PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iain Durrant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Lankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lankari's choice of entrance music: AC/DC - Thunderstruck. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Durrant
vs
Lankari

170 cm
39
148 lbs
26 - 30 - 0

177 cm
30
142 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 26 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iain Durrant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Lankari!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lankari doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Durrant counters with a single leg into guard. Lankari didn't expect that.
Durrant controls from within his opponent's guard.
Durrant trying to control but Lankari is working from the bottom.

Durrant postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lankari is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Durrant, into his guard.
Lankari passes Durrant's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Durrant is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durrant looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lankari landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Durrant looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lankari content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lankari trying to control the action but Durrant is working from the bottom.
Lankari winds up and cracks Durrant with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Lankari controlling the action here.
Lankari is keen to just control but Durrant is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrant avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lankari.

Hans Lankari has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Lankari shoots and misses

and Durrant counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lankari looking for a sweep. Not yet Lankari, not yet.
Lankari controls Durrant momentarily but Durrant frees himself.
Durrant looking to sit in guard and control but Lankari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lankari trying to control the position from guard on top but Durrant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lankari might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Durrant haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hans Lankari wasn't active enough on the ground.
Some bone on bone action there as Durrant checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Durrant throws a right and a left that Lankari avoids nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Durrant scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lankari has Durrant up against the cage in a clinch.
Lankari keeps control of Durrant as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lankari tries to pull guard but Durrant won't allow it.
Iain Durrant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.

Durrant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Durrant leaves Lankari with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Durrant scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Iain Durrant will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lankari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durrant misses the jab.
Durrant stalks Lankari and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lankari's face. Lankari staggers backwards, shaken.
Lankari throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Durrant.
Durrant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lankari circles away quickly and effectively.
Lankari shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Durrant sprawls well. Durrant wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lankari gets slowly back to his feet.
Durrant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lankari looks for a takedown but Durrant sprawls well.
Lankari misses with a takedown attempt

and Durrant holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Iain Durrant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant managing to block the knees to the body from Lankari.
Lankari leaning his opponent against the cage.
Lankari tries to pull guard but Durrant won't allow it.

Durrant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lankari fails to land with a series of punches.

Durrant closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lankari quickly recovers to half guard.
Durrant uses his free foot to push down on Lankari's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lankari.

Durrant goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lankari turns into him and now he's in Durrant's guard.
Durrant manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lankari manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lankari is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lankari looking for a guillotine here but Durrant defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lankari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lankari is looking for a kimura but Durrant is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lankari to get the leverage.
Durrant has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lankari is working away from the top position though.
Iain Durrant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrant tries to roll over but Lankari keeps him under control.
Lankari landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lankari wants to pass to mount but Durrant is defending the position.
Lankari is thwarting Durrant's attempts to control the position.

Durrant actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lankari wants to control but Durrant is keeping him busy.
Lankari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Durrant looking for submissions off his back.

Durrant looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Iain Durrant will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lankari looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lankari tries to clinch up but Durrant circles away and keeps his distance.
Lankari scores with a head kick. Durrant tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Lankari rushes Durrant and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lankari drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Durrant is trying to force a seperation but Lankari has the dominant position.

Durrant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lankari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Iain Durrant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.
Durrant misses with the combination.
Durrant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Iain Durrant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lankari tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Durrant swivels and escapes.
Lankari misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lankari misses with the combination.
Durrant takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lankari misses with a takedown attempt

and Durrant counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Durrant.
Durrant misses with some punches.

Durrant manages to break the clinch.
Iain Durrant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Durrant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lankari with a poor takedown
and Durrant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durrant scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lankari doesn't seem bothered though.
Lankari looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lankari leaves Durrant with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lankari misses with a takedown attempt - Durrant sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lankari looks to land a combination. Durrant sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hans Lankari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lankari fails to land the takedown.
Durrant throws a hook but Lankari avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lankari scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hans Lankari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lankari tries a head kick but it misses.
Lankari throws a head kick that misses.
Lankari has a takedown stuffed.
Lankari shoots and misses

and Durrant counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Durrant.
Lankari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Durrant looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Durrant works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durrant wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lankari keeps working.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Durrant trying to control the pace.

Lankari looking for submissions off his back.
Durrant stops Lankari from getting back to his feet.
Hans Lankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durrant prevents Lankari from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Durrant in particular looking to stall.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Durrant'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.

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 Iain Durrant.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Durrant, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iain Durrant!