PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Tomoguchi (ranked 1474 p4p, 1424 weight class) and Ilari Rahamies (ranked 196 p4p, 131 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Tomoguchi
vs
Rahamies

180 cm
26
155
11 - 10 - 0

175 cm
27
145
8 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

FF Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Shinji Tomoguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ilari Rahamies!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahamies keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rahamies throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tomoguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tomoguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Tomoguchi misses the target.
Rahamies connects with a solid leg kick.
Tomoguchi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Deathsquad in the buildup to the fight.
Shinji Tomoguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tomoguchi wants to clinch.
Rahamies misses with a straight right.
Tomoguchi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rahamies circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Tomoguchi misses the target.
The fighters circling - Rahamies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tomoguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rahamies was well out of range. Poor timing from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi checks a leg kick.

Tomoguchi gets a clinch.

Rahamies pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rahamies fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tomoguchi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rahamies uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rahamies.
Rahamies looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tomoguchi throws a combination that misses
and Rahamies counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tomoguchi's knee momentarily.
Tomoguchi dips to his left and cracks Rahamies with an uppercut!
Tomoguchi ducks under a wild hook from Rahamies.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi scores with a hook.
Rahamies fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tomoguchi manages to avoid it.
Tomoguchi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rahamies's hands.
Rahamies attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A swing and a miss from Tomoguchi.
The fighters circling - Rahamies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tomoguchi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rahamies slips under a jab from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tomoguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rahamies defending well as Tomoguchi loads up on a big left hand.
Rahamies takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rahamies misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A quick step to the side and Tomoguchi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rahamies wants to land a leg kick but Tomoguchi is out of range.
Tomoguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tomoguchi throws a jab when Rahamies was well out of range.

Tomoguchi moves into range and clinches up with Rahamies.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tomoguchi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rahamies blocks a body shot from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Rahamies.
Tomoguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rahamies backwards.
Rahamies is trying to break free.
Tomoguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rahamies.
Rahamies is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rahamies.
Rahamies lands a shot to the body.
Rahamies works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A left hand lands to the body for Rahamies.

Rahamies breaks the clinch.
Tomoguchi misses with a looping right.
Tomoguchi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Tomoguchi pushes Rahamies up against the cage in a clinch.
Tomoguchi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tomoguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Rahamies.
Rahamies tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rahamies misses with the head strike.
Tomoguchi working aggressively here.
Tomoguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tomoguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rahamies throws a head punch that misses.
Rahamies blocks an uppercut.
Tomoguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Rahamies prevents a body shot from Tomoguchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahamies lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tomoguchi backwards.

Rahamies manages to break the clinch.
Rahamies bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Tomoguchi moves into the clinch successfully.

Rahamies pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tomoguchi cracks Rahamies with a good jab.
Tomoguchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Rahamies circles away.
Tomoguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Rahamies.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Rahamies was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rahamies lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Rahamies finds it's way through Tomoguchi's defenses.
Tomoguchi catches Rahamies with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tomoguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rahamies throws out the jab.
Tomoguchi is looking to counter the offense by Rahamies and move into the clinch.
Rahamies tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tomoguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Rahamies.
Both fighters circling a little - Rahamies finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rahamies takes one to the chin there.
The fighters circling - Rahamies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tomoguchi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch up.
Tomoguchi blocks a leg kick.
Tomoguchi missing with a left hand there. Rahamies was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rahamies was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Tomoguchi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tomoguchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahamies throws a leg kick but Tomoguchi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rahamies. Tomoguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tomoguchi missing with a left hand there. Rahamies was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tomoguchi blocks a head kick by Rahamies.
Rahamies lands a glancing blow to the side of Tomoguchi's head.

