PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Habana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Finkle
vs
Habana

193 cm
25
203 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

191 cm
25
195 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ray Finkle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Habana!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Lou da Vinci and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Habana throws a head kick that misses.
Finkle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Habana tries to land a leg kick but Finkle saw it coming and moves away.
Finkle dips to his left and cracks Habana with an uppercut!

Habana scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Finkle is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Beast, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Nice strikes from Habana there.
Finkle keeping hold of Habana's head, controlling as best he can.

Habana seems to be working for a kimura but Finkle defends the submission attempt.
Finkle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Habana trying to control the position from guard on top but Finkle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Habana working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Habana advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle dodges the ground and pound from Habana.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Habana is looking to take a break and control but Finkle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Finkle is looking for a sweep.
Finkle dodges the ground and pound from Habana.

Habana tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Finkle has one of Habana's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Habana misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Habana sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Finkle is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Habana working away.
Habana has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Finkle tries to buck Habana off but Habana is having none of it.
Finkle is not content to let Habana control the position.
Habana working away.
Habana landing strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Habana tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habana in side control, throwing shots but Finkle defends.
Finkle is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Finkle taking some punishment here, with Habana in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Habana wants to take a breather but Finkle is having none of it.
Habana not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Habana content to control rather than advance.

Habana is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Finkle doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Habana.
Habana is trying to control the action in half guard but Finkle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Habana throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Finkle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Habana is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Finkle is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Finkle has escaped and now he's on top!
Finkle seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Habana working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Finkle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Habana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Habana escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Finkle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Habana is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Habana dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Habana tries to score with a low kick but Finkle moves his leg out of the way.
Habana closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Finkle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Habana.
Habana throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Habana does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Habana throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Finkle misses.
Habana does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Habana looks to land a body kick but Finkle moved away.
Finkle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bryan Habana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Habana throws a sloppy head kick and Finkle moves out of range easily.
Habana cracks the inside of Finkle's front leg.
Finkle blocks a head kick by Habana.
Habana takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Finkle keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Habana tries to close the distance and clinch but Finkle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habana walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Habana takes a jab right on the kisser.
Finkle blocks a head kick by Habana.
Habana tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Finkle is able to avoid easily.

Habana shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Finkle napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Finkle is trying to get back to half guard.
Finkle prevents Habana from improving position.
Habana wants to stand but Finkle has his arm trapped.
Habana working the strikes but Finkle uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Finkle is trying to control but can't.
Habana wants to control but Finkle is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habana missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finkle gets full guard.
Habana controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Habana won't allow Finkle to sweep him here.
Finkle trying to control the position.
Habana stopping the sweep attempt from Finkle.
Habana would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Finkle working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big right from Finkle misses.
Habana throws a leg kick that misses.
Finkle throws out a loose jab but Habana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Habana checks a leg kick.
Habana darts in trying to clinch
and Finkle counters with a nice body kick.
Finkle avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Finkle just misses with a punch to the body.
Habana staying out of range there.
Bryan Habana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Habana on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Finkle is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Habana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finkle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Habana.
A thudding body kick lands there by Habana!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Habana can pounce on him.
Finkle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Habana checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Finkle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Finkle tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Habana is able to avoid easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Habana. That's going to slow Finkle down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Habana avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Habana tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Finkle manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick from Habana lands but Finkle takes it in his stride.
Habana is looking to clinch.
Finkle checks a leg kick nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Habana.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Habana throws a quick inside leg kick.
Habana blocks a low kick nicely.
Finkle throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bryan Habana will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Habana tries for a takedown but Finkle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Habana avoids the head kick by Finkle.
A head kick misses from Habana.
Finkle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A low kick from Habana is predictable there
and Finkle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Habana moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick misses from Habana.
Habana lands with a slapping head kick.
Habana throws a solid leg kick but Finkle takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Habana.
Habana has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Finkle finds it's way round the side to connect with Habana's head.
Habana tries to land a front kick but Finkle steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Finkle lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Habana at a distance.
Finkle throws the kick towards the body but Habana avoids it.
A head kick misses from Habana.
Finkle throws a body punch but Habana moves out of range.
Habana scores with a push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Habana misses with a leg kick
and Habana takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Finkle scores with a push kick.
Finkle scores with a hook.
An inside leg kick lands from Finkle.
Finkle blocks a head kick by Habana.
Finkle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Habana.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Habana lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Finkle has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Finkle and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Finkle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Habana fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Habana misses with a head kick.
Finkle sizes up Habana with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Finkle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Habana throws out the jab.
Finkle lands a jab to Habana's midsection.
Habana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An inside leg kick lands from Finkle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Habana shoots in and drives through. Finkle sprawls well.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Habana - that will leave a mark!
Finkle scoring well with a low kick there.
Some bone on bone action there as Finkle checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Habana takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Habana ducks right into an uppercut from Finkle.
Finkle blocks a low kick nicely.
Finkle looks to throw the jab but Habana is out of range.
Habana closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Finkle throws the left hand but Habana avoids the punch easily.
Finkle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Habana manages to avoid it.
Finkle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Habana.
Habana throws a leg kick which misses Finkle's front leg but catches the back leg as Finkle tries to avoid it.
A jab from Finkle misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habana throws a chopping leg kick but Finkle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Finkle clobbers Habana with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Finkle throws a front kick aimed at Habana's knee but Habana avoids it well.
Habana fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ray Finkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Habana.
Habana takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Habana dives in and grabs Finkle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Finkle pushes down on Habana's head and hops out.
Habana displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Finkle throws out the jab.
Habana has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Finkle.
Finkle's jab looks to have found its range, popping Habana under the eye.
Finkle blocks a head kick by Habana.
Habana shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Finkle as he avoids it easily.
Habana will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Finkle throws a head kick that Habana semi-blocks.
Finkle cracks Habana with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Finkle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Habana.
Habana tries to clinch but Finkle is having none of it.
Habana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Habana throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ray Finkle is winning the standup battle so far.
Finkle listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Finkle lands a nice looking body kick.
Habana throws a quick inside leg kick.
Finkle cracks Habana with a right hand to the side of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Finkle. That's going to slow Habana down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Finkle.
That kick from Habana tenderised Finkle's leg. Finkle is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circle momentarily. Finkle darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Finkle throws out a loose jab but Habana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Finkle thuds his right hand into Habana's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Finkle clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A good leg kick by Finkle.
A head kick misses from Habana.
Finkle attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Finkle tries to sprawl but Habana drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Finkle keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Finkle is looking for a sweep. Habana is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Habana tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Habana wants to control but Finkle is keeping him busy.
Finkle wants to control but Habana is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Finkle is not content to let Habana control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bryan Habana hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Finkle throws a leg kick

so Habana counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habana is looking to work some ground and pound but Finkle has wrist control.
Finkle keeping moving, preventing Habana from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Finkle controlling Habana's posture.

Bryan Habana has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Finkle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Finkle fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Habana looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habana darts in looking for a takedown but Finkle gets double underhooks and turns Habana into the cage.
Finkle throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Finkle lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Finkle stalling against the cage.
Habana wants to stall.
Finkle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Finkle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Habana wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Finkle.
Finkle scores with a shoulder strike.
Habana tries to land a knee to the head but Finkle blocks with his arms.
Habana is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Habana tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Habana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Finkle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Finkle on the inside.
Habana drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Finkle gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ray Finkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Habana.
Finkle working the clinch nicely. Habana is working for position but Finkle cracks him with a big knee to the head! Habana crumples up against the cage and Finkle lands two more shots before the ref can save Habana! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:16 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). Ray Finkle!
Ray Finkle retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Ray Finkle thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.