PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ham Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans von Finkelstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). von Finkelstein has chosen Queen - We Will Rock You as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xu
vs
von Finkelstein

180 cm
29
215 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

176 cm
23
220 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ham Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hans von Finkelstein!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
von Finkelstein misses with a left hand
enabling Xu to counter with a crisp jab.

Xu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
von Finkelstein avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Xu.
Xu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Xu is looking to take a break and control but von Finkelstein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Xu 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.
Xu lands some shots froms side control.
Xu working the strikes but von Finkelstein uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Xu thows a huge punch but von Finkelstein dodges it nicely.
Xu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu content to control rather than advance.
Xu misses with a head shot. von Finkelstein uses the momentum to regain guard.
von Finkelstein pulls Xu in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
von Finkelstein controls Xu momentarily but Xu frees himself.
Xu throwing strikes but missing.
Xu trying to control but von Finkelstein is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
von Finkelstein utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Xu looking to pass the guard.
Xu controlling from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
von Finkelstein rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
von Finkelstein drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A punch combination from von Finkelstein misses.
Xu lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Xu lands with a kick to the ribs.
von Finkelstein misses with an uppercut
and Xu counters with a nice leg kick.
von Finkelstein looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Xu catches von Finkelstein with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
von Finkelstein stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and von Finkelstein wants it to stay on the feet.
von Finkelstein takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Xu staying out of range there.
Xu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Xu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
von Finkelstein avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Xu.
Xu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Xu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed von Finkelstein's head.
Xu throwing shots but von Finkelstein is blocking nicely.
Xu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Xu trying to mount his opponent but von Finkelstein defends it.
von Finkelstein keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Xu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed von Finkelstein's head.
Xu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Xu thows a huge punch but von Finkelstein dodges it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xu working the head and body with strikes.
von Finkelstein tries to get to full guard but Xu has control of the leg.
Xu is looking to take a break and control but von Finkelstein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ham Xu dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Xu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
von Finkelstein scores with a jab to the jaw.
Xu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Xu.
Xu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
von Finkelstein walks into a left hand.
von Finkelstein rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Xu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xu throwing shots but von Finkelstein is blocking nicely.
Xu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed von Finkelstein's head.
Xu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Xu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Xu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
von Finkelstein blocking the ground and pound attempt from Xu.
Xu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. von Finkelstein defending well though.
Xu is looking to advance position but von Finkelstein won't allow it.
Xu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Xu thows a huge punch but von Finkelstein dodges it nicely.
Xu throws a strike but von Finkelstein avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Xu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Xu looking to sit in guard and control but von Finkelstein gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two 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.

Xu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and von Finkelstein defends well.
von Finkelstein prevents Xu from getting back to his feet.
Xu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. von Finkelstein manages to get himself to full guard.
Xu tries to free his leg and advance position but von Finkelstein is retaining full guard.
von Finkelstein preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
von Finkelstein looking to control.
von Finkelstein wants to sweep here but Xu controlling him for the moment.
von Finkelstein keeping full guard, as Xu tries to pass.
Xu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Xu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xu wants to pass the guard but von Finkelstein is keeping the position.
Xu with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four 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.
von Finkelstein keeping moving, preventing Xu from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Xu sizes up von Finkelstein with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
von Finkelstein is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
von Finkelstein scores with a hook to the body. Xu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Xu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
von Finkelstein fails to land with a series of punches.
Xu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. von Finkelstein tries to avoid it but Xu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag von Finkelstein to the ground. von Finkelstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jab by von Finkelstein.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xu looks for the body kick but von Finkelstein saw that one coming.
Xu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ham Xu dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A swing and a miss from von Finkelstein.
Ham Xu is winning the standup battle so far.
von Finkelstein loads up on a big right hand but Xu slips the punch.
Xu catches von Finkelstein with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
von Finkelstein misses with a jab to the body
and Xu counters with an outside leg kick.
Xu thuds his right hand into von Finkelstein's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Xu scores with a nice strike.
Xu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Xu fails to land the takedown.
Xu tries for a takedown but von Finkelstein sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
von Finkelstein missing with a left hand there. Xu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
von Finkelstein looks to throw the jab but Xu is out of range.
Xu fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ham Xu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
von Finkelstein chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Xu can pounce on him.
Xu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from von Finkelstein.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts von Finkelstein as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
von Finkelstein changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
von Finkelstein swinging wildly here.
Xu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. von Finkelstein tries to avoid it but Xu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag von Finkelstein to the ground. von Finkelstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Xu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but von Finkelstein manages to avoid it.
Xu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from von Finkelstein.
von Finkelstein lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Xu looks to land a body kick but von Finkelstein moved away.
Xu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
von Finkelstein throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ham Xu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xu moves out of range of the strikes.
von Finkelstein scores with a jab.
von Finkelstein defending well as Xu loads up on a big left hand.
von Finkelstein throws a body punch but Xu moves out of range.
A punch combination from von Finkelstein misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
von Finkelstein fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Xu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
von Finkelstein moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
von Finkelstein throws a shot from downtown. Xu moves away and avoids it.
von Finkelstein scores with a nice right hand.
von Finkelstein swings for the body but Xu moves out of range.
von Finkelstein scores with a jab to the jaw.
von Finkelstein missing with a left hand there. Xu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
von Finkelstein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xu manages to avoid it.
von Finkelstein drops his hands momentarily and Xu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Some wild striking there from von Finkelstein.
von Finkelstein lands a body shot.
Hans von Finkelstein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
von Finkelstein ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Xu moves away.
Xu throws a front kick aimed at von Finkelstein's knee but von Finkelstein avoids it well.
Xu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by von Finkelstein.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu is trying hard to land a takedown here. von Finkelstein sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
von Finkelstein misses with a body shot.
von Finkelstein sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
von Finkelstein misses the shot to the body.
Xu lands a jab to the head.
von Finkelstein throws a big shot that misses.
von Finkelstein throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Xu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Xu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. von Finkelstein swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xu postures up in von Finkelstein's guard and throws a big left but von Finkelstein blocks it.
von Finkelstein keeping full guard, as Xu tries to pass.
von Finkelstein looking for a sweep. Not yet von Finkelstein, not yet.
Ham Xu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
von Finkelstein wants to stand and escape but Xu is having none of it.
Xu is stalling in the full guard.
von Finkelstein looking to control.
Hans von Finkelstein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

von Finkelstein working for a triangle but Xu defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xu trying to control but von Finkelstein is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans von Finkelstein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Xu 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ham Xu!