Tomoguchi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rahamies.
A body shot lands from Rahamies.
A right hook to the body lands for Rahamies.
Rahamies is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tomoguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Rahamies breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rahamies lands a high kick!
Rahamies finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice defenses there by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi is looking to counter punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tomoguchi clinches.
Rahamies blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rahamies wants to get back to striking at distance but Tomoguchi won't allow it.
Tomoguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Rahamies struggles to land a body shot inside as Tomoguchi controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shinji Tomoguchi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rahamies with the inside leg kick.
Tomoguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Rahamies is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rahamies lands a leg kick that knocks Tomoguchi off balance momentarily.

Tomoguchi pushes Rahamies up against the cage in a clinch.
Tomoguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rahamies works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rahamies presses Tomoguchi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tomoguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Rahamies breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rahamies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tomoguchi moves away.
Tomoguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Tomoguchi moves out of range of the body kick.
Rahamies moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch up but Rahamies circles away and keeps his distance.
Rahamies gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomoguchi avoids a kick to the body.
It looked like Tomoguchi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rahamies connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rahamies.
A lazy left from Tomoguchi finds it's target.
Tomoguchi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A punch lands to the side of Tomoguchi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ilari Rahamies seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rahamies throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rahamies misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi ducks under a wild hook from Rahamies.
Rahamies connects with the punch.
Rahamies takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rahamies connects with a leg kick.
Rahamies fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tomoguchi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tomoguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tomoguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rahamies was well out of range. Poor timing from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi with a hook.
Rahamies misses with a hook.
Rahamies throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rahamies throws a leg kick which misses Tomoguchi's front leg but catches the back leg as Tomoguchi tries to avoid it.
Tomoguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rahamies was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Rahamies slips under a jab.
Rahamies wants to slow Tomoguchi down by chopping away at his legs.
Tomoguchi scores with a nice head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice inside leg kick there by Rahamies. That's going to slow Tomoguchi down.
Rahamies goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rahamies walks into a jab.
Rahamies connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tomoguchi. Tomoguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahamies lands a jab.
Rahamies throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rahamies lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rahamies dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tomoguchi. That did some damage!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tomoguchi checks a leg kick.
Rahamies fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rahamies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rahamies throws out a counter right but Tomoguchi avoids it with no problem.
Some wild striking there from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The fighters circling - Tomoguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tomoguchi connects with a looping right hand.
Rahamies steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies throws a solid leg kick but Tomoguchi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rahamies.

Tomoguchi rushes Rahamies and presses him up against the cage.
Rahamies lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hand to the body from Rahamies.
A short left from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi takes a shot to the head.

Rahamies breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tomoguchi takes a swing at Rahamies's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rahamies backs up against the cage.
Rahamies throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi throws a hook but Rahamies avoids it easily.
Rahamies swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rahamies throws a leg kick but Tomoguchi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tomoguchi lands a head shot.
Tomoguchi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rahamies.
An inside leg kick lands from Rahamies.
Rahamies throws a chopping leg kick but Tomoguchi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
An attempted straight right counter from Tomoguchi misses the target.
Rahamies looks to land a right hand but Tomoguchi moved out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Tomoguchi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tomoguchi misses with a lunging right hand
and Rahamies counters with a nice body kick.
Tomoguchi throws a shot from downtown. Rahamies moves away and avoids it.
Rahamies jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rahamies bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rahamies fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tomoguchi is looking to clinch but Rahamies is avoiding it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tomoguchi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rahamies - the referee stops the clock and Tomoguchi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rahamies. Tomoguchi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Tomoguchi misses with a looping right.
Rahamies slips under a jab from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rahamies paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch but Rahamies is having none of it.
Rahamies looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tomoguchi lands an overhand right.
Rahamies scores with a leg kick.

Tomoguchi closes the distance and clinches.

