PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Niko Hallamaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cesario Montana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hallamaki
vs
Montana

162 cm
19
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good in bed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Niko Hallamaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cesario Montana!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hallamaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Montana stuffs the takedown attempt from Hallamaki. Hallamaki gets slowly back to his feet.
Hallamaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Montana tries to clinch up.
Hallamaki could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hallamaki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Montana pinned against the cage. Montana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hallamaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Montana tries to sprawl out of it but Hallamaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Montana manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Hallamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hallamaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Montana doesn't manage to clinch there - Hallamaki circles away.
Montana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Montana stuffs the takedown.

Montana pushes Hallamaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Hallamaki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Montana gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Montana holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hallamaki is trying to drag Montana to the mat but Montana just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Montana - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hallamaki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Montana avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hallamaki wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hallamaki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Montana is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Montana stalling the fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Cesario Montana.
Montana wants to clinch.
Hallamaki misses with a takedown attempt - Montana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallamaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Hallamaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Montana tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hallamaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cesario Montana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hallamaki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Montana avoids it really well and circles away.
Montana tries to clinch but Hallamaki moves out of range.
Hallamaki misses with a takedown attempt - Montana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Montana wants to clinch up but Hallamaki keeps it at a distance.
Montana tries to clinch up but Hallamaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Hallamaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hallamaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Montana tries to clinch there but Hallamaki circles away.
Hallamaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Montana sprawls well. He's pushed Hallamaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Montana stuffs the takedown attempt from Hallamaki. Hallamaki gets slowly back to his feet.
Hallamaki is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Montana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Montana fails with an attempt to clinch.

Montana closes the distance and clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Montana.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Montana tries to clinch up.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch but Hallamaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hallamaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Montana.
Montana doesn't manage to clinch there - Hallamaki circles away.
Hallamaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Montana tries to clinch but Hallamaki is having none of it.
Hallamaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Montana sprawls well. He's pushed Hallamaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hallamaki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Montana sprawls well. Montana wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hallamaki gets slowly back to his feet.
Hallamaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Cesario Montana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch but Hallamaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Montana gets a clinch.
Hallamaki has Montana pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Montana manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Hallamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montana is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Montana is pressed up against the cage. Hallamaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Montana down to the mat. Montana avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hallamaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Montana tries to sprawl out of it but Hallamaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Montana manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Montana is looking to clinch.
Montana fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hallamaki.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hallamaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hallamaki tries for a takedown but Montana sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hallamaki shoots in for a takedown but Montana shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Montana fails in his attempt to clinch.

Montana has Hallamaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Montana.
Hallamaki looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hallamaki.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Montana.
The crowd are getting on Montana's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Cesario Montana.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Montana tries to clinch up.
Montana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hallamaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Montana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hallamaki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Montana manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hallamaki throwing strikes from guard but Montana blocks nicely.

Montana scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hallamaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Montana as he jumps to the side.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hallamaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cesario Montana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hallamaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Montana fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hallamaki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Montana's waist but Montana gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hallamaki off to one side.
Montana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hallamaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hallamaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Montana swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Hallamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hallamaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hallamaki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Montana's head.
Montana looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hallamaki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hallamaki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hallamaki stops Montana from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallamaki throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Montana to regain full guard.
Montana utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hallamaki lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hallamaki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hallamaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Montana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hallamaki throws a big elbow that misses.
Montana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hallamaki throws an elbow that misses. Montana uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hallamaki's guard. Nice move by Montana!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallamaki is looking to stand up but Montana isn't so interested in that idea.

Hallamaki pushes Montana off and gets back to his feet.
Montana wants to clinch.
Montana wants to clinch.
Hallamaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Montana sprawls well. He's pushed Hallamaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana moves in looking to clinch but Hallamaki pushes him off.
Hallamaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Montana tries to clinch but Hallamaki moves out of range.
Montana keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hallamaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Montana stuffs the takedown.
Hallamaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Montana tries to avoid it but Hallamaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Montana to the ground. Montana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Montana pushes Hallamaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Montana avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montana is pressed up against the cage. Hallamaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Montana down to the mat. Montana avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Montana drives through and clinches with Hallamaki against the cage.
Hallamaki has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Montana after a bit of a struggle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Niko Hallamaki.
I think Montana 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Cesario Montana!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Cesario Montana!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Cesario Montana!

Cesario Montana wins by unanimous decision!