PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Rader (ranked 466 p4p, 581 weight class) and Eddie Bjornsson (ranked 65 p4p, 72 weight class). Bjornsson has chosen Ultimate - Denzel Curry as his entrance music. Dennis Rader could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eddie Bjornsson's chin.

Rader
vs
Bjornsson

225 cm
32
265
24 - 14 - 0

192 cm
29
275
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Shadow Realm Apparel

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dennis Rader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie Bjornsson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rader lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

It looks like Eddie Bjornsson has been cut.
Rader throws a hook to the side of Bjornsson's head but Bjornsson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bjornsson feints the counter takedown.
Bjornsson slips a jab from Rader.
Bjornsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rader.
Rader moves out of range of the strikes.
Rader defending well as Bjornsson loads up on a big left hand.
That kick from Rader tenderised Bjornsson's leg. Bjornsson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bjornsson moves out of range as Rader strikes.
Rader looks to land a left hand but Bjornsson moved out of range nicely.
Bjornsson wants to counter with a clinch but Rader pushes him away.
Dennis Rader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bjornsson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bjornsson throws out a loose jab but Rader uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rader lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rader throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rader throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjornsson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rader.
Rader looks to land a right hand but Bjornsson moved out of range.
Rader misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And Bjornsson tries to counter it with a takedown but Rader pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bjornsson moves forwards but Rader connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That has opened up Eddie Bjornsson's cut even more.
Rader's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rader duly obliges.
Rader misses with a hook
letting Bjornsson counter with a right hand.
Bjornsson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rader just misses with a punch to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bjornsson 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.
Bjornsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bjornsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rader throws a hook but Bjornsson avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 shot to the body from Rader misses
and Bjornsson counters with a straight right hand.
Bjornsson defending well as Rader loads up on a big left hand.
A head kick misses from Rader.
An inside leg kick lands from Rader.
Rader looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A swing and a miss from Rader.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rader.

The cut above Eddie Bjornsson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rader throws a looping overhand right but Bjornsson ducks down to avoid it.
Rader throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bjornsson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rader's guard.

Rader has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bjornsson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rader will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bjornsson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bjornsson works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjornsson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rader down.
Rader manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Rader actively working from the bottom here.
Bjornsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rader is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bjornsson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rader wants to improve his position but Bjornsson is controlling well.
Rader really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bjornsson working over Rader with some ground and pound. Rader looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rader trying to control here.
Bjornsson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bjornsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rader is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjornsson is thwarting Rader's attempts to control the position.

Bjornsson seems to be working for a kimura but Rader defends the submission attempt.
Rader is looking to control Bjornsson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rader avoid being mounted?
Bjornsson is just content to waste time from the top position. Rader takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bjornsson works over Rader with some ground and pound from guard.
Bjornsson is in close to Rader's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bjornsson wants to control from the top but Rader keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Rader dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eddie Bjornsson's cut.
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.

A slapping leg kick lands for Rader.
Rader misses with a two punch combination.
Rader lunges at Bjornsson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bjornsson's hand.
A leg kick checked by Bjornsson.
Rader takes a swing at Bjornsson's ribcage but misses.
Rader throws a jab when Bjornsson was well out of range.
Dennis Rader is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice body punch from Rader.
Rader loads up on a big right hand but Bjornsson slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rader.
Rader fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bjornsson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bjornsson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rader connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bjornsson. Bjornsson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rader scores with a three punch combo!

Eddie Bjornsson's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Bjornsson drives through with a takedown into Rader's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bjornsson lands a couple of elbows.

Rader looking for a guillotine here but Bjornsson defends easily.

Rader has an active guard here but Bjornsson has managed to pass into half guard.

Rader looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bjornsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rader keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rader is in trouble now - Bjornsson has advanced to mount!
Rader is trying to escape the mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bjornsson lands a nice shot to the head.
Rader working to try and regain half guard.

Bjornsson wants to finish this one by submission but Rader is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bjornsson.
Bjornsson landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rader slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bjornsson passes into side control, despite Rader's attempt to control the position.
Rader is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bjornsson can do to turn this around?
Bjornsson scoring with punches from side control.
Bjornsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rader keeps working.
Rader can't do much from the bottom here.
Bjornsson working the body and head with strikes.
Bjornsson lands a few punches from side control.
Rader regains half guard there - taking advantage of Bjornsson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Rader has hold of Bjornsson's hands but Bjornsson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjornsson working Rader over with strikes.
Bjornsson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bjornsson wants to stand but Rader has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Bjornsson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rader knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bjornsson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bjornsson working the head and body with strikes.
Bjornsson is looking to advance position but Rader won't allow it.

Bjornsson wants to work for an arm triangle but Rader is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rader looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eddie Bjornsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Eddie Bjornsson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bjornsson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rader looks to score with a jab to the body but Bjornsson is just out of range.
Rader scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rader displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bjornsson throws out the jab.
Rader turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rader scores with a nice right hand.
Rader misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bjornsson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bjornsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rader bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bjornsson's head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Eddie Bjornsson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Dennis Rader!
A victorious Dennis Rader thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.