Rahamies breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rahamies.
Rahamies misses with a head kick.
Tomoguchi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Rahamies keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies misses with a low kick.
Tomoguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rahamies.
Tomoguchi lands with a straight right. Rahamies didn't see that one coming.
Tomoguchi throws a lazy right hand but Rahamies sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rahamies takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Tomoguchi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rahamies throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rahamies throws a head kick that misses.
Tomoguchi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rahamies eats them both and turns towards Tomoguchi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rahamies takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rahamies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rahamies looks to land a left hand but Tomoguchi moved out of range nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ilari Rahamies showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tomoguchi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rahamies. That one must have hurt.
Tomoguchi with a jab.
Rahamies with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tomoguchi to score with a decent uppercut.
A head kick misses from Rahamies.
Tomoguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rahamies moves away.
Rahamies lands with a cross.
Tomoguchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tomoguchi scores with a hook to the body. Rahamies takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tomoguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rahamies manages to avoid it.
Tomoguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Rahamies's shoulder, as Rahamies tries to avoid the shot.
Tomoguchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Rahamies circles away.
It seemed like Rahamies was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rahamies.
Rahamies scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tomoguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rahamies.
The fighters circling - Rahamies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Rahamies gets tackled into the cage by Tomoguchi. Tomoguchi maintains the clinch.
Shinji Tomoguchi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Rahamies breaks from the clinch.
Tomoguchi scores with a jab to the head.
Tomoguchi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rahamies on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Rahamies lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rahamies throws a head kick that misses.
Tomoguchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rahamies.
Rahamies throws a shot from downtown. Tomoguchi moves away and avoids it.
Tomoguchi cracks Rahamies with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rahamies missing with a left hand there. Tomoguchi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rahamies throws a series of punches but Tomoguchi moves out of range.
Rahamies misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tomoguchi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tomoguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rahamies moves away.
Tomoguchi throws a series of punches but Rahamies avoids them all with ease.
Rahamies misses with a wild body shot.
Rahamies fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tomoguchi manages to avoid it.
Rahamies looks to land a body kick but Tomoguchi moved away.
Rahamies throws the kick towards the body but Tomoguchi avoids it.
Tomoguchi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rahamies's hands.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Rahamies.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rahamies.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rahamies misses with a right hand
and Tomoguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rahamies throws a big shot that misses.
Rahamies connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tomoguchi throws a shot to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rahamies.
Rahamies staying out of range there.
Tomoguchi moves in looking to clinch but Rahamies pushes him off.
Tomoguchi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rahamies throws a leg kick which misses Tomoguchi's front leg but catches the back leg as Tomoguchi tries to avoid it.
Tomoguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tomoguchi misses with a looping left.
Rahamies throws a leg kick that misses.
Rahamies on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tomoguchi checks a leg kick.
Rahamies keeps the fight on the outside.
Rahamies throws a leg kick but Tomoguchi checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rahamies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rahamies scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rahamies motions for Tomoguchi to come forward. Rahamies throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rahamies.
A head kick from Rahamies lands but Tomoguchi takes it in his stride.
Tomoguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rahamies was well out of range. Poor timing from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies slips a straight right by Tomoguchi.
Rahamies swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tomoguchi avoids the body shot from Rahamies.

Tomoguchi rushes Rahamies and presses him up against the cage.
Tomoguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Rahamies blocks a body shot from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rahamies scores with a hook to the body.
Tomoguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Rahamies.

Rahamies breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rahamies throws a sloppy head kick and Tomoguchi moves out of range easily.
Tomoguchi throws a shot from downtown. Rahamies moves away and avoids it.
Rahamies ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rahamies uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi wants to clinch up but Rahamies keeps it at a distance.
Tomoguchi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rahamies has time to react.
A left lands for Rahamies.
Rahamies will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rahamies delivers a nice body kick.
Rahamies connects with a single shot there.
Nice defenses there by Rahamies.
Tomoguchi checks the leg kick.
Rahamies ducks under a wild hook from Tomoguchi.
Rahamies lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tomoguchi's sensitive parts.
Rahamies staying out of range there.
Rahamies pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rahamies moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.
A little jabbing left from Rahamies on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice shot by Tomoguchi.
Rahamies will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tomoguchi. Rahamies does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rahamies walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tomoguchi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook.
Tomoguchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Rahamies circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ilari Rahamies.
I think Rahamies has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ilari Rahamies!
An out of breath Ilari Rahamies thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.