PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Walujew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Walujew
vs
Finch

213 cm
26
300 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
272 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nikolai Walujew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Finch!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Walujew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finch throws a right and a left that Walujew avoids nicely.
Nikolai Walujew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finch throws an off balance right hand

and Walujew counters by moving into the clinch.

Walujew works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Finch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Walujew really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Finch is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Finch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Walujew shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Walujew is trying to work for a kimura but Finch is defending well.
Walujew sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Finch defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch is looking for a sweep. Walujew is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Walujew thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Finch's head.
Finch moves into full guard.
Walujew sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Walujew stopping the sweep attempt from Finch.
Finch is trying to keep Walujew in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walujew stopping the sweep attempt from Finch.
Walujew trying to control but Finch is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nikolai Walujew just wasn't active enough.
Walujew displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Finch throws out the jab.

Walujew changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Finch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Finch defending against the ground and pound.

Walujew looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
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!

Walujew working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Walujew is trying to ground and pound but Finch uses the momentary lack of control by Walujew to regain half guard.

Walujew is working for a kimura but Finch is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch is refusing to be controlled, as Walujew sits in half guard.
Walujew thows a huge punch but Finch dodges it nicely.
Finch gets full guard.
Walujew will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Walujew trying to control the position from guard on top but Finch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Walujew is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Walujew has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Walujew throws and elbow that misses. Finch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Walujew's guard. Nice move by Finch!
Walujew not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Finch has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Walujew is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch trying to control the position from guard on top but Walujew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finch wants to pass the guard but Walujew is keeping the position.
Finch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Walujew looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Walujew working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Finch has passed into half guard!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Walujew looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Walujew dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Walujew tries to close the distance and clinch but Finch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Finch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Walujew slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Finch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Walujew defends well.
Finch keeping moving, preventing Walujew from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Walujew accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Walujew postures up.
Finch bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Walujew's guard.

Walujew working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Finch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Walujew is tightening it up a little... Finch has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Finch reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Finch taps out! nice BJJ there by Walujew!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Nikolai Walujew!