PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roope Rautakoura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rautakoura
vs
Andre

177 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roope Rautakoura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jermaine Andre!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Andre changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rautakoura looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rautakoura is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Andre has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Andre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rautakoura knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Andre on the ground.
Andre creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Andre goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rautakoura has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Andre but great work by Rautakoura.
Andre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rautakoura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Andre has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Andre is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Andre takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rautakoura connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Andre some visible discomfort.
Rautakoura landing a few strikes.
Rautakoura lands a nice forearm strike.
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!
Rautakoura is putting a hurting on Andre here, landing some big shots from side control.
Check out the look on Rautakoura's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rautakoura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rautakoura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rautakoura is chipping away with strikes.
Andre manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Andre is looking for a sweep. Rautakoura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Andre moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Andre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rautakoura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Andre looks gassed!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Andre working for a triangle but Rautakoura defends it easily.
Rautakoura scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rautakoura trying to control but Andre is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rautakoura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Andre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rautakoura is aware though and is defending well.
Rautakoura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rautakoura lands a couple of digs.
Rautakoura scoring with some ground and pound.
Rautakoura scoring with punches to the head and body.

Rautakoura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rautakoura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rautakoura stands up over Andre, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rautakoura got a little sloppy there for a moment and Andre has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rautakoura has managed to get both his arms back between Andre's legs - danger averted.
Rautakoura postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rautakoura with a nice head shot there.
Rautakoura chips away with some ground and pound.
Rautakoura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andre escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rautakoura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rautakoura has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Andre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rautakoura lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rautakoura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rautakoura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Andre tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rautakoura stands up over Andre, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rautakoura lands a couple of digs.
Rautakoura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Andre manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Andre sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre unloads with some shots from mount but Rautakoura bucks and avoids them well.

Andre moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rautakoura has worked his arm free - good work by Rautakoura!
Andre postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rautakoura is looking for a sweep.

Andre tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Andre has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Andre working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roope Rautakoura dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Andre drives through with a takedown into guard.
Andre sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rautakoura's guard.

Andre looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rautakoura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rautakoura.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Andre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roope Rautakoura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Andre is breathing heavily.

Rautakoura pushes Andre off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andre shoots in for a takedown but Rautakoura shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Andre with that takedown attempt.

Andre closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
An elbow from Andre crashes against the mat.
Rautakoura is pushing Andre's head away, looking to escape. Andre manages to hold on to the position though.
Andre fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rautakoura is trying to buck Andre off.

Andre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Andre goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rautakoura has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Andre but great work by Rautakoura.
Rautakoura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Andre keeps working.
Andre striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Andre is trying to get back to half guard.
Andre manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Andre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rautakoura's head.
Rautakoura is trying to stand.

Andre is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rautakoura manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rautakoura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Andre misses with a takedown

and Rautakoura counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Roope Rautakoura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Andre.

Andre looking for a guillotine here but Rautakoura defends easily.
Andre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Andre is looking for a triangle but Rautakoura pushes his legs off easily.

Andre looking for a guillotine here but Rautakoura defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Andre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Andre throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rautakoura working some strikes from top position.
Rautakoura postures up and lands a big shot to Andre's brow.
Andre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Andre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rautakoura counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Andre's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rautakoura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roope Rautakoura dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Andre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Rautakoura counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rautakoura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Andre had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rautakoura defends it easily.
Rautakoura stands up over Andre, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rautakoura keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Andre's head.
Rautakoura wants to pass the guard but Andre is keeping the position.

Rautakoura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rautakoura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Andre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautakoura postures up and lands a big shot to Andre's brow.
Rautakoura working some strikes from top position.

Andre looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rautakoura scoring with punches to the head and body.
Andre is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Andre has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Rautakoura defend it? Andre steps over the head and cranks it - Rautakoura is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Andre!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jermaine Andre!