PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between pretzle twist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Lavelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Lavelle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

twist
vs
Lavelle

193 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, pretzle twist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Lavelle!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

twist 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.
twist passes Lavelle's left leg - he's now in half guard.
twist is looking to take a break and control but Lavelle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

twist is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lavelle regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lavelle controls twist momentarily but twist frees himself.
twist slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lavelle tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but twist wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

twist wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lavelle, who protects the arm well.
twist tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lavelle's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lavelle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
twist will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
twist trying to control the position but Lavelle is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
twist working away.

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

twist tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
twist is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lavelle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and twist counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

twist is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lavelle doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time twist.
twist wants to control but Lavelle is keeping him busy.

twist is looking for a kimura here.
Lavelle wants to get back to full guard.

twist is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lavelle sees it coming and defends easily.
Lavelle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of twist's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take twist's back!
Lavelle trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

twist is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lavelle gets his way!
Lavelle doesn't have the hooks in and twist manages to turn into his guard.

twist thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lavelle controls twist momentarily but twist frees himself.
twist trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

twist is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lavelle is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lavelle has escaped and now he's on top!
twist is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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.
Lavelle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

twist had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lavelle is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. twist Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lavelle's back instead.
Lavelle is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Lavelle preventing the rear naked choke attempt from twist.

twist tightening his grip on Lavelle, looking for the choke.

twist patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

pretzle twist dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lavelle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for twist!
twist regains half guard.
twist works his way to full guard. Good work.

twist has an active guard here but Lavelle has managed to pass into half guard.
twist wants to improve his position but Lavelle is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
twist is working hard here to advance position.
twist manages to get to full guard.

twist working for a triangle but Lavelle defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
twist keeping moving, preventing Lavelle from controlling successfully.

twist escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lavelle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

twist working for a triangle but Lavelle defends it easily.

twist looking for a guillotine here but Lavelle defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

twist is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Lavelle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
twist wants to sweep here but Lavelle controlling him for the moment.

twist working for a triangle but Lavelle defends it easily.

Lavelle drops back looking for a leg! twist is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and twist manages to kick Lavelle off! Lavelle jumps back into twist's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
twist keeping moving, preventing Lavelle from controlling successfully.
twist working a defensive guard here.

twist is looking for a triangle but Lavelle pushes his legs off easily.
twist wants to sweep but no luck.

twist has an active guard here but Lavelle has managed to pass into half guard.
twist is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. twist manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lavelle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lavelle trying to control but twist is working from the bottom.
Lavelle looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lavelle trying to control but twist is working from the bottom.

twist looking for a guillotine here but Lavelle defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

pretzle twist dominated that second 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. 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.

Lavelle misses with a takedown attempt

and twist counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lavelle won't be happy with that.
Lavelle throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Lavelle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
pretzle twist overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

twist wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lavelle, who protects the arm well.
Lavelle prevents twist from improving position.

twist is trying to get an arm triangle but Lavelle is defending well.
Lavelle prevents twist from moving into mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

twist goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lavelle has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for twist but great work by Lavelle.
twist tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lavelle wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Lavelle is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. twist is trying to escape and Lavelle transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and twist is forced to tap! Nice work there by Lavelle! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chris Lavelle!