PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Radev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Raven could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nikolai Radev's chin.

Raven
vs
Radev

188 cm
32
197 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

184 cm
32
190 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thomas Raven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nikolai Radev!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Radev throws a hook to the side of Raven's head but Raven sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Raven throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Radev moves out of range of the leg kick from Raven.

Raven feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Raven working some strikes from top position.
Raven wants to pass the guard but Radev is keeping the position.
Radev 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Radev keeping moving, preventing Raven from controlling successfully.
Radev 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 one minute gone in the round.
Raven sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Raven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Radev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raven.
Raven postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Radev pulls Raven in close to prevent any damage.
Raven seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Raven throws a low kick but Radev avoids it.
Raven digs a good hook to Radev's body.
An inside leg kick from Raven misses.
Raven shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Radev as he jumps to the side.
Radev lands with a straight right. Raven didn't see that one coming.
Radev checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Radev misses with a leg kick
and Raven counters with a body kick that stops Radev in his tracks momentarily.
Raven avoids the body shot from Radev.
Radev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crunch! Raven slams his shin into Radev's torso.

Raven drives through with a takedown into Radev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Radev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Radev looking for a sweep. Not yet Radev, not yet.
Radev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Raven 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.
Radev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raven is one step ahead there.
Raven wants to control from the top but Radev keeps moving.
Raven scoring with punches to the head and body.
Raven throwing strikes from guard but Radev blocks nicely.
Raven postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Radev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Raven controls the pace.
Raven trying to control the position from guard on top but Radev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Radev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raven.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Raven will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Radev lands a jab.
Radev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Raven dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raven throws a leg kick
and Radev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Radev drives through with a takedown into Raven's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Raven tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raven wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Radev is now in half guard.
Raven is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Radev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Radev's back!
Raven lands a shot to the head.
Raven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Radev can do to turn this around?
Even with his hooks in, Raven manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Radev covering up well under a series of strikes from Raven.
You can see the frustration on Radev's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven punches Radev on the ear.
Raven keeps control of the position as Radev tries to break free.
Raven punches Radev on the ear.
Radev is trying to break free.
Raven lands shots from the back.
Raven lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Radev hold on?!
Radev trying to control the hands but Raven won't let him.
Radev is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven scores with strikes from the back.

Radev is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Radev is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Radev tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Raven lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Radev is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot lands for Raven! Radev is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Thomas Raven!
Thomas Raven took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.