PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aki Sirkesalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Rader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rader's choice of entrance music: His Own Fight Video. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sirkesalo
vs
Rader

165 cm
22
151 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
168 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 159Q Recovery $79)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aki Sirkesalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Rader!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sirkesalo misses with a double jab
and Rader counters with a straight right hand.
Sirkesalo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rader connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sirkesalo moves out of range of the body kick from Rader.
Rader scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sirkesalo in his tracks.
Sirkesalo misses with a body shot.
Sirkesalo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rader throws out the jab.
Sirkesalo misses with a combination
and Rader makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sirkesalo misses with a combination
enabling Rader to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkesalo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sirkesalo moves out of range as Rader strikes.
Sirkesalo misses with a lunging right hand
and Rader cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rader looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aki Sirkesalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rader darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rader displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sirkesalo misses with a right hand
enabling Rader to counter with a crisp jab.
Sirkesalo misses with a body shot
and Rader counters with a nice uppercut.
Rader looks for the body kick but Sirkesalo saw that one coming.
Rader walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sirkesalo moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkesalo misses with a double jab
and Rader counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sirkesalo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rader counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rader just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sirkesalo's brow.
Rader keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sirkesalo's efforts to push away.
Rader missing with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rader just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sirkesalo's brow.
Rader swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sirkesalo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sirkesalo breaks the clinch.
Sirkesalo throws a combination that misses

and Rader counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rader postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rader drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sirkesalo dives on top into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rader is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rader looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rader wants to sweep here but Sirkesalo controlling him for the moment.
Rader is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rader is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rader prevents Sirkesalo from improving his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rader not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rader slips a nice elbow through Sirkesalo's hands, connecting with Sirkesalo's forehead.
Rader tries to pass to full mount but Sirkesalo defends it.
Sirkesalo tries to roll over but Rader keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Rader dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rader jabs Sirkesalo right on the nose. Sirkesalo blinks but takes it well.
Aki Sirkesalo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rader throws a big shot that misses.
Rader ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rader just misses with a punch to the body.
Sirkesalo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rader counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rader trying to control the action but Sirkesalo is working from the bottom.
Rader thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sirkesalo's head.
Sirkesalo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rader.
Sirkesalo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkesalo keeping full guard, as Rader tries to pass.
Rader missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rader postures up in Sirkesalo's guard and throws a big left but Sirkesalo blocks it.
Rader throwing strikes from guard but Sirkesalo blocks nicely.
Rader slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rader lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rader sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rader postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sirkesalo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rader keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sirkesalo's head.
Rader throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sirkesalo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rader missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rader passes into half guard.
Sirkesalo wants to control but Rader is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rader slips a nice elbow through Sirkesalo's hands, connecting with Sirkesalo's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rader trying to control from half guard but Sirkesalo is working away.
Rader tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sirkesalo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Rader is working for a submission of some sort.
Sirkesalo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rader not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sirkesalo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rader is working away from the top position though.
Rader is just content to waste time from the top position. Sirkesalo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sirkesalo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rader.
Rader trying to control but Sirkesalo is working from the bottom.
Rader is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rader passes Sirkesalo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Rader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rader throws the kick towards the body but Sirkesalo avoids it.
Rader connects with a nice looking jab.
Sirkesalo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rader counters with a stiff right hand.
Rader misses with an uppercut. Sirkesalo saw that one coming.
Sirkesalo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sirkesalo misses with a hook.
Rader throws a hook to the side of Sirkesalo's head but Sirkesalo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sirkesalo throws a lazy uppercut
and Rader counters with an inside leg kick.
Sirkesalo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rader decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sirkesalo's guard.
Rader thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rader throwing strikes from guard but Sirkesalo blocks nicely.
Rader looking to pass the guard.
Sirkesalo trying to keep a closed guard but Rader is proving a slippery customer.
Rader throws a strike but Sirkesalo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rader is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sirkesalo defends well.
Sirkesalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rader is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sirkesalo stopping the sweep attempt from Rader.

Rader throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rader is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Justin Rader has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rader throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sirkesalo escapes and throws Rader's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rader tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sirkesalo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rader is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sirkesalo is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Sirkesalo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rader is looking to escape.
Rader really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Sirkesalo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rader is looking to improve his position but Sirkesalo isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin Rader.
Well Rader has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Rader!