PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jarmppa Kaataja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Raider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kaataja
vs
Raider

184 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jarmppa Kaataja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ricky Raider!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raider closes the distance and clinches.
Kaataja throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Raider drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kaataja gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A knee to the head by Kaataja.

It looks like Ricky Raider has been cut.
Kaataja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Raider wants a takedown.
Kaataja misses with a knee to the head.
Raider is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kaataja gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jarmppa Kaataja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Raider.
Kaataja lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Raider lands a knee to the head.
Kaataja misses with a knee to the head.
Raider wants a takedown.
Kaataja blocks an uppercut.
Raider tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kaataja smiles and moves away.
Kaataja looks to clinch
and Raider counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaataja wants to clinch up but Raider keeps it at a distance.
Raider smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kaataja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A leg kick checked by Kaataja.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Raider doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raider swings wildly with an uppercut but Kaataja uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kaataja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Raider.
Raider tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raider misses with a hook from the clinch.
Raider has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kaataja avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kaataja landing knees to the head.
Kaataja lands an elbow inside that Raider shrugs off.
Raider takes a knee right on the jaw!

Raider gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kaataja is trying to stand.
Raider throwing shots but Kaataja is blocking nicely.
Kaataja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Raider is keen to just control but Kaataja is a slippery customer.
Kaataja wants to get back to his feet.
Raider working over Kaataja with some ground and pound. Kaataja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raider is looking for a kimura but Kaataja is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Raider to get the leverage.
Raider looks gassed!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kaataja closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Raider drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kaataja pulls his leg out and moves away.
Raider swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaataja.
Raider swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaataja.
Raider lands a head shot.
Kaataja darts in trying to clinch

and Raider counters with a shoot takedown. Kaataja fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raider prevents Kaataja from getting back to his feet.

Kaataja pushes Raider off and gets back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Raider connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Raider connects with a single shot there.

Kaataja forces Raider back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raider avoids a wild elbow strike from Kaataja.
Raider has a couple of punches blocked by Kaataja.
Kaataja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Raider tries to pull guard but Kaataja holds him up against the cage and eventually Raider drops back down to his feet.

Raider turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kaataja wants to get back to his feet.
Raider working the ground and pound from side control.

Raider tries for a kimura but Kaataja is defending well.
Raider connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kaataja some visible discomfort.
Kaataja is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Raider asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raider has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raider working the ground and pound.

Raider thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Raider is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kaataja has escaped the position, nice work there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raider connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kaataja some visible discomfort.
Raider prevents Kaataja from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Raider dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Raider's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Raider pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kaataja wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Raider.
Kaataja tries to clinch
and Raider counters with a straight right hand.
Kaataja is looking to clinch.
Raider fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaataja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kaataja moves out of range as Raider strikes.
Kaataja wants to clinch up but Raider keeps it at a distance.
Kaataja clinches but Raider breaks the clinch

and Raider counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raider goes for a takedown attempt but Kaataja pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kaataja wants to clinch.
Kaataja wants to clinch up but Raider keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raider moves into range and connects with a jab.
Raider throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kaataja on the side of the head.
Kaataja clinches but Raider breaks the clinch

and Raider counters with a shoot takedown. Kaataja fights it but they end up in guard.
Raider won't allow Kaataja to get back to his feet.
Raider stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kaataja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raider loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raider lands a couple of elbows.
Kaataja wants to stand up but Raider is controlling him.
Raider lands a couple of digs.

Raider drops back looking for a leg! Kaataja is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kaataja manages to kick Raider off! Raider jumps back into Kaataja's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kaataja tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kaataja wants to clinch but Raider slips to the side
and Raider counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaataja tries to clinch up.
Raider stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Raider scores with a head kick.
Kaataja tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Raider connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kaataja tries to clinch but Raider moves out of range.
Raider lands a glancing blow to the side of Kaataja's head.
Kaataja tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Raider counters with a straight right hand.
Nice shot by Raider.
The fighters circle momentarily. Raider darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kaataja fails with an attempt to clinch.

Raider gets a clinch.
Raider tries to pull guard but Kaataja holds him up against the cage and eventually Raider drops back down to his feet.
Jarmppa Kaataja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Raider.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raider drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kaataja gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kaataja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Raider jumps guard but Kaataja stands there with Raider around his waist. Raider gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Raider is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kaataja can't fight it off and eventually Raider manages to take the fight to the floor. Kaataja looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kaataja is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Raider lands a couple of elbows.
Kaataja wants to get back to his feet but Raider is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Raider drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raider jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaataja wants to get back to his feet but Raider is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Raider working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kaataja's head.
Raider makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raider with a jab.

Raider closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kaataja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Raider looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Raider looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kaataja with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Raider connects with a nice short shot to Kaataja's temple.
Kaataja looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Raider showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ricky Raider's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Raider lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kaataja tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Raider counters with a takedown into side control.
Kaataja is trying to buck Raider off.

Raider wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kaataja, who protects the arm well.
Kaataja is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Raider is controlling him well.

Raider thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Raider trying to control the position but Kaataja is working away.
Kaataja tries to escape but Raider is in control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Raider looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kaataja!
Raider tries to control but Kaataja wriggling away.

Raider looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kaataja is trying to stand up.

Raider is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kaataja is surviving well by controlling Raider's body position as best he can.

Raider looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kaataja is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raider putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Raider is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kaataja can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kaataja is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Raider looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kaataja is trying to stand.

Kaataja defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Raider.
You get the feeling that Kaataja really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Raider landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raider with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kaataja tries to buck Raider off but he can't manage it.
Raider wants to control the pace but Kaataja is squirming around nicely.

Raider looking to secure an arm triangle but Kaataja defends it well.
Kaataja is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Raider working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Raider is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kaataja can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Kaataja somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Raider misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Raider gets a clinch.

Raider has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kaataja is trying to keep an underhook but Raider manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kaataja is trying to stand back up but Raider is controlling him

Raider is looking for a kimura here.
Kaataja is trying to stand.
Jarmppa Kaataja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricky Raider has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raider lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Raider lands a nice short elbow.
Kaataja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Raider working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Raider comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Raider winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Raider!