying to get back to full guard.
Pasanen wants to take a breather but Rauha is having none of it.
Pasanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pasanen works his way into side control.
Rauha taking a bit of punishment here - Pasanen scoring with strikes.

Pasanen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rauha has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rauha is looking to regain half guard here but Pasanen keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pasanen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Pasanen.
Nice shot by Pasanen.
Pasanen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pasanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Pasanen misses with a combination
and Rauha makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rauha looks to score with a jab to the body but Pasanen is just out of range.
Rauha misses with a combination
and Pasanen counters with a low kick, right behind Rauha 's knee.
Rauha looks to score with a jab to the body but Pasanen is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Pasanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pasanen throws a nice head kick!
Rauha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pasanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Rauha.
Rauha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pasanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Rauha.
Rauha misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rauha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasanen jabs Rauha right on the nose. Rauha blinks but takes it well.
Pasanen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pasanen misses with a double jab
enabling Rauha to counter with a crisp jab.
Pasanen connects with a crisp jab.
Rauha takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pasanen thumps Rauha with a low kick.
Pasanen lands with a straight right. Rauha didn't see that one coming.
Rauha throws a good cross that connects.
Rauha is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pasanen rather than just go for the knockout.
Rauha takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rauha moves forwards but Pasanen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pasanen misses with a wild body shot.
Pasanen throws a lazy right hand but Rauha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pasanen sizes up Rauha with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen misses with a body kick.
Pasanen connects with a nice looking jab.
Pasanen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pasanen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pasanen.
Rauha throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Pasanen counter with a right hand.

Pasanen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pasanen distracts Rauha with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lauri Pasanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pasanen is stalling in the full guard.

Rauha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pasanen is aware though and is defending well.
Pasanen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pasi Rauha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rauha being controlled here, momentarily.
Pasanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rauha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pasanen works over Rauha with some ground and pound from guard.
Pasanen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lauri Pasanen just wasn't active enough.
Pasanen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rauha throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pasanen.
Pasanen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rauha's head.
Pasanen lands a lovely overhand right.

Rauha gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pasanen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rauha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pasanen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rauha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauri Pasanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rauha gets underhooks to prevent Pasanen's takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Rauha - that landed with a thud.
Pasanen tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rauha.
Rauha is leaning against Pasanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A hook to the body from Rauha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rauha misses with a hook to the ribs.

Pasanen jumps into guard, dragging Rauha to the mat.
Rauha is in close to Pasanen's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauri Pasanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pasanen, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauri Pasanen!