PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nogi Kartov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ren Rothschild (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rothschild's choice of entrance music: Enter Shikari. Ren Rothschild will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kartov
vs
Rothschild

165 cm
31
145 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

184 cm
26
141 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

The Adrenaline Matrix

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 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nogi Kartov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ren Rothschild!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothschild tries to clinch but Kartov moves out of range.
Kartov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rothschild tries to clinch

and Kartov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kartov.
Kartov tries to stand but Rothschild is controlling from the bottom.
Rothschild wants to improve his position but instead Kartov has moved into half guard.
Kartov controlling the pace.
Kartov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rothschild defending well though.

Rothschild looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rothschild trying to control but Kartov postures up.
Kartov wants to free his trapped foot but Rothschild is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kartov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothschild misses with a body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kartov.
A left and a right from Kartov both land. Nice combination.
Rothschild wants to clinch.

Rothschild darts in and clinches Kartov up against the cage.
Kartov is trying to break the clinch but Rothschild is controlling him.
Rothschild missing with knees to the body.
Rothschild tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kartov smiles and moves away.

Rothschild has Kartov up against the cage in a clinch.

Rothschild pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ren Rothschild seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kartov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rothschild tries to clinch but Kartov moves out of range.
Kartov looks for a takedown but Rothschild sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nogi Kartov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothschild tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Kartov counter with a right hand.

Rothschild gets caught napping as Kartov dives in and scores a takedown. Rothschild manages to retain guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kartov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kartov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kartov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rothschild keeping moving, preventing Kartov from controlling successfully.
Kartov wants to stand but Rothschild is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kartov trying to control but Rothschild is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Rothschild throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kartov stands up and waves to Rothschild to follow him.
Rothschild fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rothschild works the jab nicely.
Rothschild is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kartov shoots in for a takedown but Rothschild shows good takedown defense.
Rothschild tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kartov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rothschild throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Nogi Kartov has been cut.
Rothschild throws a series of punches but Kartov moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kartov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rothschild has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kartov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rothschild.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kartov stands up and beckons Rothschild to his feet.
Rothschild defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kartov.
Rothschild misses with a double jab.
Kartov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rothschild doesn't manage to clinch there - Kartov circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kartov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kartov wants to stand but Rothschild is controlling his posture from full guard.

Kartov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nogi Kartov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nogi Kartov's cut.
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.

Kartov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kartov looks for a takedown but Rothschild sprawls well.
Rothschild is looking to land body kicks.
Rothschild defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kartov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nogi Kartov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothschild is looking to clinch.
Kartov moves out of range as Rothschild throws a body kick.
Rothschild lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kartov circles away quickly and effectively.
Kartov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A combination from Rothschild does no damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kartov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kartov is defended easily by Rothschild.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothschild stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rothschild wants it to stay on the feet.
Ren Rothschild seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kartov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kartov shoots in looking for a takedown. Rothschild tries to sprawl out of it but Kartov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rothschild manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rothschild misses with a body shot.
Rothschild displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kartov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rothschild looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rothschild tries to close the distance and clinch but Kartov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Rothschild misses.
Rothschild tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kartov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kartov was well out of range. Poor timing from Rothschild.
A combination from Rothschild does no damage.
Rothschild stuffs the takedown attempt from Kartov. Kartov gets slowly back to his feet.
Kartov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rothschild blocks a head kick by Kartov.
Kartov shoots in for a takedown but Rothschild shows good takedown defense.
Kartov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rothschild counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rothschild wants to clinch up but Kartov keeps it at a distance.
Rothschild moves into range and connects with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rothschild doesn't manage to clinch there - Kartov circles away.
Rothschild will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kartov misses with a takedown attempt - Rothschild sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rothschild stuffs the takedown.
Kartov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rothschild tries to avoid it but Kartov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rothschild to the ground. Rothschild escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kartov misses with a takedown attempt - Rothschild sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rothschild.
Rothschild misses with a wild combination.
Rothschild swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Kartov shoots in and bounces Rothschild off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rothschild working a defensive guard here.

Kartov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kartov wants to get up but he can't break Rothschild's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rothschild looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kartov is one step ahead there.

Rothschild looking for a guillotine here but Kartov defends easily.

Rothschild has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kartov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rothschild is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kartov is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Rothschild showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nogi Kartov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kartov has a takedown stuffed.
Rothschild lands a jab-cross combination.

Kartov gets tackled into the cage by Rothschild. Rothschild maintains the clinch.
Rothschild tries to land knees in the clinch but Kartov avoids the damage to the body.
Kartov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rothschild breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rothschild is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kartov rather than just go for the knockout.
Rothschild throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Kartov counter with a right hand.
Rothschild wants to clinch.
Kartov shoots in looking for a takedown but Rothschild manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kartov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rothschild misses with a few strikes there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rothschild enables Kartov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rothschild manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rothschild working for a triangle but Kartov defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kartov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rothschild working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kartov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kartov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kartov stands up from Rothschild's guard - Kartov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kartov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nogi Kartov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothschild scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kartov doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild stuffs the takedown.
Rothschild throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rothschild closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kartov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rothschild thinking.
Kartov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rothschild's waist but Rothschild gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kartov off to one side.
Rothschild fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rothschild moves into the clinch successfully.

Kartov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kartov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rothschild moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rothschild throws a body punch but Kartov moves out of range.
A jab from Rothschild misses.
Rothschild swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nogi Kartov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rothschild. Kartov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kartov shoots in and drives through. Rothschild sprawls well.
Kartov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rothschild as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kartov shoots in looking for a takedown but Rothschild manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kartov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice shot lands for Rothschild.
Kartov shoots in and drives through. Rothschild sprawls well.

Rothschild has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rothschild missing with knees to the body.
Rothschild is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kartov is defending well for now.
Rothschild has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kartov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kartov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rothschild manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rothschild clinches up against the cage.
Kartov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kartov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rothschild keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kartov's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Kartov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kartov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rothschild jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kartov walks away with a smile on his face. Rothschild gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kartov shoots in looking for a takedown. Rothschild tries to sprawl out of it but Kartov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rothschild manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rothschild tries to clinch up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothschild takes a swing at Kartov's ribcage but misses.
Nice cross by Rothschild.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ren Rothschild comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rothschild 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ren Rothschild!