PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Topias Raja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Elliot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raja comes to the ring accompanied by Sail by Armin Van Buuren. Topias Raja has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raja
vs
Elliot

182 cm
22
137 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

164 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Topias Raja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Roberto Elliot!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raja is looking to clinch but Elliot is avoiding it.
Raja drops Elliot with a nice combination! Raja dives into Elliot's guard, looking to finish!

Elliot is rocked!

It looks like Roberto Elliot has been cut.
Raja stays in close to Elliot's body and controls the position.
Elliot is still in real trouble! Can Raja finish him?
Raja will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Elliot looking for a sweep. Not yet Elliot, not yet.
Elliot seems to have recovered his senses.
Raja controls from within his opponent's guard.
Elliot wants to sweep but no luck.
Raja slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Elliot is trying to control the position but Raja postures up.
Raja controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Raja stands up and waves to Elliot to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elliot darts in trying to clinch
and Raja counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Elliot checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Raja takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Elliot tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Raja counters with a one-two to the body.
Raja circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elliot looks for a takedown but Raja sprawls well.
Elliot attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Raja has Elliot up against the ropes in a clinch.
Elliot tries to break the clinch but Raja is controlling the position.
Raja lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Elliot backwards.

Raja gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Raja is thwarting Elliot's attempts to control the position.
Elliot might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Raja kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Elliot looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elliot throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Raja prevents Elliot from improving his position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Elliot is doing well to control the position and prevent Raja from advancing to side control.
Raja wants to stand but Elliot has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Elliot trying to control but Raja postures up.
Elliot is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Raja clinches with his opponent.
Elliot is trying to break the clinch but Raja has him pressed against the ropes.
A short left from Raja.

Raja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Raja instigates a clinch.
Elliot has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Raja is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Raja is trying to trip Elliot. He has hold of a leg but Elliot is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Raja persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Raja stopping the sweep attempt from Elliot.
Raja has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Elliot is striking from the bottom but Raja uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Elliot wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliot gets back to full guard.
Raja really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Raja controlling from the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raja decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Elliot, up you get!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Topias Raja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roberto Elliot's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Elliot tries to clinch up

and Raja counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Raja.

Raja breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Elliot darts in trying to clinch

and Raja holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Raja throws an elbow but it misses.
Raja scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Elliot is looking to break free of the clinch but Raja has double underhooks.
Raja keeps control of Elliot as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Raja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Elliot tries to close the distance and clinch but Raja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Elliot swinging wilding here.
A combination from Elliot does no damage.
Elliot keeps the fight on the outside.
Elliot is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raja tries to clinch up but Elliot circles away and keeps his distance.
Topias Raja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Elliot circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raja fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Elliot.
Raja tries to clinch up but Elliot circles away and keeps his distance.
Raja is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Raja closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elliot can't break the clinch.
Elliot is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Raja scores with a shot to the side of Elliot's head.

Raja breaks from the clinch.
Elliot tries to clinch

and Raja holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Raja scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Raja breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Elliot throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Raja counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Raja lands with a light punch inside.
A short body shot lands from Raja as the two fighters clinch.

Raja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Raja drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Raja taking a breather here.

Raja decides to stand back up.

Raja darts in and clinches Elliot up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raja breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Elliot misses with a takedown attempt - Raja sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Raja moves into the clinch.

Raja breaks from the clinch.

Raja clinches with his opponent.
Come on Raja - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Elliot stops a takedown attempt from Raja.
Elliot has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raja avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Topias Raja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Elliot.
Raja lands a shoulder strike.
Elliot is trying to break the clinch but Raja has him pressed against the ropes.
Raja lands a shoulder strike.
A short left from Raja.

Raja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Raja pushes Elliot up against the ropes in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raja lands a left hand.
Elliot is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Elliot wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raja lands a right hand.

Raja tightens his grip and picks Elliot up, before dumping him to the ground. Elliot manages to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliot is trying to control the position but Raja postures up.
Elliot tries to strike from the bottom.

