PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Raines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Cutler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Raines
vs
Cutler

215 cm
25
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

225 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Raines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Cutler!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cutler avoids the head kick by Raines.
Raines throws a head kick that misses.
Cutler misses with a combination
and Raines counters with a head kick.
Raines fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raines throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cutler misses with a wild body shot.
Raines on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jay Cutler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cutler tries to bum rush Raines with a series of wild strikes but Raines uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Raines closes the distance and clinches.
Cutler tries to circle away but Raines has him pinned against the cage.
Raines avoiding damage as Cutler throws knees to the body.
Cutler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cutler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cutler is trying to break the clinch but Raines is controlling him.
Raines wants a takedown but no success here.
Raines tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cutler just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cutler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raines has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cutler after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Raines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cutler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raines tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raines wants a takedown but no success here.

Raines drags the fight down to the ground.
Raines looking to control.

Cutler decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Raines, up you get!
Cutler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Raines manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Raines tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cutler swivels and escapes.
Cutler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raines lands with a nice body punch.
Cutler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cutler stuffs the takedown.
Cutler throws a series of punches but Raines moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cutler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raines.
Cutler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Raines shoots in looking for a takedown but Cutler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Raines's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cutler is looking to land body kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raines lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Jay Cutler has been cut.
Raines is breathing heavily.
Cutler misses with the combination.
Raines lands a leg kick that knocks Cutler off balance momentarily.
Cutler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cutler lands a nice hook to Raines's body. Raines takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cutler stuffs the takedown.
Cutler stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Raines or perhaps it was just good defense by Cutler which made him look bad.
Cutler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Raines.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cutler tries to clinch up.
Cutler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cutler is looking to clinch but Raines is avoiding it.
Cutler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Raines manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cutler throws a series of punches but Raines moves out of range.
Cutler swats away the attempt to clinch by Raines.
A nice combination there by Cutler.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cutler. Raines does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cutler throws a left and a right that both miss
and Raines counters with a good low kick that Cutler was not able to check.
Cutler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jay Cutler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raines shoots for a double leg takedown but Cutler sprawls well. He's pushed Raines's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cutler fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Raines is out of range.
Cutler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Raines looks for a takedown but Cutler sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cutler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cutler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cutler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raines circles away quickly and effectively.
Raines misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raines moves out of range as Cutler strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Raines!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cutler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jay Cutler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jay Cutler's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cutler slaps away a takedown attempt from Raines, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raines will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cutler falls off balance throwing a combination
and Raines counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Raines closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cutler circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Raines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raines swinging wildly here.
Cutler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raines.
Raines fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cutler avoids it really well and circles away.
Cutler throws a right hand that Raines ducks under and follows up with a left that Raines also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cutler throws a head kick but Raines moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cutler misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Cutler misses.
A combination from Raines does no damage.
Raines shoots in looking for a takedown but Cutler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Raines's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cutler is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Raines rather than just go for the knockout.
Raines shoots in looking for a takedown. Cutler tries to sprawl out of it but Raines keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cutler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cutler throws a sloppy head kick

and Raines moves into the clinch.
Cutler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raines keeps control of Cutler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cutler is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cutler wants to break free but Raines has control.
Cutler is trying to break the clinch but Raines is controlling him.
Raines keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cutler's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raines lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cutler is trying to break the clinch but Raines is controlling him.

Raines pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cutler tries to land a leg kick but Raines saw it coming and moves away.
Raines changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cutler tries to avoid it but Raines manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cutler to the ground. Cutler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cutler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cutler looks to throw a body kick
and Raines counters with a three punch combo that has Cutler backing up. Cutler nods at Raines to acknowledge the strikes.
A combination from Cutler does no damage.
Cutler swings for the body but Raines moves out of range.
Raines shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cutler but Cutler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cutler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Charles Raines is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cutler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raines shoots and misses
and Cutler counters with a left and a right that stings Raines.
Raines has a takedown stuffed.
Cutler swinging wildly here.
Raines closes the distance and clinches up with Cutler, looking for a takedown. Raines pushes Cutler against the cage but Cutler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Raines slips a jab and a cross from Cutler.
Raines fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cutler avoids it really well and circles away.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cutler instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raines has Cutler pressed against the cage, preventing Cutler from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Raines breaks the clinch.
Cutler stuffs the takedown attempt from Raines. Raines gets slowly back to his feet.
Cutler is looking to clinch but Raines is avoiding it.
Raines dodges the punch combination from Cutler.
No joy there for Raines, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cutler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cutler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cutler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raines manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Cutler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jay Cutler's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Raines throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Raines shoots in but no luck this time.
Raines shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cutler defends it nicely.
Raines shoots and misses
and Cutler counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Raines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cutler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raines swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cutler is trying to break the clinch but Raines has him pressed against the cage.
Raines is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cutler to keep the fight standing.
Cutler tries to break free but Raines pushes him back against the cage.
Cutler tries a body shot but Raines blocks it.
Cutler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raines is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cutler gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Cutler's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cutler breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cutler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cutler throws a right and a left that Raines avoids nicely.
Cutler looks to land a combination but Raines avoids it well.

Cutler has managed to clinch.
Raines drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cutler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Raines tries to land a knee to the head but Cutler blocks with his arms.
Raines prevents Cutler from breaking the clinch.
Raines is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cutler pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cutler is looking to break free of the clinch but Raines has double underhooks.
Raines tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cutler just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cutler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cutler is trying to break the clinch but Raines is controlling him.
Raines keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cutler's efforts to push away.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Raines prevents Cutler from breaking the clinch.
Cutler tries to break free but Raines pushes him back against the cage.
Raines drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cutler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jay Cutler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cutler throws a wild body kick that Raines sees coming a mile off.
A combination from Cutler does no damage.
Cutler throws a head kick that misses.
Cutler is looking to clinch.
Raines fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cutler avoids the body shot from Raines.
Cutler motions for Raines to come forward. Cutler throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cutler misses with a series of wild punches.
Cutler throws a right hand that Raines ducks under and follows up with a left that Raines also avoids with ease.
Cutler misses with a two punch combination.
Raines checks a leg kick nicely.
Raines lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cutler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Raines misses with a head kick.
Cutler tries to bum rush Raines with a series of wild strikes but Raines uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raines gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cutler is trying to break the clinch but Raines is controlling him.
Raines misses with a knee strike.

Raines decides to pull guard.

Cutler gets to his feet - Raines follows without any prompting.
Cutler wants to clinch up but Raines keeps it at a distance.
Raines shoots for a takedown but Cutler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cutler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raines slips a jab and a cross from Cutler.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raines shoots in and drives through. Cutler sprawls well.
Charles Raines has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jay Cutler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cutler tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Raines is able to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Cutler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cutler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Cutler!