PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcan Branigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Raty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Raty is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Branigan
vs
Raty

194 cm
21
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
220 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcan Branigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Raty!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raty tries to close the distance and clinch up but Branigan swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Branigan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Branigan passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Raty!
Raty is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raty keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Branigan trying to control but Raty is having none of it.
Branigan lands a nice shot to the head.
Raty wants to hold on but Branigan pushes him away.
Raty is in all sorts of trouble here.

Branigan working for a submission but Raty is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raty tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Raty sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Raty misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Raty is looking for a sweep. Branigan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raty trying to control from the bottom.
Raty gets full guard.

Branigan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Branigan is pushing down on Raty's leg trying to pass to half guard. Raty is fighting to maintain full guard but Branigan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Raty looks gassed!
Branigan throwing shots but Raty is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branigan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raty manages to get to full guard.
Raty tries to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Branigan pushes down on Raty's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Raty trying to hold on to Branigan's head to control him but Branigan postures up.
Branigan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raty knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Branigan not doing much here.
Branigan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Raty keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branigan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Branigan is looking for a kimura here.
Branigan prevents Raty from improving his position.
Raty trying to control but Branigan postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Branigan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raty as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Raty clinches up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Raty.

Branigan has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Raty clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Raty is trying to break free.
Branigan could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Branigan tries to get the hooks in deep but Raty pushed the leg off.
Raty rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Raty looking for submissions off his back.
Branigan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcan Branigan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck for Branigan with that takedown attempt.
Branigan throws a series of punches but Raty avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raty slips under a jab from Branigan.
Raty misses with a double jab

and Branigan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Branigan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raty drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Branigan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Raty looking for a takedown.
Branigan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marcan Branigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Raty.
Branigan has Raty pressed against the cage.
Raty tries to pull guard but Branigan holds him up against the cage and eventually Raty drops back down to his feet.
Branigan prevents the takedown attempt.
Raty trying to stall but Branigan improves his position.

Branigan drags the fight down to the ground.
Branigan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Raty is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Branigan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Branigan has escaped and now he's on top!
Branigan controlling from the top position.
Branigan pushes down on Raty's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Branigan is controlling the pace.
Raty trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Branigan manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raty tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Branigan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Branigan landing strikes from the mount.
Branigan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Branigan landing shots from mount.
Branigan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Branigan content just to control the position here.
Raty really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branigan is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Branigan raining down shots from the mount!
Branigan prevents Raty from getting the reversal.
Branigan working the ground and pound effectively.
Branigan controlling the position easily from mount.
Raty tries to hold on but Branigan pushes him away.
Raty is trying to reverse the position but instead Branigan has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcan Branigan dominated that second round.
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!

Branigan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Raty working for a triangle but Branigan defends it easily.

Branigan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Raty is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Raty has escaped and now he's on top!
Branigan keeping full guard, as Raty tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raty won't allow Branigan to sweep him here.
Raty looking to pass the guard.
Raty must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Branigan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Branigan has momentary wrist control but Raty slips an elbow through the middle.
Raty preventing the sweep.
Raty trying to control the position from guard on top but Branigan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Branigan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Raty gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Branigan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Branigan tries to clinch but Raty is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Branigan scores a takedown into full mount!
Raty is looking to get to half guard.
Seppo Raty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Branigan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Raty tries to improve his position but instead Branigan has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branigan keeps control of the position as Raty tries to break free.
Raty is keeping busy.
Raty trying to get back to his feet but Branigan is in full control for now.
Raty trying to control the position but Branigan manages to sink in the hooks.
Raty rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Raty works his way to full guard. Good work.
Branigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Raty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Branigan preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Branigan prevents Raty from getting back to his feet.
Marcan Branigan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raty looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Raty working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Branigan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Branigan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marcan Branigan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Branigan content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raty swinging wilding here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcan Branigan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Branigan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcan Branigan!