PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Finlay Standifer (ranked 888 p4p, 1336 weight class) and Maksim Taranin (ranked 136 p4p, 196 weight class). Finlay Standifer is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Standifer
vs
Taranin

172 cm
21
160
8 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
164
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Conviction
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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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finlay Standifer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Taranin!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taranin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Standifer stuffs the takedown.
Standifer misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Taranin misses.
Standifer throws an overhand right that lands on Taranin's shoulder, as Taranin tries to avoid the shot.
Standifer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taranin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taranin throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer slips under a jab from Taranin.
Standifer connects with the punch.
Standifer throws a shot to the body.
Taranin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Standifer counter with a right hand.

It looks like Maksim Taranin has been cut.
Standifer avoids the body shot from Taranin.
Standifer was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Standifer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Taranin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Taranin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Standifer.
Taranin wants to clinch up but Standifer keeps it at a distance.
Taranin throws the left hand but Standifer avoids the punch easily.
Standifer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Standifer lands with a nice combination. Taranin backs away looking to recover.
Taranin misses with a right hand
and Standifer counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Taranin thinking.

Taranin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Standifer sprawls well initially but Taranin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Standifer trying to control but Taranin postures up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Taranin working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Standifer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranin throwing shots but Standifer is blocking nicely.
Standifer holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Standifer is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Taranin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Standifer wants to get back to full guard.

Taranin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Taranin trying to control from Standifer's half guard. Standifer has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Taranin trying to control the position from guard on top but Standifer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Taranin is now in half guard.
Standifer is trying is best to control the position here.
Taranin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Standifer wants to control but Taranin is keeping busy.
Taranin drops an elbow to the side of Standifer's head.
Taranin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Standifer's head.
Standifer wants to control but Taranin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taranin trying to control the action but Standifer is working from the bottom.
Standifer is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

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

Taranin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taranin showed some decent athleticism there.
Standifer keeping hold of Taranin's head, controlling as best he can.
Taranin working the head and body with strikes.
Taranin lands with a punch from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Finlay Standifer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maksim Taranin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Taranin dives in for a single leg takedown but Standifer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A little feinted left hand from Standifer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Standifer misses with a body shot

and Taranin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Standifer won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taranin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Standifer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Standifer is not content to let Taranin control the position.
Taranin moves into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer tries to hold on but Taranin pushes him away.
Taranin with shots to the head and body - Standifer looks very uncomfortable down there.
Standifer wants to hold on but Taranin pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Standifer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taranin lands a couple of good shots and Standifer has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Standifer trying to control the hands but Taranin won't let him.

Taranin looking for the choke from the back.

Taranin is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Standifer trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranin scores with punches to the body.
Standifer is trying to break free.
Standifer avoids the strikes from Taranin.
Standifer covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Standifer is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Standifer just trying to survive but Taranin is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Taranin punishes Standifer with strikes from the back mount.

Standifer defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer staying busy and making it hard for Taranin to control.

Taranin is looking for the choke from the back position but Standifer is controlling his hands well.
Well, with Taranin on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Standifer is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Standifer breaks Taranin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Standifer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Taranin is trying to keep Standifer in close.
Standifer preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Standifer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Standifer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Standifer wants to control from the top but Taranin keeps moving.
Taranin looking to control.
Standifer 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.
Maksim Taranin has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taranin controlling Standifer's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Taranin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maksim Taranin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taranin closes the distance and clinches up with Standifer, looking for a takedown. Taranin pushes Standifer against the cage but Standifer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Standifer misses the target.
Taranin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Standifer avoids it really well and circles away.
Standifer is looking for a counter combo.
Taranin throws a hook to the side of Standifer's head but Standifer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Standifer gets caught flat footed, as Taranin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Standifer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Standifer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taranin throws a big right hand that misses.
Standifer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taranin.
Taranin cracks Standifer with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Standifer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taranin with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taranin wants to control from the top but Standifer keeps moving.
Standifer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Taranin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Standifer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jab, jab by Standifer - just one landing.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Finlay Standifer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maksim Taranin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Taranin looks to move away, Standifer throws a big counter combo but Taranin just gets out of the way.
Finlay Standifer is winning the standup battle so far.
Standifer lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taranin dives in and grabs Standifer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Standifer pushes down on Taranin's head and hops out.
Standifer throwing a counter right hand but Taranin manages to avoid it.
Taranin misses the shot to the body.
Taranin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Standifer's waist but Standifer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taranin off to one side.
Standifer is looking to counter punch.
Taranin shoots and misses
and Standifer counters with a nice body shot.
Taranin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Taranin misses with a right hand
and Taranin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taranin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Standifer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taranin takes a swing at Standifer's ribcage but misses.
Standifer is looking to counter punch.
Standifer lands with a shot to the body.
Taranin with a poor takedown
letting Standifer counter with a right hand.
Taranin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Standifer swivels and escapes.
Standifer loads up on a big right hand but Taranin slips the punch.
Taranin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Standifer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Standifer lands with a nice body punch.
Taranin fails with the takedown
and Standifer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Standifer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Standifer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taranin.
It looks like Standifer has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Standifer scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Standifer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Taranin ducks under a wild hook from Standifer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin misses the shot to the body.
No luck for Taranin with that takedown attempt.
Standifer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Finlay Standifer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good exchange - Standifer coming out on top.
Standifer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taranin on the side of the head.
Maksim Taranin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Standifer digs a good body shot into Taranin's ribs.
Taranin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Taranin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Standifer is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finlay Standifer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Standifer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finlay Standifer!