PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bina Raga (ranked 5500 p4p, 495 weight class) and Candy Van (ranked 5614 p4p, 500 weight class). 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.

Raga
vs
Van

171 cm
23
182 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

188 cm
22
180 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Bina Raga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Candy Van!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van.
Raga tries to score a body lock takedown but Van shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Van effectively controlling the action here.
Raga wants to take the fight to the mat but Van manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Raga wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bina Raga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van manages to break the clinch.

Van gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Van scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Van is trying to drag Raga to the mat but Raga just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Van's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van dives in and grabs Raga's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raga pushes down on Van's head and hops out.
Raga drops down looking for a counter takedown but Van sprawls and moves away.
Van tries to clinch up but Raga circles away and keeps his distance.

Van gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raga manages to break the clinch.

Van gets a takedown into half guard.
Raga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Well, if Van is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Van stops Raga from getting back to his feet.
Raga has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Van is working away from the top position though.
Well, if Van is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Van decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raga drops down looking for a counter takedown but Van sprawls and moves away.
Van tries to clinch but Raga moves away

and Raga counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Van!
Raga prevents Van from escaping the position.
Van can't do much from the bottom here.
Van wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raga trying to control the position but Van is working away.
Van manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raga trying to control the action but Van is working from the bottom.
Van told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Van has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Raga is on him like a limpet, forcing Van back against the cage.

Raga manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Van falls off balance throwing a combination

and Raga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raga.
Van wants to stand and escape but Raga is having none of it.
Raga looking to sit in guard and control but Van gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Van wants to control from the top but Raga keeps moving.
Raga wants to get back to his feet but Van passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Raga has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raga wants to get back to full guard.
Van not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Raga wants to stand back up but Van manages to pass into side control.
Raga looks to move to half guard but instead Van has passed into mount! Damn!
Raga working to try and regain half guard.

Van gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Candy Van dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Van goes for a double leg but Raga avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Raga continues to drive forward.
Raga appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Raga looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van.
Raga appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Van doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Raga decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van's guard.
Bina Raga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Candy Van.
Raga looking to sit in guard and control but Van gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Raga wants to stand and escape but Van is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Van tries to clinch up

and Raga counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Raga with a couple of short strikes.
Raga unloading with bombs!
Raga with a couple of short strikes.
Raga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van is looking to escape.
Van tries to buck Raga off but he can't manage it.
Van wants to control but Raga is having none of it.
Van taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van is looking to escape.
Van tries to reverse the position but Raga maintains control.
Raga working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Raga putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Van is rocked!
Van wants to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raga is landing with some decent strikes but Van is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Van is still in real trouble! Can Raga finish him?
Van can't escape the position.
Raga won't let Van get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Van seems to have recovered his senses.
The referee warns Van that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Raga with the ground and pound from mount.
Raga trying to control but Van is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raga postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Van in real trouble here! The ref calls for Van to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bina Raga!
Bina Raga decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Candy Van had this to say: 'Back to the gym!'.