PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Filo Akhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Gertje (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Akhan
vs
Gertje

158 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Filo Akhan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Connor Gertje!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gertje staying out of range there.
Akhan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akhan wants it to stay on the feet.
Gertje avoids the body shot from Akhan.
Filo Akhan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akhan misses with a wild combination.
Akhan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gertje circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gertje is defended easily by Akhan.
Gertje shoots in but Akhan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Filo Akhan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Gertje.
Akhan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Gertje manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Akhan on his heels. He'll look to pass Akhan's guard now, I'm sure.
Akhan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gertje 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.
Akhan keeping moving, preventing Gertje from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akhan is trying to keep Gertje in close.

Akhan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gertje defends it easily.

Akhan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gertje throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gertje preventing the sweep.
Gertje trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhan 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.
Gertje trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Akhan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Gertje got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akhan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gertje has managed to get both his arms back between Akhan's legs - danger averted.
Gertje is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Gertje might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Gertje landing some decent shots from guard.
Gertje sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gertje trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Connor Gertje hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gertje keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Akhan.
Gertje looks for a takedown but Akhan sprawls well.
Gertje looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akhan is fending him off so far but Gertje persists. Nope, Akhan circles away and we're back to standing.
Gertje shoots in for a takedown but Akhan shows good takedown defense.
Akhan lands a lovely overhand right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gertje is defended easily by Akhan.

Akhan gets caught napping as Gertje dives in and scores a takedown. Akhan manages to retain guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akhan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gertje preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Connor Gertje will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Akhan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akhan looks to land a combination but Gertje avoids it well.
Gertje has a takedown stuffed.
Akhan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Akhan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gertje moves away.
Gertje shoots for a takedown but Akhan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Akhan misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Akhan. Those never looked like landing.
Akhan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akhan misses with the combination.

Gertje shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Connor Gertje has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akhan striking off his back but it's not causing Gertje any problems.
Gertje trying to control but Akhan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gertje pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akhan is keeping the position for now.
Gertje slips nicely into half guard.
Gertje trying to pass the guard but Akhan defending well.
Akhan tries to get to full guard but Gertje has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gertje missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gertje content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gertje throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Akhan to regain full guard.
Akhan keeping moving, preventing Gertje from controlling successfully.
Akhan keeping full guard, as Gertje tries to pass.
Gertje trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gertje landing with the ground and pound.
Akhan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Akhan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Akhan controls Gertje momentarily but Gertje frees himself.
Gertje trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gertje must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akhan looking for subs off his back but Gertje has passed one foot through into half guard.
Gertje perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gertje throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gertje shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gertje wants to pass to mount but Akhan is defending the position.
Gertje trying to control from half guard but Akhan is working away.
Gertje sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Akhan defending well though.
Gertje wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akhan keeps working.

Gertje is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gertje looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gertje controlling the pace.
Akhan missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gertje wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akhan keeps working.
Akhan trying to hold on to Gertje's head to control him but Gertje postures up.
Akhan is pressing down on Gertje's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Akhan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Akhan working a defensive guard here.
Gertje wants to control from the top but Akhan keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gertje is pushing down on Akhan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Akhan is fighting to maintain full guard but Gertje has managed to sneak the leg through.

Akhan has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Gertje escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Gertje!
Gertje trying to control the position but Akhan is working away.
Akhan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akhan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gertje pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akhan is keeping the position for now.
Gertje controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Akhan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Filo Akhan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connor Gertje is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gertje controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Gertje comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gertje winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

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