PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benji Saxon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Raakalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saxon comes to the cage accompanied by Chris Cornell - You Know My Name. This should be a great matchup!

Saxon
vs
Raakalainen

190 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Berserker Nutrition

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benji Saxon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Riku Raakalainen!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saxon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice elbow from Saxon.
Raakalainen jumps guard but Saxon stands there with Raakalainen around his waist. Raakalainen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Raakalainen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Raakalainen avoids the elbow strike from Saxon, against the cage.
Raakalainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Saxon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raakalainen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Raakalainen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Saxon clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Raakalainen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Saxon has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Saxon controlling Raakalainen 's hands.

Saxon is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Saxon trying to control the action but Raakalainen just sinks the hooks in.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saxon defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Saxon trying to control the hands but Raakalainen won't let him.
Saxon rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saxon desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Raakalainen tries to pass to full mount but Saxon defends it.
Saxon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Raakalainen is working away from the top position though.
Saxon wants to improve his position but Raakalainen is controlling well.
Saxon is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saxon is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Raakalainen gets a takedown into half guard.
Raakalainen looks gassed!
Raakalainen tries to stand and escape but Saxon is controlling the position.
Saxon tries to roll over but Raakalainen keeps him under control.
Raakalainen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saxon is looking to get to half guard.

Raakalainen looking for a guillotine from mount but Saxon is having none of it.
Saxon is looking to get to half guard.
Saxon tries to lock up and control but Raakalainen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Raakalainen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Raakalainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Raakalainen feints and as Saxon raises his hands in defense, Raakalainen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saxon trying to control the position.
Saxon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raakalainen is one step ahead there.
Saxon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saxon has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Raakalainen has passed into side control.

Raakalainen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saxon is trying to control Raakalainen's posture but Raakalainen avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Raakalainen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Saxon has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Raakalainen but great work by Saxon.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raakalainen is being controlled here.
Saxon wants to take a breather but Raakalainen manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Saxon.

Raakalainen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raakalainen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Raakalainen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Raakalainen keeping moving, preventing Saxon from controlling successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Benji Saxon just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Raakalainen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Saxon manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Saxon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Raakalainen is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saxon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Raakalainen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Raakalainen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saxon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raakalainen.

Raakalainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Raakalainen wants to free his trapped foot but Saxon is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saxon is looking to control Raakalainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saxon avoid being mounted?
Raakalainen tries to pass to full mount but Saxon defends it.
Saxon holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Raakalainen is trying to work for a kimura but Saxon is defending well.
Saxon wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Raakalainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Raakalainen misses with a head kick.
Raakalainen throws a head kick but Saxon moves out of range.

Raakalainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Raakalainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raakalainen blocks an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Saxon.
Raakalainen avoids the elbow strike from Saxon, against the cage.
Raakalainen tries to score a body lock takedown but Saxon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Saxon lands a damaging elbow.

Raakalainen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Saxon can't fight it off and eventually Raakalainen manages to take the fight to the floor. Saxon looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Saxon looking for a sweep. Not yet Saxon, not yet.

Raakalainen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saxon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Raakalainen, into his guard.
Raakalainen keeping moving, preventing Saxon from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saxon is really struggling to control Raakalainen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Saxon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raakalainen on the ground.

Raakalainen has his foot on Saxon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saxon works his way back into a safe position though.
Raakalainen trying to control the position.

Raakalainen looking for a guillotine here but Saxon defends easily.
Raakalainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saxon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raakalainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raakalainen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Raakalainen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Saxon wants to sweep but Raakalainen has passed to side control!
Saxon can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saxon is looking for a sweep.

Raakalainen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Saxon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Saxon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Raakalainen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Raakalainen in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Saxon is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Riku Raakalainen!