PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phraya Phichai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Finkle
vs
Phichai

193 cm
26
203 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

184 cm
26
192 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
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 10 - 5 - 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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phraya Phichai!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phichai throws a lazy right hand but Finkle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Phichai tries a low kick but Finkle avoids it.
Finkle scores with a decent looking hook.
Finkle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phichai blocks a head kick by Finkle.
A telegraphed right hand from Finkle misses the target.
Finkle misses with a looping right.
Phichai is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Phichai throws a low kick, looking for Finkle's leg but Finkle calmly moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Phichai.
Phichai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Finkle swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Phichai counters with a right hand to the body.
Phichai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Some bone on bone action there as Finkle checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Finkle lunges at Phichai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Phichai's hand.
Finkle slips under a jab.
Phichai misses with a wild body shot.
Phichai avoids the head kick by Finkle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Finkle.
Phichai on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phichai looks to land a left hand but Finkle moved out of range nicely.
Ray Finkle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phichai looks to score with a jab to the body but Finkle is just out of range.

Finkle closes the distance and pushes Phichai back into the cage.
Finkle blocks a body shot from Phichai.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phichai.
A head punch on the inside from Phichai fails to land.
Phichai working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Phichai misses with a punch to the body.
Phichai blocks an elbow strike.
Phichai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Finkle.
Finkle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Phichai can't find room to land a body shot as Finkle controls the action.
Phichai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Phichai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Phichai.
Phichai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Finkle prevents a body shot from Phichai.
Finkle misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Finkle misses with an elbow over the top.
Phichai misses with some punches.
Phichai throws a head punch that misses.
Finkle tries to work over Phichai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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!
Phichai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Finkle putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Phichai in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Phichai throws a head punch that misses.
Finkle prevents a body shot from Phichai.
Finkle is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Finkle.
Phichai dodges an elbow strike from Finkle.
Finkle landing knees to the head.
Finkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phichai is defending well for now.
Finkle misses with a body punch.
Phichai throws a head punch that misses.
Finkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phichai is defending well for now.
Phichai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phichai avoiding damage as Finkle throws knees to the body.
Phichai tries a body shot but Finkle blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkle lands with a light punch inside.
Finkle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A knee to the head by Finkle.
A right handed body shot lands from Phichai.
Phichai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A nice left hand lands by Phichai.
Finkle connects with a nasty looking knee right to Phichai's face.
Phichai lands with a short shot to the head.
Finkle lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Phichai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Phichai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Phichai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Phichai lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phichai managing to block the knees to the body from Finkle.
Finkle lands a body shot in the clinch.
I was talking to Finkle's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Finkle misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Phichai on the inside.
Finkle blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Finkle as the two fighters clinch.
Finkle lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Phichai tries to land a knee to the head but Finkle blocks with his arms.
Phichai lands with a left to the head.
Finkle blocking some punches.
Phichai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Finkle throws an elbow but misses.
Finkle landing knees to the body.
Phichai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Finkle comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Phraya Phichai has been cut.
Finkle connects with a nasty looking knee right to Phichai's face.
Phichai can't find room to land a body shot as Finkle controls the action.
Finkle comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Phichai is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phichai misses with some punches.
Phichai is still on wobbly legs! Can Finkle finish him?
Phichai has a couple of punches blocked by Finkle.
Phichai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Phichai blocks an elbow strike from Finkle.
Phichai misses with a punch on the inside.
Finkle leaning against his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Finkle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phraya Phichai's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Phichai avoids a kick to the body.
Phichai seems to have recovered his senses.
Phichai throws a hook to the side of Finkle's head but Finkle sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Phichai misses.
Finkle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phichai lands with a kick to the temple. Finkle shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Phichai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finkle.
Finkle walks forward, straight into a front kick from Phichai.
Finkle pivots, looking for a leg kick but Phichai is out of range and Finkle settles back down.
Phichai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Finkle under the eye.

