PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Giorgios Finlitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Parga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Parga will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Finlitis
vs
Parga

177 cm
22
202 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

188 cm
25
190 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Giorgios Finlitis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodrigo Parga!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Parga darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Parga throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finlitis.
A telegraphed right hand from Parga misses the target.
Parga throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finlitis.
Parga shoots in and drives through. Finlitis sprawls well.
Finlitis tries to clinch but Parga moves out of range.
Parga darts in trying to clinch

and Finlitis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Finlitis.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Finlitis breaks the clinch.
Finlitis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Finlitis.
Parga clinches but Finlitis breaks the clinch
and Finlitis counters with a good low kick that Parga was not able to check.
Parga waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Finlitis.
A punch lands to the side of Parga 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Finlitis tries to clinch but Parga is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Finlitis rushes Parga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Parga - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Finlitis prevents a body shot from Parga.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Parga misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Finlitis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pargas head.
Finlitis tries to break the clinch but Parga is controlling the position.

Parga has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Finlitis regains guard immediately.
Finlitis is looking to stand up but Parga isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Parga controls from within his opponent's guard.
Parga stops Finlitis from standing up.
Parga wants to control from the top but Finlitis keeps moving.

Finlitis has his feet on Parga's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Parga throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Finlitis counters with a good low kick that Parga was not able to check.
Finlitis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Parga.
Parga tries to clinch

and Finlitis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Finlitis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parga stalling the fight.
Parga keeps control of Finlitis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Finlitis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Parga misses with a straight left.
Parga circles away from the clinch attempt.
Parga avoids the head kick by Finlitis.
Parga lands with an overhand left.
Nice sprawl there from Finlitis as Parga shoots in.
Finlitis is looking to land body kicks.
A right-left combo lands from Finlitis.
Parga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Parga lands a jab to Finlitis's midsection.
Finlitis is breathing heavily.
Parga doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Finlitis counters with a nice leg kick.
Giorgios Finlitis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Parga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parga bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Finlitis's head backwards.
Finlitis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Parga.
Parga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Parga shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Finlitis counters with a three punch combo that has Parga backing up. Parga nods at Finlitis to acknowledge the strikes.
Parga tries to clinch but Finlitis moves away
and Parga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Finlitis loads up on a big right hand but Parga slips the punch.
Parga throws a combination that misses
and Parga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A leg kick checked by Parga.
Parga avoids a kick to the body.
Parga misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Finlitis goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Giorgios Finlitis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Parga shoots in but Finlitis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Parga closes the distance but Finlitis moves to the side
and Finlitis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giorgios Finlitis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Finlitis closes the distance and clinches.

Parga has hold of one of Finlitis's legs. Finlitis is fighting the takedown attempt but Parga gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Parga wants to control from the top but Finlitis keeps moving.
Parga is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Parga slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Finlitis keeping moving, preventing Parga from controlling successfully.
Parga controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Parga trying to control the position from guard on top but Finlitis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Parga is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rodrigo Parga.
Parga with a poor takedown

and Finlitis counters by clinching up.

Finlitis breaks from the clinch.
Parga misses with a double jab
and Finlitis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Parga falls off balance throwing a combination
and Finlitis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Parga falls off balance throwing a combination
and Finlitis counters with a good low kick that Parga was not able to check.

Finlitis closes the distance and clinches.
Parga prevents Finlitis from breaking the clinch.
Parga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Finlitis gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Finlitis breaks the clinch.
Finlitis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finlitis looks to land a combination but Parga avoids it well.
Finlitis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Parga tries to clinch but Finlitis is having none of it.

Finlitis has Parga up against the cage in a clinch.

Finlitis breaks the clinch.
Parga slips a jab and a cross from Finlitis.
Finlitis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Parga.

Parga decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Parga sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Finlitis defending well though.
Parga sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Finlitis wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parga misses with a head shot. Finlitis uses the momentum to regain guard.
Parga trying to control the position from guard on top but Finlitis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Parga tries to stand but Finlitis is controlling from the bottom.
Finlitis is looking to stand up but Parga isn't so interested in that idea.
Parga trying to control the position from guard on top but Finlitis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Parga shoots and misses

and Finlitis counters by clinching up.
Giorgios Finlitis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Parga.

Parga decides to pull guard.
Finlitis won't allow Parga to sweep him here.

Finlitis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Finlitis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Parga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Parga has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Parga there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giorgios Finlitis dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back 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.

Finlitis scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Finlitis has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Parga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Finlitis.
Nice uppercut there from Parga.
Parga just misses with a punch to the body.
Parga ducks under a wild hook from Finlitis.
Parga lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fighters circling - Finlitis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good leg kick by Finlitis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Finlitis misses with a few strikes there.
Parga scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Parga misses with a combination
and Finlitis counters with a left and a right that stings Parga.
Finlitis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Parga gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Finlitis counters with a left and a right that stings Parga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parga tries to close the distance and clinch but Finlitis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Parga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Parga misses with a series of wild punches.
Giorgios Finlitis is winning the standup battle so far.
Finlitis looks to land a left hand but Parga moved out of range nicely.
Finlitis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Parga with a lazy takedown attempt
and Finlitis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Finlitis scores with a jab to the head.
Parga slips under a jab.
Parga throws a hook to the side of Finlitis's head but Finlitis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Parga scores with a hook to the body. Finlitis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Parga avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finlitis throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The crowd cheers as Parga lands an impressive looking overhand right. Finlitis doesn't seem phased though.
Parga throws a combination that misses
and Finlitis counters with a low kick, right behind Parga 's knee.
Finlitis misses with a combination
and Parga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Finlitis throws a series of punches but Parga moves out of range.
Parga is looking to clinch but Finlitis is avoiding it.
Finlitis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Finlitis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Parga misses with a takedown
and Finlitis counters with a left and a right that stings Parga.
Giorgios Finlitis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Parga.
Nice shot by Finlitis.
Parga slips a jab and a cross from Finlitis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parga has his takedown stuffed
and Finlitis counters with a body kick that stops Parga in his tracks momentarily.
Parga misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Parga avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good leg kick by Finlitis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Finlitis lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Finlitis.
Finlitis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Parga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Parga throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Finlitis moves into the clinch.
Parga has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Parga pushes Finlitis back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Parga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A shot in the inside from Finlitis.
A head punch on the inside from Finlitis fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finlitis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Finlitis manages to break the clinch.
Parga throws a hook but Finlitis avoids it easily.
Finlitis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rodrigo Parga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Parga is looking to clinch.
Parga throws a right and a left that both miss.
Parga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Finlitis is fending him off so far but Parga persists. Nope, Finlitis circles away and we're back to standing.
Finlitis misses with a double jab

and Parga counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Finlitis's guard now.
Parga throwing strikes from guard but Finlitis blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Parga is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodrigo Parga.
I think Finlitis 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giorgios Finlitis!