PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Angel Pain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Varsity Wrestler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pain comes into the arena with "Meet the Monster" Five Finger Death Punch blaring out of the sound system. Wrestler has chosen Eminem-The Real Slim Shady as his entrance music. Angel Pain had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pain
vs
Wrestler

180 cm
29
165 lbs
7 - 21 - 0

170 cm
18
152 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 7 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Angel Pain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Varsity Wrestler!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wrestler stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pain.
Wrestler with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pain counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pain.
Pain scores with a shoulder strike.
Wrestler misses with an elbow over the top.

Pain pulls guard.

Pain is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wrestler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Wrestler drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pain looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pain looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pain!
Wrestler is trying to get back to half guard.
Pain cracks Wrestler with a big elbow.
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!

Pain stands up and beckons Wrestler to his feet.
Pain has his takedown stuffed

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

Pain has his foot on Wrestler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wrestler works his way back into a safe position though.
Wrestler postures up and lands a big shot to Pain's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrestler landing some decent shots from guard.
Wrestler would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wrestler is one step ahead there.
Wrestler stays in close to Pain's body and controls the position.

Pain escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wrestler gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pain is breathing heavily.

Pain looking for a guillotine here but Wrestler defends easily.
Wrestler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wrestler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wrestler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wrestler trying to control but Pain is working from the bottom.
Wrestler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Wrestler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pain is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wrestler is controlling him.

Wrestler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wrestler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Wrestler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pain's head.
Wrestler trying to control the position from guard on top but Pain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wrestler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wrestler scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wrestler scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wrestler wants to stand but Pain is controlling his posture from full guard.

Pain had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wrestler defends it easily.
Wrestler 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.
Wrestler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pain's head.

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.
Wrestler wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
Wrestler is working Pain over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wrestler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
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.
Wrestler engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Wrestler prevents Pain from getting back to his feet.
Pain keeping moving, preventing Wrestler from controlling successfully.
Wrestler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wrestler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wrestler wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angel Pain dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wrestler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wrestler is keen to just control but Pain is a slippery customer.
Pain is trying to stand.
Wrestler trying to pass the guard but Pain defending well.

Wrestler seems to be working for a kimura but Pain defends the submission attempt.
Angel Pain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wrestler wants to free his trapped foot but Pain is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Wrestler stands up out of the half guard.

Wrestler shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pain napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Wrestler decides to stand back up. Wrestler steps back and let's Pain get back to his feet.

Wrestler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrestler keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wrestler is trying to control the action in half guard but Pain is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wrestler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wrestler controlling the action here.
Wrestler trying to mount his opponent but Pain defends it.
Wrestler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wrestler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pain. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pain is trying to maintain the position but Wrestler is very close to passing his half guard.

Wrestler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pain has managed to free his arm - good work.

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.
Wrestler stalling.
Nice strikes from Wrestler there.
Wrestler is keen to just control but Pain is a slippery customer.
Wrestler working the head and body with strikes.
Wrestler perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Wrestler wants to take a breather but Pain is having none of it.
Pain is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler trying to mount his opponent but Pain defends it.
Wrestler trying to control the action but Pain is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Varsity Wrestler wasn't active enough on the ground.
Left hook, right uppercut from Wrestler.

Wrestler clinches up with Pain and pushes him back against the ropes.
Wrestler looking for a takedown.
Pain stops a takedown attempt from Wrestler.
Wrestler jumps guard but Pain stands there with Wrestler around his waist. Wrestler gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Angel Pain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Varsity Wrestler.
Wrestler is working for takedown but Pain is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wrestler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pain has him pressed against the ropes.
Pain tries to work over Wrestler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wrestler is looking to control Pain's arms but Pain gets an underhook and turns him. Now Wrestler has his back to the ropes.
Wrestler tries to break free but Pain pushes him back against the ropes.
Pain wants to get back to striking at distance but Wrestler won't allow it.
Wrestler tries to pull guard but Pain holds him up against the ropes and eventually Wrestler drops back down to his feet.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pain as Wrestler tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pain throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wrestler blocks it with crossed arms.
Wrestler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Wrestler tries to pull guard but Pain won't allow it.
Wrestler wants a takedown but no success here.
Wrestler tries to pull guard but Pain won't allow it.
Pain goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wrestler prevents it.
Wrestler slowing the pace effectively.
Wrestler tries for a takedown but Pain manages to get underhooks.
Pain jumps guard but Wrestler stands there with Pain around his waist. Pain gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pain tries to break free but Wrestler pushes him back against the ropes.
Wrestler tries to pull guard but Pain holds him up against the ropes and eventually Wrestler drops back down to his feet.
Wrestler fails to pull guard.
Pain drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wrestler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Varsity Wrestler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Wrestler scores with a takedown into Pain's guard.
Wrestler wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
Wrestler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wrestler cracks Pain with a solid left hand.
Wrestler trying to control the position from guard on top but Pain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pain is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wrestler wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrestler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pain keeping moving, preventing Wrestler from controlling successfully.
Wrestler working some strikes from top position.
Pain keeping moving, preventing Wrestler from controlling successfully.
Wrestler might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pain kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Wrestler connects with a couple of short punches.
Pain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pain keeping moving, preventing Wrestler from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Varsity Wrestler hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Wrestler shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wrestler showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pain wants to control but Wrestler is keeping busy.

Pain is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wrestler pulls his head out easily.
Wrestler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pain knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wrestler is keen to just control but Pain is a slippery customer.
Wrestler working over Pain with some ground and pound. Pain looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wrestler seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Pain looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wrestler lands with a punch from half guard.
Wrestler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pain knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wrestler wants to control but Pain is keeping him busy.
Wrestler trying to control the pace.
Wrestler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pain is not content to let Wrestler control the position.

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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Varsity Wrestler wasn't active enough on the ground.

Wrestler drives through with a takedown into Pain's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Wrestler trying to control but Pain is working from the bottom.
Pain has momentary wrist control but Wrestler slips an elbow through the middle.
Pain keeping moving, preventing Wrestler from controlling successfully.
Wrestler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wrestler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wrestler wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.

Pain throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Varsity Wrestler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wrestler 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Varsity Wrestler!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Varsity Wrestler!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Varsity Wrestler!

Varsity Wrestler wins by unanimous decision!