PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard Ragland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valko Hai (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.

Ragland
vs
Hai

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richard Ragland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valko Hai!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hai scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ragland misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ragland 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.
Hai wants to control but Ragland is keeping him busy.
Hai throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ragland to regain full guard.
Hai postures up.
Hai preventing the sweep.
Ragland is trying to keep Hai in close.
Hai tries to free his leg and advance position but Ragland is retaining full guard.
Hai trying to control the position from guard on top but Ragland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Ragland can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hai controls the pace.
Hai postures up and lands a big shot to Ragland's brow.
Hai preventing the sweep.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hai's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hai landing some decent shots from guard.
Hai keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ragland's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hai looking to pass the guard.
Ragland not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ragland is keeping the position for now.
Hai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hai landing with the ground and pound.
Ragland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hai lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ragland swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ragland trying to control the position.
Hai throwing strikes from guard but Ragland blocks nicely.
Hai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hai's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ragland wants to sweep here but Hai controlling him for the moment.
Hai throws a strike but Ragland rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ragland got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ragland has managed to get both his arms back between Hai's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ragland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ragland trying to control but Hai is working from the bottom.
Ragland is looking to stand up but Hai won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai is trying to control the position but Ragland postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Richard Ragland.
Ragland misses with a body shot.
Ragland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hai.

Ragland moves into the clinch successfully.

Ragland manages to break the clinch.
Ragland tried to score with a low kick but Hai checks it.

Hai shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Ragland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hai pulls his head out easily.
Ragland is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ragland on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hai is trying to control. Ragland wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Hai dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hai fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ragland sprawls well initially but Hai persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hai stops Ragland from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ragland blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hai.
Valko Hai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ragland trying to control from the bottom.
Hai working over Ragland with some ground and pound. Ragland looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hai trying to pass the guard but Ragland defending well.
Hai working over Ragland with some ground and pound. Ragland looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ragland has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hai is working away from the top position though.
Ragland is looking for a sweep. Hai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hai is looking for a kimura here.
Hai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ragland knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragland wants to get back to his feet.
Hai is pressing down on Ragland's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ragland is holding on for now.

Hai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hai thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hai is looking to stall here but Ragland recovers full guard.
Hai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai stopping the sweep attempt from Ragland.
Hai must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ragland is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hai trying to move into half guard but instead Ragland has managed to sweep!
Ragland trying to control but Hai is working from the bottom.
Hai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ragland.
Ragland won't allow Hai to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragland landing some decent shots from guard.
Ragland is pushing down on Hai's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hai is fighting to maintain full guard but Ragland has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ragland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ragland seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hai is looking to improve his position.
Ragland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ragland trying to control from half guard but Hai is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ragland.
Hai wants to get back to full guard.

Ragland is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hai has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ragland not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ragland sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hai defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Valko Hai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hai shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Hai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ragland trying to control from the bottom.
Ragland is staying active underneath Hai, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hai is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ragland gets back to full guard.
Hai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragland trying to control the position.
Ragland wants to stand up but Hai is controlling him.
Hai controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hai is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hai lands a couple of elbows.
Ragland trying to control the position.
Ragland striking off his back but it's not causing Hai any problems.
Ragland is trying to keep Hai in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ragland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hai throws a big elbow that misses.
Hai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ragland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ragland is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ragland has his foot on Hai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hai works his way back into a safe position though.
Ragland wants to sweep but no luck.
Hai is in close to Ragland's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ragland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hai controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hai connects with a couple of short punches.
Hai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ragland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hai passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hai trying to control the action but Ragland is working from the bottom.
Hai tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hai scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ragland to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hai is staying tight to Ragland's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hai tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ragland's legs.
Hai passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ragland!
The referee warns Ragland that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ragland holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hai tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hai prevents Ragland from getting the reversal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hai scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Richard Ragland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hai putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Valko Hai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Valko Hai!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Valko Hai!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Valko Hai!

Valko Hai wins by unanimous decision!