PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghost Lightning (ranked 2107 p4p, 241 weight class) and Eddie Rayne (ranked 2794 p4p, 304 weight class). Rayne has chosen Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lightning
vs
Rayne

225 cm
23
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
20
285 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ghost Lightning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Rayne!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rayne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lightning looks to score with a jab to the body but Rayne is just out of range.
Lightning has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Eddie Rayne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rayne swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lightning counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rayne's knee momentarily.
Lightning getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Eddie Rayne has been cut.
Lightning throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rayne on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd cheers as Lightning lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rayne doesn't seem phased though.
Lightning is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lightning throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rayne takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lightning cracks Rayne with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayne misses with a two punch combination.
Rayne misses with a body shot.
A big right from Rayne misses.
A shot to the body from Rayne misses
and Lightning counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rayne lands with a good body shot.
Lightning really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rayne thuds his right hand into Lightning's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rayne with a poor takedown
and Lightning counters with a stiff right hand.
Rayne misses with the combination.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Rayne has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Rayne changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayne fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lightning is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rayne takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lightning is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rayne looks to throw a body kick
and Lightning cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rayne misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lightning was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rayne misses with a head kick.
Rayne misses with a looping left.
Rayne ducks right into an uppercut from Lightning.
Lightning scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lightning swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rayne.
Rayne gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Lightning counters with a nice right hand that sends Rayne toppling to the canvas! Rayne scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Lightning finish him?!
Rayne throws a body shot but no joy.
Lightning steps in with a hook that catches Rayne right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Lightning follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Rayne looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ghost Lightning!