PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Meikalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Raban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Matti Meikalainen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Meikalainen
vs
Raban

197 cm
29
250 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

200 cm
32
270 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matti Meikalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Raban!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meikalainen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Raban under the eye.

It looks like James Raban has been cut.
Meikalainen lands a head kick. Raban smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've been informed that Raban has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Meikalainen drops Raban with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Raban looks back up at him and smiles so Meikalainen waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meikalainen scoring well with a low kick there.
Raban pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Meikalainen sends Raban crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Meikalainen is motioning to the referee to let Raban up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

That has opened up James Raban's cut even more.
Raban throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Meikalainen stuffs the takedown.
Raban throws a head kick but Meikalainen moves out of range.
Raban doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Raban misses with a kick to the body.
Raban blocks a jab.
And Raban tries to counter it with a takedown but Meikalainen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Matti Meikalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meikalainen misses with a hook. Raban ducked under it nicely.
Raban misses the shot to the body.
Raban swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Raban throws a push kick but Meikalainen slaps the foot to one side.
Meikalainen lands a leg kick that knocks Raban off balance momentarily.
Raban lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Meikalainen misses with a body shot.
Meikalainen lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban shoots in and drives through. Meikalainen sprawls well.
Raban throws a wild body kick that Meikalainen sees coming a mile off.
Meikalainen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Raban momentarily.
Meikalainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Raban throws a push kick but Meikalainen slaps the foot to one side.

Raban dives in and scores a takedown into Meikalainen's guard.
Meikalainen wants to stand and escape but Raban is having none of it.
Raban is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Meikalainen is pulling down on Raban's head. It's preventing any offense from Raban, at least for the moment.
Meikalainen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raban slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Meikalainen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Raban throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Raban wants to free his trapped foot but Meikalainen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Raban takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Meikalainen tries to roll over but Raban keeps him under control.
Meikalainen is positioning himself well to prevent Raban advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meikalainen wants to get back to his feet.
Meikalainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Raban is pressing down on Meikalainen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Meikalainen is holding on for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Raban steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Meikalainen.
Meikalainen misses with a body kick.
Meikalainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Raban tries to counter it with a takedown but Meikalainen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Raban lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Meikalainen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Meikalainen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
It looked like Meikalainen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Raban checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Meikalainen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raban.
Raban throws a leg kick that misses.
Meikalainen wants to slow Raban down by chopping away at his legs.
Raban throws a push kick but Meikalainen slaps the foot to one side.
Raban looks to land a body kick but Meikalainen moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raban moves out of range of the leg kick from Meikalainen.
Raban lands with a nice body kick.
Meikalainen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Raban moves forwards but Meikalainen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Matti Meikalainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raban gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Meikalainen.

The cut above James Raban's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
It looks like Meikalainen has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Meikalainen throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Meikalainen misses.
Meikalainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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!
A head kick misses from Raban.
No joy there for Meikalainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Raban looks to score with a jab to the body but Meikalainen is just out of range.
Raban throws a series of punches but Meikalainen avoids them all with ease.
Meikalainen looks to land a right hand but Raban moved out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meikalainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Raban tries to counter it with a takedown but Meikalainen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Meikalainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Raban feints the counter takedown.
Raban pivots, looking for a leg kick but Meikalainen is out of range and Raban settles back down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Meikalainen.
Raban throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Meikalainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Raban's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Meikalainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matti Meikalainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Raban feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Meikalainen's calf.
Raban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raban misses with a two punch combination.
Raban keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Meikalainen.
Raban misses with a wild combination.
Raban blocks the body kick.
Meikalainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Meikalainen blocks a jab.
Meikalainen misses with a looping right.
Raban uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Meikalainen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raban throws a body kick that misses.
Raban displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Meikalainen throws out the jab.
Raban changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Meikalainen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Raban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Meikalainen sizes up Raban with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Meikalainen looks to throw the jab but Raban is out of range.
Meikalainen is looking to chop away at Raban's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Raban throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Meikalainen sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Meikalainen cracks Raban with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Raban looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Meikalainen finish him?
Raban has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Meikalainen finds it's way round the side to connect with Raban's head.

Raban is rocked!

James Raban's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at James Raban's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Matti Meikalainen!