PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between DeMar DeRozan (ranked 1864 p4p, 248 weight class) and Nils Ragnaar (ranked 1768 p4p, 232 weight class). Ragnaar has chosen Mustasch - The Wave as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

DeRozan
vs
Ragnaar

201 cm
21
197 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
194 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, DeMar DeRozan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nils Ragnaar!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Chris Dean and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ragnaar tries to clinch up but DeRozan circles away and keeps his distance.
Ragnaar moves out of range of the body kick from DeRozan.
Ragnaar steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from DeRozan.
Ragnaar throws a leg kick which misses DeRozan's front leg but catches the back leg as DeRozan tries to avoid it.
Ragnaar connects with a leg kick. DeRozan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
DeRozan lands a leg kick that knocks Ragnaar off balance momentarily.
Ragnaar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from DeRozan.
DeRozan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ragnaar moves out of range of the body kick.
DeRozan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
DeRozan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ragnaar takes a step back to recover.
DeRozan moves out of range of the strikes.
As Ragnaar backs away, DeRozan returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Good leg kick by Ragnaar there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
DeMar DeRozan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ragnaar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as DeRozan throws out the jab.
Ragnaar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from DeRozan.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
DeRozan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ragnaar's sensitive parts.
Ragnaar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from DeRozan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ragnaar throws a hook but DeRozan blocks it.
DeRozan throws a hook to the side of Ragnaar's head but Ragnaar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ragnaar moves into the clinch.
Ragnaar misses with some punches.
Ragnaar stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragnaar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
DeRozan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ragnaar up against the cage.
DeRozan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
DeRozan misses with a short punch on the inside.
DeRozan misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as DeRozan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short body shot lands from DeRozan as the two fighters clinch.
Ragnaar pushes DeRozan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Ragnaar.
Ragnaar misses with some punches.
DeRozan holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ragnaar trying to land knees to the body.
Ragnaar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
DeRozan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for DeRozan.
Ragnaar working DeRozan over with knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ragnaar lands a knee to the head.

It looks like DeMar DeRozan has been cut.
Ragnaar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ragnaar tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and DeRozan avoids it.
Ragnaar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of DeRozan backwards.
DeRozan misses with a body punch.
DeRozan managing to block the knees to the body from Ragnaar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeRozan breaks from the clinch.
DeRozan lands a lovely overhand right.
DeRozan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ragnaar misses with a low kick.
DeRozan takes one to the chin there.

Ragnaar moves into the clinch.
Ragnaar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
DeRozan managing to block the knees to the body from Ragnaar.
DeRozan swings wildly with an uppercut but Ragnaar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ragnaar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from DeRozan.
DeRozan stalling.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ragnaar.
I was talking to DeRozan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
DeRozan is breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Ragnaar.
Still in the clinch, Ragnaar scores with a nice short uppercut.
DeRozan avoiding damage as Ragnaar throws knees to the body.
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!
Ragnaar tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and DeRozan avoids it.
Ragnaar lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from DeRozan.
Ragnaar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from DeRozan.
DeRozan tries to stall but Ragnaar uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
DeRozan avoiding damage as Ragnaar throws knees to the body.
DeRozan blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by DeRozan.
DeRozan leaning his opponent against the cage.
DeRozan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
DeRozan takes a knee to the side of the body.
DeRozan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ragnaar effectively controlling the action here.
DeRozan stalling in the clinch but Ragnaar improves position.
Ragnaar tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and DeRozan avoids it.
Ragnaar lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ragnaar lands a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nils Ragnaar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on DeMar DeRozan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ragnaar blocks a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ragnaar.
Ragnaar throws a leg kick but DeRozan sees it coming and moves out of range.
DeRozan looks to land a left hand but Ragnaar moved out of range nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ragnaar 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 DeRozan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from DeRozan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ragnaar tries to clinch up.
Ragnaar uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before DeRozan has time to react.
DeRozan misses the shot to the body.
Ragnaar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from DeRozan, right into the meat.
The fighters circling - DeRozan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
DeRozan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ragnaar throws out a leg kick but DeRozan moves out of range and Ragnaar only half commits.
DeRozan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ragnaar stuns DeRozan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ragnaar connects with a leg kick. DeRozan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeRozan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ragnaar wants to land a leg kick but DeRozan is out of range.
DeRozan slips a straight right by Ragnaar.
DeRozan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
DeRozan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ragnaar slips a straight right by DeRozan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeRozan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
DeRozan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
DeRozan misses with a body kick.
Ragnaar finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Ragnaar moves into the clinch.
DeRozan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knees to the body from Ragnaar.
Ragnaar blocks a body shot from DeRozan.
Ragnaar blocking some punches.
Ragnaar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
DeRozan avoiding damage as Ragnaar throws knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ragnaar.
DeRozan avoiding damage as Ragnaar throws knees to the body.
Ragnaar stalling against the cage.
Ragnaar letting DeRozan take a breather here.
Ragnaar tries a knee to the head but DeRozan blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ragnaar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
DeRozan blocking some punches.
Ragnaar tries to land a knee to the head but DeRozan blocks with his arms.
Ragnaar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. DeRozan is defending well for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
DeRozan tries a body shot but Ragnaar blocks it.
DeRozan throws a punch but it's blocked by Ragnaar.
Ragnaar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ragnaar putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has DeRozan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ragnaar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ragnaar throws a knee to the head but misses.
DeRozan stalling in the clinch but Ragnaar improves position.
DeRozan is trying to maintain a safe position but Ragnaar gets an underhook and turns DeRozan into the cage.
Ragnaar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. DeRozan is defending well for now.
DeRozan takes a knee right on the jaw!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeRozan breaks from the clinch.
Ragnaar tries to close the distance and clinch up but DeRozan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
DeRozan throws a sloppy head kick and Ragnaar moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
DeRozan looks for the body kick but Ragnaar saw that one coming.
DeRozan throws a wild body kick that Ragnaar sees coming a mile off.
DeRozan sets himself, and Ragnaar steps forward looking for the clinch! DeRozan avoids it this time.
Ragnaar slips under a jab from DeRozan.
DeRozan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ragnaar is able to avoid easily.
Ragnaar ducks under a wild hook from DeRozan.
Ragnaar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ragnaar throws a nice inside leg kick.
DeRozan throws a hook but Ragnaar avoids it easily.
Ragnaar throws a leg kick which misses DeRozan's front leg but catches the back leg as DeRozan tries to avoid it.
DeRozan misses with a low kick.
Ragnaar looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
DeRozan blocks a low kick nicely.

