PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jani Reuhkala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Almeida
vs
Reuhkala

191 cm
26
196 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

179 cm
18
197 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
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 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jani Reuhkala!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reuhkala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reuhkala looks to land a right hand but Almeida moved out of range.
Almeida misses with a double jab
and Reuhkala counters with a straight right hand.
Reuhkala misses with a double jab.
Almeida takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Rafael Almeida has been cut.
Almeida fails with the takedown.
Almeida shoots in for a double leg but Reuhkala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Reuhkala instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almeida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Almeida blocks a jab.
Reuhkala waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Almeida.
Reuhkala misses with a lunging right hand
and Almeida counters with a two punch combo.
Reuhkala swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Almeida counters with a big head kick but Reuhkala shrugs it off.
Reuhkala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Almeida.
Reuhkala throws a right hand that misses
and Almeida makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Reuhkala really felt that one!
Reuhkala just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Reuhkala misses.
Reuhkala takes a swing at Almeida's ribcage but misses.
Reuhkala throws a right hand that misses

and Almeida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Almeida uses his free foot to push down on Reuhkala's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Reuhkala.
Reuhkala stops Almeida from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Reuhkala is looking to get to half guard.
Reuhkala just holding on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Reuhkala can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Almeida has control of Reuhkala's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Reuhkala regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Reuhkala looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida biding his time, controlling Reuhkala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reuhkala is in bad spot here.

Reuhkala defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Almeida's arms.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reuhkala is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reuhkala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Reuhkala won't enjoy being in this position. Almeida looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Reuhkala is tapping - it's over boys! Almeida picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rafael Almeida!