PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Larppaaja Raatikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larry Burns is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Raatikainen
vs
Burns

168 cm
18
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Larppaaja Raatikainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Larry Burns!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Burns lands a high kick!
Raatikainen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Raatikainen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Raatikainen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Burns.
A solid body kick from Burns.
Burns throws a low kick but Raatikainen moves out of range easily.
Raatikainen checks a low kick from Burns.
Burns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Raatikainen.
Burns throws a head kick that misses.
Raatikainen throws a big shot that misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Burns.
Raatikainen's corner calls for a 1-2. Raatikainen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raatikainen misses with a straight left.
Raatikainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Burns.
Burns defending well as Raatikainen loads up on a big left hand.
Raatikainen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burns looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raatikainen checks a leg kick.
Raatikainen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Burns.
Raatikainen scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raatikainen scores with a body shot.
Burns slips a jab from Raatikainen.
Burns fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Raatikainen checks it well.
Burns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Raatikainen scores with a jab.
Raatikainen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Crunch! Burns slams his shin into Raatikainen's torso.
Raatikainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
An inside leg kick from Burns misses.
Raatikainen scores with a shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Raatikainen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Raatikainen.
Burns looks to land a body kick but Raatikainen moved away.
Raatikainen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Burns.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raatikainen checks a leg kick.
Raatikainen checks a leg kick.
Raatikainen misses with an uppercut.
Burns fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Raatikainen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Burns.
Raatikainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Burns.
Raatikainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Burns is just out of range.
Raatikainen misses with a body shot.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.
Raatikainen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Raatikainen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Burns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Raatikainen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Burns.
Burns throws a low kick but it's checked well by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen works over Burns's head and body with a nice combination.
Burns fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Burns moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Burns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burns moves away from the strike by Raatikainen.
Burns connects with an inside leg kick.
Raatikainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns slips under a jab.
Raatikainen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Burns thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Raatikainen if he has to take too many more of those.
Burns misses with a low kick.
Burns feints and then cracks Raatikainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Raatikainen down.
Good exchange - Raatikainen coming out on top.
A chopping leg kick lands by Burns.
Burns dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Raatikainen. That did some damage!
Raatikainen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Raatikainen takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Burns chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Raatikainen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Raatikainen is breathing heavily.
Raatikainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raatikainen connects with the punch.
Raatikainen throws a big shot that misses.
Raatikainen looks to land a right hand but Burns moved out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen throws a shot from downtown. Burns moves away and avoids it.
Raatikainen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Burns connects with a leg kick. Raatikainen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Burns pushes Raatikainen away with a front kick.
Raatikainen moves out of range of the body kick from Burns.
The crowd cheers as Raatikainen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Burns doesn't seem phased though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raatikainen. Burns does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raatikainen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burns lands with a nice body kick.
Larppaaja Raatikainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burns closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Burns lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burns will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Raatikainen up against the cage.
Burns creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Raatikainen's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Burns dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raatikainen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen looks to land a right hand but Burns moved out of range.
Burns scores with a kick to the body.
Raatikainen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burns can pounce on him.
Burns looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Raatikainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Burns.
Raatikainen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Burns thumps Raatikainen with a low kick.
Burns feints and then cracks Raatikainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Raatikainen down.
Burns gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Raatikainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Raatikainen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Raatikainen takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Raatikainen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Raatikainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Burns slips a straight right by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen connects with a looping right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raatikainen checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Burns buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Raatikainen misses with a body shot.
Burns scoring well with a low kick there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burns uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raatikainen.
Raatikainen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Raatikainen connects with a looping right hand.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Raatikainen.
Burns dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Raatikainen. That did some damage!
Raatikainen throws a right hand that Burns ducks under and follows up with a left that Burns also avoids with ease.
Burns is looking to land body kicks.
Raatikainen misses the jab.
Burns fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Raatikainen.
Burns walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Raatikainen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Larry Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raatikainen misses with a looping left.

Burns gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands an elbow just above Raatikainen 's eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raatikainen takes an elbow to the temple.
Burns creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Raatikainen's defenses.
Burns slows down the pace here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Burns.
Burns lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Burns avoiding damage.
Burns lands an elbow just above Raatikainen 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Raatikainen's defenses.
Raatikainen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Burns smiles and moves away.
Raatikainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Burns is just out of range.
Burns connects with a leg kick. Raatikainen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Raatikainen throws a hook but Burns blocks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Raatikainen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Burns tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Good leg kick by Burns there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Burns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raatikainen.
Burns takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Burns misses with an attempted mid kick.
Burns will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Raatikainen throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen misses with a double jab.
Raatikainen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Burns feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Raatikainen's calf.
Raatikainen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Burns rushes Raatikainen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nice elbow from Burns.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Burns lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Burns stalling against the cage.
Nice elbow from Burns.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burns stalling in the clinch.
Raatikainen jumps guard but Burns turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Burns 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!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Raatikainen, as that shot connected.
Nice body kick there by Burns.
Burns throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Raatikainen.
Burns uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Raatikainen.
Burns walks into a left hand.
Raatikainen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Raatikainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raatikainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Burns.
Burns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Raatikainen looks to land a left hand but Burns moved out of range nicely.
Burns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jab from Raatikainen.
Burns with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Burns throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good exchange - Raatikainen coming out on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raatikainen lands with a straight right. Burns didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Burns - that will leave a mark!

Raatikainen tries to keep at a distance but Burns has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Burns.
Burns lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Burns stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Raatikainen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Burns walks away with a smile on his face. Raatikainen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
An inside leg kick lands from Burns.
Some bone on bone action there as Raatikainen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Burns throws a leg kick but Raatikainen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Burns tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Burns rushes Raatikainen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Burns lands an elbow that stopped Raatikainen in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands an elbow inside that Raatikainen shrugs off.
Larppaaja Raatikainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burns holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Burns continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Raatikainen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raatikainen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Raatikainen looking to slow down the pace here.
Burns lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Burns lands an elbow just above Raatikainen 's eye.
Burns has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is pushing Raatikainen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Burns misses with the head strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Burns.
Burns gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Raatikainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burns slowing the pace effectively.
Burns comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Burns lands a nice elbow.
Burns is struggling to control the position.
Burns creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Raatikainen's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raatikainen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Larry Burns is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Burns lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Raatikainen trying to stall but Burns improves his position.
Raatikainen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Raatikainen throws a head punch that misses.
Raatikainen throws a head punch that misses.
Raatikainen misses with a punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Burns.
Burns lands an elbow just above Raatikainen 's eye.
Burns lands a nice elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burns 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Burns!