PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kaspars Timma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuraimo Rassi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Timma comes into the arena with Adrenaline Rush blaring out of the sound system. Rassi has chosen Damian Marley - It Was Written as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Timma
vs
Rassi

186 cm
25
175 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
184 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kaspars Timma!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samuraimo Rassi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Timma stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rassi.
Timma scores with a jab. Rassi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Timma misses the shot to the body.
Rassi tries to clinch up but Timma circles away and keeps his distance.
Timma fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rassi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Timma lands a jab to Rassi's midsection.
Rassi throws a low kick, looking for Timma's leg but Timma calmly moves out of range.
Timma swings for the body but Rassi moves out of range.
Timma is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rassi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rassi wants to clinch
and Timma counters with a straight right hand.
Timma moves out of range of the body kick.
Timma tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rassi is able to avoid easily.
Rassi misses with a body kick.
Timma is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rassi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Timma lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rassi tries to clinch but Timma moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Timma.
Timma connects with a high kick.
Timma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Timma misses with an uppercut.
Rassi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Timma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Timma swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rassi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rassi closes the distance but Timma moves to the side
and Timma counters with a nice uppercut.
Timma listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Samuraimo Rassi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rassi tries to clinch but Timma is having none of it.
Timma showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rassi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Timma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rassi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Timma checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Timma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rassi moves away.
Rassi catches Timma with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Timma jabs Rassi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rassi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Timma throws a body kick that misses
and Rassi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rassi thows a body shot but no joy.
Timma walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rassi.
Rassi throws a body kick that misses.
Timma slips under a jab from Rassi.
Good standup being displayed there by Rassi as he connects with a hook.
Timma misses with a low kick as Rassi jumps back.
Timma throws the left hand but Rassi avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Timma scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rassi doesn't seem bothered though.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rassi. Timma shrugs it off though.
Rassi tries a head kick but it misses.
Timma tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rassi is able to avoid easily.
Timma tests Rassi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Timma misses the shot to the body.
Rassi throws a series of punches but Timma avoids them all with ease.
Rassi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rassi moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Timma as Rassi tries to tie him up.
A frustrated look appears on Rassi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Timma struggles to land a body shot inside as Rassi controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Timma is trying to break the clinch but Rassi has him pressed against the cage.
Rassi misses with a punch to the body.
Timma keeps control of Rassi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Timma is trying to break the clinch but Rassi is controlling him.
Timma working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rassi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rassi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rassi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Timma.

Rassi breaks from the clinch.
Rassi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Timma avoids the body shot from Rassi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Timma lands with a hook. Rassi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Rassi closes the distance and clinches.
Rassi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Timma avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kaspars Timma will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Timma scores with a kick to the body.

Rassi clinches up against the cage.
Rassi misses with a knee to the head.
Timma blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rassi taking a breather.
Rassi is trying to break free.
Rassi misses with a knee strike.

Timma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rassi scoring well with a low kick there.
Timma throws a shot to the body.
Rassi takes a swing at Timma's ribcage but misses.
Timma misses with a two punch combination.
Timma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rassi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Rassi closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rassi breaks the clinch.
Rassi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rassi avoids the body shot from Timma.
Timma feints and then cracks Rassi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rassi down.
Rassi tries to clinch up but Timma circles away and keeps his distance.
Rassi wants to clinch.
Timma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rassi tries to clinch up but Timma circles away and keeps his distance.
Kaspars Timma is winning the standup battle so far.
Rassi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Timma.
Rassi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rassi wants to clinch up but Timma keeps it at a distance.
Timma goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Timma misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rassi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rassi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Rassi closes the distance and pushes Timma back into the cage.
Timma stalling.
Rassi stalling in the clinch.

