PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Karel De Grote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cthulhu Fhtagn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cthulhu Fhtagn will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

De Grote
vs
Fhtagn

160 cm
25
133 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
19
143 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karel De Grote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cthulhu Fhtagn!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Grote drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
De Grote 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.

Karel De Grote has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fhtagn misses with a wild combination.
Fhtagn misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Grote closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Fhtagn quickly recovers to half guard.
De Grote perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fhtagn is looking to escape.
De Grote is taking a breather. Fhtagn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Karel De Grote wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fhtagn getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fhtagn throws a right hand that De Grote ducks under and follows up with a left that De Grote also avoids with ease.

Fhtagn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows De Grote to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Grote not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Karel De Grote.
De Grote showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fhtagn.
Fhtagn tries to clinch up.

De Grote scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fhtagn is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Grote slows the pace down.
Fhtagn manages to work his way to half guard, despite De Grote's best efforts.
Fhtagn tries to get to full guard but De Grote has control of the leg.
De Grote sitting and controlling from the half guard.
De Grote has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
De Grote seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fhtagn for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karel De Grote dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fhtagn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but De Grote moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
De Grote takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fhtagn throws a right hand that De Grote ducks under and follows up with a left that De Grote also avoids with ease.
Some wild striking there from Fhtagn.
Fhtagn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Grote pinned against the cage. De Grote gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

De Grote feints and as Fhtagn raises his hands in defense, De Grote changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fhtagn being controlled here, momentarily.
Karel De Grote overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Karel De Grote wasn't doing enough on the ground.
De Grote dodges the punch combination from Fhtagn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

De Grote darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
De Grote is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fhtagn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
De Grote controlling the action here.

Karel De Grote has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fhtagn throws a looping overhand right but De Grote ducks down to avoid it.
Fhtagn thows a body shot but no joy.
Fhtagn lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fhtagn moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
De Grote showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fhtagn.
Fhtagn moves in looking to clinch but De Grote pushes him off.
De Grote misses with a hook.
Fhtagn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fhtagn throws a right and a left that De Grote avoids nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Grote misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karel De Grote dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fhtagn throws a big shot that misses.
Fhtagn slips a straight right by De Grote.
Fhtagn just misses with a punch to the body.
Fhtagn feints a jab promting De Grote to slip. Fhtagn then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. De Grote slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

De Grote shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fhtagn is trying to defend but De Grote finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
De Grote is pressing down on Fhtagn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fhtagn is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Grote is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
De Grote knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fhtagn on the ground.

Fhtagn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De Grote pulls his head out easily.
De Grote perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fhtagn wants to get back to full guard.
Fhtagn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
De Grote slows the pace down in half guard.
Karel De Grote is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Karel De Grote wasn't doing enough on the ground.

De Grote looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
De Grote controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Grote's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
De Grote has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Karel De Grote has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fhtagn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Grote pinned against the cage. De Grote gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fhtagn shoots for a takedown but De Grote saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cthulhu Fhtagn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fhtagn misses with a two punch combination.
De Grote misses with a body shot.
De Grote has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
De Grote just misses with a punch to the body.
Cthulhu Fhtagn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fhtagn shoots in for a double leg but De Grote sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cthulhu Fhtagn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karel De Grote has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cthulhu Fhtagn.

De Grote dives in and scores a takedown into Fhtagn's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karel De Grote showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for De Grote, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karel De Grote!