Ragnaar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ragnaar slows down the pace here.
DeRozan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Ragnaar.
The referee calls for DeRozan to work.
DeRozan slowing the pace effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ragnaar trying to land knees to the body.
Ragnaar tries to land knees in the clinch but DeRozan avoids the damage to the body.

DeRozan breaks the clinch.
Ragnaar steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from DeRozan. That one must have hurt.
Ragnaar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
DeRozan throws a nice outside leg kick.
DeRozan misses with a hook. Ragnaar ducked under it nicely.
DeRozan sets himself, and Ragnaar steps forward looking for the clinch! DeRozan avoids it this time.

Ragnaar drives through and clinches with DeRozan against the cage.
Ragnaar unloads a knee to the mid-section. DeRozan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ragnaar unloads a knee to the mid-section. DeRozan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
DeRozan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
DeRozan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ragnaar crunches a lovely knee into DeRozan's ribcage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nils Ragnaar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on DeMar DeRozan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ragnaar fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and DeRozan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
DeMar DeRozan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ragnaar fails in his attempt to clinch.
DeRozan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for DeRozan.
Jab by Ragnaar.
Ragnaar moves away from the strike by DeRozan.
Ragnaar wants to clinch up but DeRozan keeps it at a distance.
DeRozan misses the jab.
DeRozan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
DeRozan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good standup being displayed there by Ragnaar as he connects with a hook.
Ragnaar lands a really nice looking cross but DeRozan seems unphased.
Ragnaar dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on DeRozan. That did some damage!
Ragnaar checks a leg kick nicely.
Ragnaar slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeRozan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
DeMar DeRozan is winning the standup battle so far.
Ragnaar connects with a single shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
DeRozan looks to throw a body kick

and Ragnaar counters by moving into the clinch.
DeRozan misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeRozan looking to slow down the pace here.
DeRozan is trying to stall.
DeRozan can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Nils Ragnaar seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
DeRozan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
DeRozan effectively controlling the action here.
DeRozan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
DeRozan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ragnaar stalling against the cage.
Ragnaar blocking some punches.
Ragnaar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from DeRozan.
Ragnaar pushes DeRozan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
DeRozan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ragnaar.
DeRozan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as DeRozan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
DeRozan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
DeRozan avoiding damage as Ragnaar throws knees to the body.
DeRozan tries a body shot but Ragnaar blocks it.
Ragnaar lands a knee to the body.
Ragnaar landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ragnaar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ragnaar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ragnaar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
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!
Ragnaar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ragnaar.
Ragnaar scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Ragnaar.
Ragnaar lands a nice uppercut.
Ragnaar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
DeRozan managing to block the knees to the body from Ragnaar.
DeRozan avoiding damage as Ragnaar throws knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ragnaar.
Ragnaar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

DeRozan is rocked!
Ragnaar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Oh DeRozan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ragnaar stalling against the cage.
Ragnaar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ragnaar creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends DeRozan's eyes rolling into the back of his head! DeRozan drops to his knees and Ragnaar pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nils Ragnaar!
Nils Ragnaar seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, DeMar DeRozan stepped up to the mic, saying 'auto flights to Sydney - give me rematch'.