PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Feyd Rabban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tonino Barile (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rabban
vs
Barile

175 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Feyd Rabban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tonino Barile!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabban throws a lazy head kick

and Barile counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rabban looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barile keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barile landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rabban trying to control here.

Rabban is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barile pulls his head out easily.

Barile looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Rabban looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barile is taking a breather. Rabban says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rabban looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rabban is staying active underneath Barile, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Barile is working for a submission of some sort.
Barile scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barile passes to side control.
Rabban tries to buck Barile off but Barile is having none of it.
Barile landing a few strikes.
Barile landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Barile swings around for an armbar but Rabban sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Barile's guard.

Rabban got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barile has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rabban has managed to get both his arms back between Barile's legs - danger averted.
Rabban stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barile swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabban in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Barile is looking for a triangle here but Rabban uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Rabban is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barile has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rabban is breathing heavily.
Barile is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rabban misses with the ground and pound.
Barile manages to get back to half guard.

Barile is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rabban pulls his head out easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rabban trying to control the action but Barile is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barile regains full guard. Nicely done.

Barile working for a triangle but Rabban defends it easily.

Rabban thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Barile is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rabban defends well.

Barile throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Barile looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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.

Barile looking for subs off his back but Rabban has passed one foot through into half guard.

Rabban wants to work for an arm triangle but Barile is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Barile looking for submissions off his back.
Barile has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rabban is working away from the top position though.
Barile misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barile trying to control but Rabban postures up.

Rabban is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tonino Barile dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rabban shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rabban was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Barile is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rabban lands a nice forearm strike.
Barile manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Barile tries to pass to full mount but Rabban defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barile is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Rabban still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Rabban has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Barile is looking to regain half guard here but Rabban keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rabban working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barile manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Rabban is looking for a kimura but Barile is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rabban to get the leverage.

Barile looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barile trying to control but Rabban postures up.
Rabban trying to control the action but Barile is working from the bottom.

Barile looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barile tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rabban has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabban thowing shots but they're missing.
Barile tries to hold on but Rabban pushes him away.
Barile is trying to escape the mount.
Rabban can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barile is looking to escape.
Barile really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rabban. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barile really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Feyd Rabban overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barile regains half guard.
Rabban tries to stand and escape but Barile is controlling the position.

Barile actively working from the bottom here.
Rabban wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barile keeps working.

Barile actively working from the bottom here.
Rabban lands with a punch from half guard.

Barile looking for submissions off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barile can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barile wants to improve his position but Rabban is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabban blocks the strikes from Barile.

Rabban is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Barile has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rabban is trying to control. Barile wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barile tries to roll over but Rabban keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barile keeps trying to improve his position.

Barile is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rabban pulls his head out easily.

Barile is defending against the submission attempts here by Rabban.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barile moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Feyd Rabban dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rabban lands with a kick to the temple. Barile shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Feyd Rabban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rabban tries to clinch up

and Barile counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rabban is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Barile is trying to work for a kimura but Rabban is defending well.

Barile is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rabban sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rabban manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Barile content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rabban controls Barile momentarily but Barile frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rabban has his foot on Barile's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barile works his way back into a safe position though.

Barile is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Barile tries to free his leg and advance position but Rabban is retaining full guard.
Barile wants to control from the top but Rabban keeps moving.

Barile is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

Rabban had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barile defends it easily.

Barile thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barile stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rabban swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rabban working for a triangle but Barile defends it easily.
Barile works over Rabban with some ground and pound from guard.
Barile advances to half guard.

Barile seems to be working for a kimura but Rabban defends the submission attempt.

Rabban is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barile pulls his head out easily.
Barile takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barile passes to full mount!

Barile with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Barile looking to secure an arm triangle but Rabban defends it well.
Rabban tries to lock up and control but Barile gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barile controlling the pace for now.

Barile looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Barile working for a guillotine from mount but Rabban is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barile prevents Rabban from getting the reversal.
Rabban is working hard here to advance position.
Barile seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Rabban is holding on tight.

Barile with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rabban has given up his back. Will we see Barile going for some submissions?
Rabban breaks Barile's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Barile is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barile preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barile is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barile is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rabban sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tonino Barile comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barile has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tonino Barile!