Elliot throws his legs up looking for a submission but Raja uses it to pass to side control.
Elliot is trying to control Raja's posture but Raja avoids it.
Elliot tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Raja decides to stand back up.
A nice combination there by Elliot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four 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.
Raja tries to clinch but Elliot moves out of range.
Raja tries to clinch up.
Elliot fails in his attempt to clinch.

Raja closes the distance and clinches.
Raja lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Raja scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Raja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raja tries to close the distance and clinch up but Elliot swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Elliot doesn't manage to clinch there - Raja circles away.
Raja moves in looking to clinch but Elliot pushes him off.
Raja tries to clinch but Elliot is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Elliot looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Elliot looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Raja is fending him off so far but Elliot persists. Nope, Raja circles away and we're back to standing.
Elliot shoots in and drives through. Raja sprawls well.

Raja forces Elliot back against the ropes and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raja has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Elliot regains guard immediately.
Elliot trying to keep a closed guard but Raja is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Topias Raja dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roberto Elliot's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Raja circles away from the clinch attempt

and Raja counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Raja lands a left hand.
Raja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Elliot can do to turn this around?
Raja pushes Elliot back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

Raja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elliot wants to clinch

and Raja counters by moving into the clinch.
Raja is leaning against Elliot and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Raja.
Elliot is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Raja breaks from the clinch.

Raja clinches with his opponent.
Elliot takes an elbow to the temple.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Raja.
Raja lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Raja working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short left from Raja.
A short right from Raja.
Elliot wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raja lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Raja lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Elliot can't break the clinch.

Raja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Raja closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elliot has had enough of the clinch but Raja keeps him there for the moment.
Elliot wants to break free but Raja has control.
Raja leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Raja lands with a left to the head.
Raja is leaning against Elliot and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Elliot is trying to break the clinch but Raja has him pressed against the ropes.
Elliot is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Raja lands with a right to the head.

Raja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Raja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Elliot, pushing him back against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Raja.

Raja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raja wants to clinch up but Elliot keeps it at a distance.

Raja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Elliot, pushing him back against the ropes.

Raja breaks the clinch.
Raja keeps the fight on the outside.
Raja moves out of range of the body kick.
Raja is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raja circles away from the clinch attempt.

Raja pushes Elliot up against the ropes in a clinch.
Raja lands an elbow just above Elliot 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Raja.
Elliot wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raja has him pressed against the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Raja scores with a nice short uppercut.

Raja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Elliot connects with a good right hand that stumbles Raja. Raja circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Raja blocks a head kick by Elliot.
Raja connects with a good right hand that stumbles Elliot. Elliot circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Raja clinches up against the ropes.
Elliot wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raja lands a hook that snaps the head of Elliot backwards.
Elliot stops a takedown attempt from Raja.
Raja swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Elliot tries to break the clinch but Raja is controlling the position.
A short left from Raja.
Raja is looking to control Elliot's arms but Elliot gets an underhook and turns him. Now Raja has his back to the ropes.
Elliot wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raja scores with a nice hook to the head.
Elliot is trying to break the clinch but Raja has him pressed against the ropes.
Elliot wants to get back to striking at distance but Raja won't allow it.
Raja lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Raja lands a left hand.

Raja jumps guard.
Elliot throwing strikes from guard but Raja blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliot trying to control but Raja is working from the bottom.
Topias Raja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raja is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elliot is controlling him.
Raja is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Elliot wants to control from the top but Raja keeps moving.
Raja wants to stand but Elliot is controlling the position.
Topias Raja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Elliot looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Raja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Elliot paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Elliot lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Raja circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raja scores with a jab to the body.

Raja moves into range and clinches up with Elliot.
Raja tries to score a body lock takedown but Elliot shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Elliot is trying to break the clinch but Raja has him pressed against the ropes.
Elliot wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Elliot is looking to break free of the clinch but Raja has double underhooks.
Elliot wants to break free but Raja has control.
Raja scores with a shoulder strike.
Raja lands a shoulder strike.
Roberto Elliot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elliot takes a shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Topias Raja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raja has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Topias Raja!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Topias Raja!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Topias Raja!

Topias Raja wins by unanimous decision!