PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Rahapussi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Permitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rahapussi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Caged in A Rage . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rahapussi
vs
Permitis

178 cm
24
190 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

180 cm
26
190 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Affordable Quality
GREEN!160

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taisto Rahapussi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francois Permitis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahapussi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rahapussi connects with a body shot.
Rahapussi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Permitis momentarily.
Rahapussi throws a head kick but Permitis moves out of range.
Permitis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rahapussi lands a leg kick that knocks Permitis off balance momentarily.
Rahapussi works the jab nicely.

Permitis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Permitis seems to be working for a kimura but Rahapussi defends the submission attempt.

Permitis is working for a kimura but Rahapussi is defending it quite comfortably.

Rahapussi is defending against the submission attempts here by Permitis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Permitis thows a huge punch but Rahapussi dodges it nicely.

Permitis is working for a submission of some sort.
Rahapussi is trying to maintain the position but Permitis is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Permitis trying to control from half guard but Rahapussi is working away.
Rahapussi trying to control from the bottom.

Permitis is looking for a kimura but Rahapussi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Permitis to get the leverage.
Permitis prevents Rahapussi from improving his position.
Permitis is keen to just control but Rahapussi is a slippery customer.

Permitis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rahapussi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Permitis.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rahapussi wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rahapussi is defending against the submission attempts here by Permitis.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rahapussi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Permitis.
Permitis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rahapussi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rahapussi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Permitis pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Permitis escapes and gets back to his feet.
A jab from Rahapussi misses.
Permitis has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Rahapussi connects with a solid leg kick.
Rahapussi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Permitis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rahapussi throws a lazy uppercut

and Permitis counters with a single leg into guard. Rahapussi didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Permitis trying to control but Rahapussi is working from the bottom.

Rahapussi working for a triangle but Permitis defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Permitis wants to control from the top but Rahapussi keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois Permitis dominated that round.
That's time! Rahapussi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Permitis avoids the body shot from Rahapussi.
Permitis avoids the head kick by Rahapussi.
Permitis gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rahapussi.
Permitis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rahapussi misses with a straight right.
Rahapussi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Permitis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rahapussi as he avoids it easily.
Rahapussi scores with a body shot.
Permitis ducks under a wild hook from Rahapussi.
Rahapussi throws a good cross that connects.
Nice straight punches there by Rahapussi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rahapussi.
Permitis shoots for a double leg takedown but Rahapussi sprawls well. He's pushed Permitis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahapussi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Permitis on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rahapussi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Permitis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rahapussi throws the left hand but Permitis avoids the punch easily.
Rahapussi throws a looping overhand right but Permitis ducks down to avoid it.
Rahapussi misses with a kick to the body.
Rahapussi throws a jab when Permitis was well out of range.
Rahapussi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rahapussi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Permitis counters with a series of strikes. Rahapussi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rahapussi misses the jab.
Rahapussi misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Rahapussi. That snapped Permitis's head back.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rahapussi.
Taisto Rahapussi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Rahapussi misses.
Rahapussi lands the left hand.
Rahapussi misses with a straight left.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rahapussi throws a combination that misses
and Permitis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rahapussi swings widly with a right hand

and Permitis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Permitis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Permitis is thwarting Rahapussi's attempts to control the position.

Permitis is working for a kimura but Rahapussi is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahapussi is looking to improve his position.
Permitis thows a huge punch but Rahapussi dodges it nicely.
Permitis is trying to control. Rahapussi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Permitis is looking for a kimura but Rahapussi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Permitis to get the leverage.
Rahapussi tries to roll over but Permitis keeps him under control.

Permitis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Permitis lands a nice short elbow.
Permitis has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Rahapussi works to full guard.

Rahapussi is looking for a triangle here but Permitis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Permitis swings around for an armbar but Rahapussi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Permitis's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rahapussi trying to control but Permitis is working from the bottom.
Rahapussi advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Rahapussi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rahapussi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Permitis under the eye.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rahapussi.
Rahapussi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rahapussi looks to land a body kick but Permitis moved away.
Rahapussi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Permitis ducks under a wild hook from Rahapussi.
Taisto Rahapussi is winning the standup battle so far.
Rahapussi thows a body shot but no joy.
Rahapussi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Permitis moves away.
Rahapussi lands a really nice looking cross but Permitis seems unphased.
Rahapussi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Permitis moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahapussi catches Permitis with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Francois Permitis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rahapussi scores with a jab. Permitis acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Donk. Rahapussi catches Permitis right on the button with a cross.
Rahapussi sizes up Permitis with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rahapussi with a nice cross.
Rahapussi throws a head kick but Permitis moves out of range.
Rahapussi throws a low kick, looking for Permitis's leg but Permitis calmly moves out of range.
Permitis blocks a head kick by Rahapussi.
Rahapussi connects with a crisp jab.
Permitis takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Permitis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahapussi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rahapussi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Permitis manages to avoid it.
Rahapussi swings widly with a right hand

and Permitis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rahapussi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rahapussi misses with a straight left.
Rahapussi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Permitis slips a straight right by Rahapussi.
Rahapussi throws a predictable looking body shot

and Permitis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rahapussi's guard now.
Permitis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Permitis throwing strikes but missing.
Permitis trying to control the position from guard on top but Rahapussi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rahapussi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Permitis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rahapussi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rahapussi keeping moving, preventing Permitis from controlling successfully.

Rahapussi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Permitis defends it easily.
Francois Permitis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Permitis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahapussi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Permitis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rahapussi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Permitis throwing strikes from guard but Rahapussi blocks nicely.
Rahapussi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rahapussi keeping moving, preventing Permitis from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taisto Rahapussi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rahapussi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Rahapussi!
After winning the bout, Taisto Rahapussi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.