PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Plenty Raines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter Bond (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.

Raines
vs
Bond

170 cm
21
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Jutsu FightGear (15$ clothing)

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Plenty Raines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Walter Bond!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raines decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Raines working the head and body with strikes.
Raines perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bond is staying active underneath Raines, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Raines has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bond is looking to control Raines's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bond avoid being mounted?
Raines wants to take a breather but Bond is having none of it.
Raines not doing much here.

We're going to have a standup here because Plenty Raines wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bond on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bond checks a leg kick.

Raines shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bond is trying to defend but Raines finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raines sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bond is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Raines lands a nice short elbow.
Raines stops Bond from getting back to his feet.

Raines wants to work for an arm triangle but Bond is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Raines missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raines trying to mount his opponent but Bond defends it.
Bond wants to control but Raines is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bond is looking to improve his position.
Raines wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bond keeps working.
Raines not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Raines perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Raines is looking for a kimura but Bond is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Raines to get the leverage.
Raines trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raines is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bond is looking to improve his position.
Raines stops Bond from getting back to his feet.
Bond is trying to control but can't.

Raines stands up from half guard.
Bond throws a series of punches but Raines avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bond shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raines as he avoids it easily.
Raines fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bond lands a slapping body shot.
Raines throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bond counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Raines stops a takedown attempt from Bond.
Bond is trying to pull guard but Raines turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Plenty Raines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Walter Bond.

Bond breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raines shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bond as he avoids it easily.
Raines shoots for a double leg takedown but Bond sprawls well. He's pushed Raines's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Raines looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bond!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raines unloading with bombs!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raines has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bond's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Plenty Raines dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bond rushes Raines and presses him up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bond.

Bond pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Raines throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bond tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Raines is in Bond's guard.

Raines stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Raines shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Raines content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Raines is looking to work some ground and pound but Bond has wrist control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bond utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Raines trying to control but Bond is working from the bottom.
Plenty Raines overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bond avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raines wants to control from the top but Bond keeps moving.
Raines won't allow Bond to sweep him here.
Raines throwing strikes from guard but Bond blocks nicely.
Bond 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.
Raines trying to control the position from guard on top but Bond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Plenty Raines just wasn't active enough.

Bond closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Raines sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Raines is not content to let Bond control the position.
Raines wants to control but Bond is keeping busy.
Raines might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Raines wants to improve his position but Bond is controlling well.
Bond seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Raines preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bond tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raines misses with a head kick.
Raines tries to land a front kick but Bond steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Raines shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bond looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Raines rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Raines drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Raines looking to sit in guard and control but Bond gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Raines has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bond can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raines trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bond pushes down on Raines's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bond tries to stand but can't do so whilst Raines controls his leg.
Raines trying to control but Bond postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bond blocks the strikes from Raines.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Plenty Raines dominated that second round.
That's time! Raines's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Raines avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bond fails with a takedown attempt.
Raines moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Bond gets caught napping as Raines dives in and scores a takedown. Bond manages to retain guard.
Raines is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Raines trying to control the position from guard on top but Bond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Raines is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raines lands a couple of elbows.
Raines throws a big elbow that misses.
Bond managing to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raines accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raines tries to free his leg and advance position but Bond is retaining full guard.
Raines throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bond works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Raines drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bond dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raines is striking off his back. Bond thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Raines is looking for a sweep. Bond is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Raines looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Raines controlling the position well.
Raines moves into full guard.
Bond wants to control from the top but Raines keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bond won't allow Raines to sweep him here.
Bond trying to control but Raines is working from the bottom.

Raines scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Raines defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bond.
Raines fails with the takedown.
Raines tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bond manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Raines circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raines dives in and grabs Bond's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bond pushes down on Raines's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bond stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Plenty Raines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bond avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Plenty Raines is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Raines fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bond sprawls well initially but Raines persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raines is trying to control. Bond wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Walter Bond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bond wants to get back to his feet.
Bond is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bond keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Well, if Raines is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Plenty Raines showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raines, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Plenty Raines!
Plenty Raines very nearly forgot to thank Jutsu FightGear (15$ clothing) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.