PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcellus York (ranked 8399 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastian Raikonnen (ranked 5506 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Marcellus York has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Marcellus York seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

York
vs
Raikonnen

203 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

190 cm
24
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcellus York!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sebastian Raikonnen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

York tries to keep at a distance but Raikonnen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Raikonnen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

York throws Raikonnen to one side and escapes!

Raikonnen shoots in and gets a takedown into York's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raikonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
York is trying to keep Raikonnen in close.
Raikonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. York is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikonnen throws a strike but York rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

York gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Raikonnen has closed the distance and engaged York in a clinch.

Raikonnen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Raikonnen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Raikonnen trying to control the position here.
York tries to stand but Raikonnen is controlling from the bottom.

York stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Raikonnen gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikonnen misses with the ground and pound.
York defending against the ground and pound.
Raikonnen throwing strikes but York manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
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!
Raikonnen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Raikonnen is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
York controlling the action here.
York wants to stand up but Raikonnen is controlling the position.
Raikonnen controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikonnen manages to get to full guard.
York trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

York gets to his feet - Raikonnen follows without any prompting.
Raikonnen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
York fires out a quick counter leg kick but Raikonnen just manages to avoid it.

Raikonnen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
York is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Raikonnen wants to control from the top but York keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raikonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. York is keeping the position for now.
Raikonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but York is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raikonnen passes York's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Raikonnen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Raikonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sebastian Raikonnen will probably get the nod.
That's time! York's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Raikonnen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Raikonnen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. York tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Raikonnen is in York's guard.
Raikonnen throws an elbow that misses. York uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Raikonnen's guard. Nice move by York!

York has gone for a leg lock! Raikonnen slips out almost immediately though and dives into York's guard.

Raikonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Raikonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but York is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raikonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
York will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
York not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sebastian Raikonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raikonnen wants to control from the top but York keeps moving.
York is trying to control the position but Raikonnen postures up.
Raikonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but York is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Raikonnen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
York wants to get back to his feet but Raikonnen passes into half guard.
Raikonnen trying to control the action but York is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Raikonnen is working for a kimura but York is defending it quite comfortably.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikonnen misses with a kick to the body
and York counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A left and a right from Raikonnen both land. Nice combination.
Raikonnen scores with a jab to the head.

Raikonnen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with York, pushing him back against the cage.
Raikonnen scores with a shoulder strike.

Raikonnen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Raikonnen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Raikonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

Raikonnen is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raikonnen is looking to stand up but York isn't so interested in that idea.
York stopping the sweep attempt from Raikonnen.
York looking to pass the guard.
Raikonnen wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and York is now in half guard.
York tries to pass to full mount but Raikonnen defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raikonnen trying to hold on to York's head to control him but York postures up.
York trying to control from half guard but Raikonnen is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Raikonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Raikonnen takes a swing at York's ribcage but misses.
York half committed to a counter leg kick.

Raikonnen darts in and clinches York up against the cage.
York tries to circle away but Raikonnen has him pinned against the cage.
The referee calls for Raikonnen to work.
A frustrated look appears on York's face as he tries to break the clinch.
York fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raikonnen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikonnen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Raikonnen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed York clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

York fending off the submission attempt from Raikonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raikonnen seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under York's chin but York turns very nicely into Raikonnen's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by York.
Raikonnen controlling York's posture.
York wants to control from the top but Raikonnen keeps moving.

That's two 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.
York wants to get up but he can't break Raikonnen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Raikonnen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

York gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Raikonnen drives through with a takedown into York's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Raikonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raikonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Raikonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Raikonnen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raikonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
York keeping moving, preventing Raikonnen from controlling successfully.
Raikonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
York working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raikonnen.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Raikonnen closes the distance and pushes York back into the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Raikonnen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Raikonnen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
York wants to break free but Raikonnen has control.

Raikonnen drags the fight down to the ground.

York postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Raikonnen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of York, into his guard.

Raikonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sebastian Raikonnen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Raikonnen gets to his feet. York looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sebastian Raikonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raikonnen 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebastian Raikonnen!
An out of breath Sebastian Raikonnen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.