PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Azarov Danil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Gertje (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Danil might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Бой с тенью. Connor Gertje has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Azarov Danil's chin.

Danil
vs
Gertje

182 cm
18
141 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

175 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Azarov Danil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Connor Gertje!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danil shoots in for a takedown but Gertje shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Gertje closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Danil's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gertje is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gertje slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Danil is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gertje is controlling him well.
Danil really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gertje is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Danil knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Danil is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gertje asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gertje is looking to take a break and control but Danil is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gertje is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Danil's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danil wants to get back to his feet.

Gertje tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gertje has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Danil wants to get back to his feet.
Danil trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Danil is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gertje has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gertje tries to move to mount but Danil blocks the move with his legs.
Gertje advances nicely into full mount.
Danil is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Danil is breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gertje tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gertje working for a guillotine from mount but Danil is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danil is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Gertje looking to finish Danil with some ground and pound. This is bad for Danil!
Gertje putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gertje controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danil wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gertje content just to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Connor Gertje was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Danil gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gertje to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gertje is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Gertje dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Danil fails with the takedown.
Gertje stuffs the takedown.
Danil shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gertje pinned against the cage. Gertje gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azarov Danil. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gertje closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Danil's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gertje tries to free his leg and advance position but Danil is retaining full guard.
Gertje trying to move into half guard but instead Danil has managed to sweep!
Gertje is looking to stand up but Danil isn't so interested in that idea.

Gertje kicks Danil off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danil shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gertje drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Danil tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Gertje is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Danil holding both Gertje 's hands and preventing any damage.
Gertje has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Danil's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gertje looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Gertje lands punches and elbows.
Gertje trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Danil doesn't escape.
The referee is taking a good look at Danil as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Gertje!
Gertje is riding his opponent, not letting Danil buck him off.
Gertje lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Gertje.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danil holding both Gertje 's hands and preventing any damage.
Gertje is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Danil trying to get back to his feet but Gertje is in full control for now.
Danil is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Gertje.

Gertje looking for the RNC.

Gertje has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Danil has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gertje is looking to control Danil but Danil is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Danil wants to get back to his feet.
Danil is taking damage to the body and head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gertje lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Danil hold on?!
Danil looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gertje controlling from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Gertje showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Danil fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Danil has his takedown stuffed

so Gertje counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Connor Gertje has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gertje pushes down on Danil's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gertje slows the pace down in half guard.
Danil wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gertje frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gertje scoring with strikes but Danil is staying in there.
Gertje trying to control but Danil is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Danil defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gertje.
Gertje tries to control but Danil wriggling away.
Danil wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gertje wants to control the pace but Danil is squirming around nicely.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gertje cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Danil's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gertje takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Danil wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gertje controlling the pace for now.
Danil is in a horrible position here. Gertje smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gertje tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danil tries to buck Gertje off but he can't manage it.
Gertje lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Azarov Danil has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gertje controlling the pace for now.
Gertje lands a nice shot to the head.
Gertje sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gertje putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gertje controlling the position easily from mount.
Danil is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Danil throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gertje. What's that going to do exactly?
Connor Gertje is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gertje wants to finish this one by submission but Danil is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gertje.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Gertje comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gertje has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Gertje!