Timma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Timma swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rassi throws an overhand right that lands on Timma's shoulder, as Timma tries to avoid the shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rassi. Timma shrugs it off though.
Rassi tries to clinch up but Timma circles away and keeps his distance.
Timma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rassi works the jab nicely.
Rassi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rassi swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Timma scores with a body shot.
Rassi slips a jab from Timma.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Timma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Timma shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Timma connects with a jab.
Rassi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Some wild striking there from Rassi.
Timma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rassi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Timma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Timma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rassi moves away.
Rassi throws a hook to the side of Timma's head but Timma sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rassi ducks under a wild hook from Timma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Timma takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rassi lands a nice shot that snaps Timma's head back.
Timma throws a push kick but Rassi slaps the foot to one side.
Rassi misses with a head kick.
Timma swings for the body but Rassi moves out of range.
A head kick from Rassi lands but Timma takes it in his stride.
Rassi tries to clinch but Timma is having none of it.
Rassi misses with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Timma thows a body shot but no joy.
Rassi throws a sloppy head kick and Timma moves out of range easily.
Timma is looking to wear down Rassi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rassi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Timma.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lazy left from Timma finds it's target.
Rassi looks to land a combination but Timma avoids it well.
Timma looks to score with a jab to the body but Rassi is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samuraimo Rassi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Timma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Timma goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Timma chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Timma swings for the body but Rassi moves out of range.
Timma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Timma throws a nice outside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rassi.
Rassi thows a body kick. Timma tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Timma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rassi slips a jab from Timma.
Timma looks to score with a jab to the body but Rassi is just out of range.
Rassi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Timma.
Rassi lands with a cross.
Rassi thows a body shot but no joy.
Timma ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Timma throws a hook to the side of Rassi's head but Rassi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Timma misses the shot to the body.
Timma tries to move into range but Rassi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Timma bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rassi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rassi looks to score with a jab to the body but Timma is just out of range.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch but Timma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rassi throws a wild body kick that Timma sees coming a mile off.
Timma takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Timma scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rassi scores with a sloppy right hand. Timma should have avoided that one.
Timma has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rassi.
Timma slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Timma steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rassi.
Rassi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Timma. Timma obviously looking to wear him down.
Rassi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Timma counters with a nice leg kick.
Rassi throws a looping overhand right but Timma ducks down to avoid it.
Timma misses with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Timma misses with a looping left.
Timma throws a leg kick
and Rassi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Timma has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rassi.
Timma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Timma moves out of range of the body kick from Rassi.
Rassi throws a head kick that misses
and Timma counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Timma swats away the attempt to clinch by Rassi.
Rassi throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rassi tries to land a front kick but Timma steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rassi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rassi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Timma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rassi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Timma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rassi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rassi tries to land a body kick
and Timma counters with a good low kick that Rassi was not able to check.
Timma throws a right hand that Rassi ducks under and follows up with a left that Rassi also avoids with ease.
Rassi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Timma is able to avoid easily.
Timma throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rassi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Timma ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Timma ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Timma blocks the body kick.
Rassi tries to clinch there but Timma circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Timma smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rassi misses the shot to the body.
Rassi throws a lazy head kick
and Timma counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Samuraimo Rassi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rassi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rassi throws a lazy uppercut
and Timma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Timma throws a body punch but Rassi moves out of range.
Rassi throws a lazy head kick
and Timma counters with a right hand to the body.
Rassi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Timma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rassi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Timma is able to avoid easily.
Timma looks for the body kick but Rassi saw that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rassi lunges at Timma with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Timma's hand.
Timma moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rassi needs to keep his hands up - Timma had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Kaspars Timma did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rassi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Timma counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rassi thinking.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Timma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rassi fakes the leg kick and cracks Timma in the body.
Rassi wants to clinch.
Timma throws a leg kick
and Rassi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rassi throws a lazy body kick
and Timma counters with a leg kick.
Rassi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Timma avoids the head kick by Rassi.
No joy there for Timma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rassi clinches with his opponent.

