PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andries Van Tijn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saku Raba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Van Tijn
vs
Raba

190 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andries Van Tijn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Raba!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Tijn is looking to clinch but Raba is avoiding it.
Van Tijn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Van Tijn as Raba shoots in.

Raba shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Raba was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee warns Van Tijn that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Van Tijn holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Raba tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Van Tijn regains half guard.

Van Tijn kicks off Raba and gets to his feet.
Van Tijn is looking to clinch but Raba is avoiding it.
Raba avoids a kick to the body.
Raba shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Tijn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Raba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Tijn is fending him off so far but Raba persists. Nope, Van Tijn circles away and we're back to standing.
Andries Van Tijn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saku Raba.
Van Tijn tries to clinch up but Raba circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Tijn doesn't manage to clinch there - Raba circles away.
Van Tijn misses with a takedown

and Raba counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raba.
Raba postures up in Van Tijn's guard and throws a big left but Van Tijn blocks it.
Raba preventing the sweep.
Van Tijn wants to stand but Raba is controlling the position.
Raba is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Tijn has wrist control.
Raba looks gassed!
Raba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raba is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Tijn has wrist control.
Van Tijn is trying to control the position but Raba postures up.
Raba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Raba throwing strikes from guard but Van Tijn blocks nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Van Tijn wants to clinch but Raba slips to the side

and Raba counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raba.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Raba stops Van Tijn from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raba tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Tijn is retaining full guard.
Raba is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Tijn has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Tijn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Tijn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raba.
Raba advances position into side control!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Raba advances to mount.
Van Tijn squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Raba lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Raba scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Raba thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Raba lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raba lands a heavy elbow.
Raba lands a big shot there that rocks Van Tijn but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Raba.
A nice elbow there by Raba.
Van Tijn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Van Tijn that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Raba landing punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Tijn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Raba dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Van Tijn tries to clinch up

and Raba counters with a shoot takedown. Van Tijn fights it but they end up in guard.
Raba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Raba stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Van Tijn has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Raba manages to get his head free but now Van Tijn has transitioned to an armbar! Raba grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Van Tijn! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andries Van Tijn!