PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stuno Mashinata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and mitsi fili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Mashinata
vs
fili

175 cm
22
144 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
140 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stuno Mashinata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, mitsi fili!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
fili throws a right and a left that Mashinata avoids nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from fili. Mashinata does a little dance to reset his feet.

Mashinata shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee warns fili that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mashinata tries to control but fili wriggling away.
Mashinata throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mashinata has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mashinata raining down shots from the mount!
fili blocking the ground and pound.
Mashinata throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mashinata has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of fili's face.
Mashinata raining down hammerfists from mount.
fili sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mashinata is trying to control the action in half guard but fili is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata is just content to waste time from the top position. fili takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mashinata accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mashinata wants to control from the top but fili keeps moving.
Mashinata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. fili is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mashinata stops fili from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mashinata trying to control but fili is working from the bottom.

Stuno Mashinata has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
fili doesn't manage to clinch there - Mashinata circles away.
Mashinata is looking to clinch.
A swing and a miss from fili.
Mashinata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mashinata tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. fili manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
mitsi fili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mashinata fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mashinata scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Good shot there by Mashinata.

Mashinata fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with fili, pushing him back against the cage.
Mashinata comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mashinata crunches a lovely knee into fili's ribcage.
fili pushes Mashinata back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mashinata trying to stall but fili improves his position.
Mashinata is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. fili is defending well for now.
fili lands a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stuno Mashinata dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mashinata fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with fili, pushing him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mashinata jumps guard but fili stands there with Mashinata around his waist. Mashinata gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mashinata digs a right hand underneath fili's ribcage. fili let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mashinata prevents a body shot from fili.
fili lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mashinata trying to land knees to the body.
Mashinata drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mashinata jumps guard but fili stands there with Mashinata around his waist. Mashinata gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stuno Mashinata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
fili scores with an uppercut up the middle.
fili tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mashinata blocks a body shot from fili.
fili tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
fili lands a shot to the body.
Mashinata is working for takedown but fili is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mashinata tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
fili taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Mashinata ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mashinata no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
fili stopping the sweep attempt from Mashinata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili wants to stand but Mashinata is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
fili wants to control from the top but Mashinata keeps moving.
fili slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mashinata working a defensive guard but fili manages to pass into side control anyway.

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.
Mashinata is looking for a sweep.
fili tries to stand but Mashinata is controlling his head.
Mashinata is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili is thwarting Mashinata's attempts to control the position.
Mashinata controlling the position well.
Mashinata is staying active underneath fili, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mashinata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mashinata actively working from the bottom here.

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.
fili performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up. mitsi fili was stalling too much, according to the referee.
fili tries to clinch but Mashinata moves out of range.
fili connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mashinata. Mashinata circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
fili misses with a hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Mashinata. That snapped fili's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mitsi fili showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Mashinata shoots for a double leg takedown but fili sprawls well. He's pushed Mashinata's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
fili swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
fili throws a looping overhand right but Mashinata ducks down to avoid it.

Mashinata 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.
Mashinata wants to control from the top but fili keeps moving.
Mashinata throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashinata wants to control from the top but fili keeps moving.
Mashinata keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of fili's head.
Mashinata looking to sit in guard and control but fili gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mashinata looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but fili puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
fili takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mashinata is looking to improve his position.
Mashinata wants to control but fili is keeping busy.
Mashinata is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata tries to regain full guard. Instead though, fili has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Mashinata tries to hold on but fili postures up.
fili controlling from mount.
Mashinata is looking to improve his position but fili isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mashinata tries to hold on but fili pushes him away.
Mashinata working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
fili controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to mitsi fili.
I think fili has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... mitsi fili!