PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Candle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gohan Son (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Candle
vs
Son

178 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
187 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Candle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gohan Son!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Son tries for a takedown but Candle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Son changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Candle tries to avoid it but Son manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Candle to the ground. Candle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Son misses with a takedown

and Candle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Candle.
Mark Candle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gohan Son.
Candle 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.

Son is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Son looking for a guillotine here but Candle defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Son is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Candle controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Candle just wasn't active enough.
Candle swats away the attempt to clinch by Son.
Son gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Candle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Candle content to stall in guard here.
Candle wants to pass the guard but Son is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Candle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Candle won't allow Son to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Candle just wasn't active enough.
Son shoots in for a double leg but Candle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Candle dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Son misses the shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Son.
Mark Candle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Candle defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Son.
Candle shoots in but Son avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Son closes this distance looking for a takedown but Candle circles away.
Son throws a hook to the side of Candle's head but Candle sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A telegraphed right hand from Son misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Son throws a nice inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Son misses its intended target.
Jab by Son.
Son has his takedown stuffed

and Candle counters with a shoot takedown. Son fights it but they end up in guard.
Mark Candle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gohan Son.
Son is breathing heavily.
Candle sitting in guard here, content to control.
Candle wants to pass the guard but Son is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Son working for submissions but it's allowed Candle to get to half guard.
Candle sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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.

Mark Candle has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Son tries for a takedown but Candle circles away easily

and Candle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Son's guard.
Candle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Candle passes Son's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Candle keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Candle just wasn't active enough.
Son with a poor takedown

and Candle counters with a shoot takedown. Son fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Candle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Candle dominated that second round.
That's time! Candle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Candle gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Son's face as Candle controls the position.
Son is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Candle just wasn't active enough.
Son rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Candle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Candle keeps the fight on the outside.
Son gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Candle counters with a left and a right that stings Son.
Son takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Son shoots for a takedown but Candle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Candle shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Candle is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Candle wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Son is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Son tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Candle swivels and escapes.
Mark Candle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gohan Son.

Candle shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Son manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Candle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Candle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Candle, 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Candle!