PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny McCartny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitriy Bashkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

McCartny
vs
Bashkin

190 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
250 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benny McCartny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dmitriy Bashkin!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCartny fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bashkin sprawls well initially but McCartny persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bashkin looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Bashkin wants to control but McCartny is keeping busy.
McCartny is trying to control the action in half guard but Bashkin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McCartny is nestled in close to Bashkin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McCartny could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
McCartny wants to pass the guard but Bashkin is defending well.
McCartny is trying to control. Bashkin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McCartny 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.
McCartny is really struggling to control Bashkin but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Benny McCartny.

McCartny closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bashkin to the mat! Bashkin manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCartny trying to control but Bashkin is working from the bottom.
McCartny in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McCartny stands and throws Bashkin's legs to the side, diving into side control.

McCartny stands up and we're back to a striking position.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McCartny.
McCartny looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bashkin is fending him off so far but McCartny persists. Nope, Bashkin circles away and we're back to standing.

Bashkin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McCartny manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCartny trying to control the position.
McCartny wants to get back to his feet but Bashkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McCartny wants to sweep here but Bashkin controlling him for the moment.

McCartny is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bashkin defends well.
McCartny throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

McCartny had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bashkin defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCartny controls Bashkin momentarily but Bashkin frees himself.
Bashkin is working McCartny over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Bashkin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McCartny is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bashkin, into his guard.
McCartny trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCartny is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bashkin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

McCartny got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bashkin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McCartny has managed to get both his arms back between Bashkin's legs - danger averted.
Bashkin keeping full guard, as McCartny tries to pass.
McCartny wants to get up but he can't break Bashkin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
McCartny trying to control but Bashkin is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Benny McCartny just wasn't active enough.
McCartny displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny McCartny dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McCartny moves into the clinch.

McCartny jumps guard.
McCartny trying to keep a closed guard but Bashkin is proving a slippery customer.
McCartny has a closed guard, preventing Bashkin from standing up.
McCartny is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashkin wants to control from the top but McCartny keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McCartny tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Bashkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bashkin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCartny tries to clinch but Bashkin is having none of it.
McCartny tries for a takedown but Bashkin circles away easily

and Bashkin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

McCartny has his foot on Bashkin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bashkin works his way back into a safe position though.
McCartny wants to sweep here but Bashkin controlling him for the moment.
McCartny throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bashkin won't allow McCartny to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashkin distracts McCartny with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bashkin is stalling in the full guard.
McCartny is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McCartny is keen to just control but Bashkin is a slippery customer.
Bashkin missing with punches from the bottom.
Bashkin trying to hold on to McCartny's head to control him but McCartny postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like McCartny is going to stand back up.

Bashkin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCartny pulls his head out easily.
Bashkin wants to improve his position but McCartny is controlling well.
McCartny wants to stand but Bashkin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
McCartny missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McCartny wants to get back to his feet.
McCartny has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Bashkin works to full guard.
Bashkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCartny with a nice head shot there.
McCartny trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCartny loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitriy Bashkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring 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.

Bashkin with a lazy takedown attempt

and McCartny counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

McCartny jumps guard.

McCartny had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bashkin defends it easily.
McCartny lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bashkin!
McCartny trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCartny looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCartny scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bashkin?
McCartny lands a heavy elbow.
Bashkin working to try and regain half guard.
McCartny can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bashkin is looking to escape.
Bashkin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by McCartny.

McCartny is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCartny looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bashkin tries to land a front kick but McCartny steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

McCartny shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bashkin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bashkin pushes McCartny away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, McCartny gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
McCartny postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
McCartny trying to control the action but Bashkin is working from the bottom.
Bashkin manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCartny wants to free his trapped foot but Bashkin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McCartny seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bashkin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bashkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McCartny is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
McCartny not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McCartny wants to take a breather but Bashkin is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Benny McCartny just wasn't active enough.
McCartny looks to clinch

and Bashkin counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bashkin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McCartny, up you get!
Bashkin misses with a two punch combination.
McCartny has his takedown stuffed

so Bashkin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCartny working a defensive guard here.
Bashkin won't allow McCartny to sweep him here.
Bashkin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McCartny's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCartny has a closed guard, preventing Bashkin from standing up.
McCartny wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dmitriy Bashkin.
I think Bashkin 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitriy Bashkin!