Timma breaks from the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rassi. That's going to slow Timma down.
Timma scores with a shot to the body.
Jab from Timma.
Timma will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Timma misses with an uppercut

and Rassi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rassi.
Timma tries a body shot but Rassi blocks it.
Rassi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Timma has him pressed against the cage.
Rassi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Timma avoiding damage as Rassi throws knees to the body.
Timma keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rassi's efforts to push away.
Timma misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rassi.

Timma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Timma lands with a straight right. Rassi didn't see that one coming.
Timma keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rassi.
Timma closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rassi is looking to clinch.
Rassi tries to clinch
enabling Timma to counter with a crisp jab.
Rassi wants to clinch up but Timma keeps it at a distance.
Rassi misses with an uppercut. Timma saw that one coming.
Timma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rassi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rassi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rassi tries to clinch there but Timma circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Timma looks to land a left hand but Rassi moved out of range nicely.
Timma slips under a jab.
Rassi avoids the head kick by Timma.
Timma looks to score with a jab to the body but Rassi is just out of range.
Rassi misses with a leg kick.
Rassi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rassi throws a sloppy head kick and Timma moves out of range easily.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Timma paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rassi has managed to clinch.
Timma is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rassi throws a punch but it's blocked by Timma.

Timma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rassi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Timma looks to land a right hand but Rassi moved out of range.
Timma throws a low kick but Rassi moves out of range easily.
Rassi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Timma counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rassi thinking.
Some bone on bone action there as Rassi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Timma circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rassi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rassi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Timma misses with a hook. Rassi ducked under it nicely.
Rassi throws a head kick that misses.
Rassi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Timma moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rassi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Timma.
Timma cracks the inside of Rassi's front leg.
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!
Rassi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Timma.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Rassi. Those never looked like landing.
Timma swats away the attempt to clinch by Rassi.
Rassi is looking to clinch but Timma is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Samuraimo Rassi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Timma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rassi cracks Timma with a good jab.
Timma avoids the head kick by Rassi.
Rassi wants to clinch
and Timma counters with a straight right hand.
Rassi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Timma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Timma scores with a nice head shot.
Rassi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Timma counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Timma swings for the body but Rassi moves out of range.
Rassi avoids the body shot from Timma.
Rassi avoids the head kick by Timma.
Good work by Timma as he checks the leg kick.
Timma throws the kick towards the body but Rassi avoids it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Timma darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Timma changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Timma misses with a right hand
and Rassi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Timma throws the left hand but Rassi avoids the punch easily.

Rassi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rassi struggles to land a body shot inside as Timma controls his hands.
Timma managing to block the knees to the body from Rassi.
Timma leaning his opponent against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Rassi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rassi wants to clinch.
Rassi thuds a left hand into Timma's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Timma misses the target.
Timma fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Timma throws a hook but Rassi blocks it.
Nice body kick from Rassi.
Timma misses with a lunging right hand
and Rassi counters with a good low kick that Timma was not able to check.
Timma misses with a kick to the body.
Rassi darts in trying to clinch
and Timma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Timma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Timma misses with a looping right.
Timma connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rassi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Timma throws a quick inside leg kick.
Timma swats away the attempt to clinch by Rassi.
Rassi scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rassi is looking to slow Timma down with leg kicks.
Timma showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rassi.
Rassi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Timma takes a step back to recover.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rassi.
Rassi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Timma moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rassi tries to clinch but Timma is having none of it.
Timma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Timma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Timma swats away the attempt to clinch by Rassi.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Timma swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A low kick from Timma is predictable there
and Rassi counters with a good, hard body kick but Timma shrugs it off.
Timma finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rassi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Timma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rassi.
Rassi tries to clinch there but Timma circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rassi moves away from the strike by Timma.
A head kick misses from Rassi.
Timma moves out of range of the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Samuraimo Rassi.
I think Rassi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 47:48
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 46:49
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Samuraimo Rassi!
Samuraimo Rassi is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Samuraimo Rassi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.