PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Fountain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berkut Rain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fountain
vs
Rain

176 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Fountain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Berkut Rain!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fountain throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fountain fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rain.
Fountain misses with an uppercut.
James Fountain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fountain closes the distance and clinches.
Fountain blocking some punches.
Rain fails to pull guard.
Rain tries to land knees in the clinch but Fountain avoids the damage to the body.

Fountain breaks from the clinch.
Rain shoots for a takedown but Fountain saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fountain displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rain.
James Fountain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berkut Rain.
Fountain scores with a decent looking hook.
Rain shoots and misses

and Fountain counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rain's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fountain looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fountain passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Fountain stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rain throws a body punch but Fountain moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fountain connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rain looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fountain is fending him off so far but Rain persists. Nope, Fountain circles away and we're back to standing.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fountain.
Fountain throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Fountain moves into the clinch successfully.
Rain goes for a takedown attempt but Fountain pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rain drops his hands momentarily and Fountain takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rain walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fountain closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rain to the mat! Rain manages to get full guard.
Fountain controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Fountain decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rain, up you get!
Rain shoots for a takedown but Fountain saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A slow jab from Fountain misses its intended target.

Fountain gets a clinch.
Fountain is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rain has had enough of the clinch but Fountain keeps him there for the moment.
Rain is looking to break free of the clinch but Fountain has double underhooks.

Fountain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Fountain coming out on top.
Rain on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Fountain closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rain jumps guard.
Rain working a defensive guard but Fountain manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rain tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fountain wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fountain taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Fountain dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fountain connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rain slips under a jab.
Rain displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fountain.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rain.
Rain with the ground and pound but Fountain regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Rain prevents Fountain from standing back up.
Fountain is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fountain looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rain is trying to control the action in half guard but Fountain is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Rain stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Rain tries to clinch up.
Rain is looking to clinch but Fountain is avoiding it.
Rain shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fountain as he avoids it easily.

Fountain shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rain's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain is looking to stand up but Fountain isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rain wants to control but Fountain passes easily into half guard.
Fountain perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rain is looking for a sweep. Fountain is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Fountain decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fountain displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rain gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fountain to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rain is trying to control the position but Fountain postures up.
Rain is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rain keeping moving, preventing Fountain from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fountain throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Fountain throws a shot from downtown. Rain moves away and avoids it.

Fountain gets a double leg takedown into Rain's guard.

Fountain is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rain is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rain has escaped and now he's on top!
Fountain looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Fountain dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fountain misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rain shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fountain but Fountain pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rain with a poor takedown
and Fountain counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rain tries to clinch but Fountain moves out of range.
Fountain lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rain backs up against the cage.
Rain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Fountain does no damage.
Rain is looking to chop away at Fountain's legs.

Fountain closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rain to the mat! Rain manages to get full guard.
Fountain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rain keeping moving, preventing Fountain from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rain can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fountain controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of James Fountain.

Fountain takes the fight into the clinch.
Rain is trying to break free.
Fountain working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fountain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James Fountain is winning the standup battle so far.
Fountain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rain doesn't manage to clinch there - Fountain circles away.

Rain gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fountain to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fountain prevents Rain from getting back to his feet.
Fountain slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rain wants to hit a switch here but Fountain passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rain there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rain is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fountain trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rain is desperately trying to improve his position but Fountain has a good base and remains in mount.
Rain is squirming around, avoiding Fountain's attempts to control the action.
Rain is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fountain tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
James Fountain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Fountain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fountain has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Fountain!