Phichai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Finkle tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phichai has a couple of punches blocked by Finkle.
Finkle landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Phichai has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Finkle seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Phichai can turn it around.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Finkle just misses with a elbow thrown towards Phichai's brow.
Finkle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Finkle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Phichai throws a punch but it's blocked by Finkle.
Knees in the clinch landing for Finkle.
Ray Finkle has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle tries to land knees in the clinch but Phichai avoids the damage to the body.
Phichai lands a shoulder strike.
Phichai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phichai misses with some punches.
Finkle lands an elbow inside.
Phichai blocks an elbow strike from Finkle.
Finkle misses with an elbow over the top.
Phichai tries a body shot but Finkle blocks it.
Nice elbow from Finkle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Finkle.
Phichai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Finkle lands an uppercut.
Phichai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phichai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Finkle blocks it with crossed arms.
Phichai blocks a body shot from Finkle.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Phichai.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phichai misses with a punch to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Finkle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Finkle.
Phichai lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Finkle or not.
Phichai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Phichai throws a punch but it's blocked by Finkle.
Finkle lands a body shot.
Phichai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Finkle blocks a body shot from Phichai.
Finkle throws a punch but it's blocked by Phichai.
Phichai throws a punch but it's blocked by Finkle.
Phichai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Phichai struggles to land a body shot inside as Finkle controls his hands.
Phichai tries to throw a body punch but Finkle avoids it by throwing Phichai back against the cage.
Finkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phichai is defending well for now.
Finkle using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Phichai is breathing heavily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phichai.
Phichai tries to work over Finkle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Finkle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Finkle is pushing Phichai up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phichai dodges an elbow strike from Finkle.
Phichai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Finkle tries to land knees in the clinch but Phichai avoids the damage to the body.
Phichai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phichai lands a right hand that snaps the head of Finkle backwards.
Phichai misses with an elbow over the top.
A nice right hand lands inside from Finkle.
Phichai working aggressively here.
Finkle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Phichai.
Phichai throws a head punch that misses.
Phichai avoiding damage as Finkle throws knees to the body.
Phichai throws an elbow that misses.
Phichai blocks an elbow strike from Finkle.
Phichai prevents a body shot from Finkle.
Finkle looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phichai lands with a right to the head.
Finkle lands a nice elbow.
Phichai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Phichai blocks an elbow strike from Finkle.
Finkle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Finkle lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finkle prevents a body shot from Phichai.
Finkle lands a damaging elbow.
Finkle throws an elbow but it misses.
Finkle landing knees to the body.
Finkle misses with an elbow over the top.
Finkle throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phichai blocks it with crossed arms.
Finkle tries to land knees in the clinch but Phichai avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Finkle misses with a punch on the inside.
Phichai tries a body shot but Finkle blocks it.
Finkle blocking some punches.
Phichai misses with a hook from the clinch.
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 Ray Finkle will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Phraya Phichai's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Finkle tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Phichai misses with a low kick.
A jab lands there for Finkle.
Finkle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Finkle moves away from the strike by Phichai.
Phichai looks for the body kick but Finkle saw that one coming.
Finkle throws a head kick but Phichai moves out of range.
Finkle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Finkle looks for the body kick but Phichai saw that one coming.
Finkle moves out of range as Phichai throws a body kick.
Phichai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Phichai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Finkle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Phichai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Finkle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finkle wants to clinch up but Phichai keeps it at a distance.
Phichai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Phichai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Finkle moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phichai throws the left hand but Finkle avoids the punch easily.
Finkle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A lazy left from Finkle finds it's target.
Phichai misses with a body kick.
Phraya Phichai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finkle cracks the inside of Phichai's front leg.
Finkle wants to clinch but Phichai slips to the side
and Phichai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Phichai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Finkle takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Finkle cracks Phichai with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Finkle throws a sloppy head kick and Phichai moves out of range easily.
Phichai paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Finkle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Phichai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Finkle slips under a jab from Phichai.
Finkle throws a poor cross that misses
and Finkle takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Finkle takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phichai lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phichai throws a low kick but it's checked well by Finkle.
Phichai scoring well with a low kick there.
Finkle misses with a head kick.
Finkle dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Phichai. That did some damage!
Finkle lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Finkle fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Phichai.
Phichai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Finkle tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Finkle avoids the head kick by Phichai.
Finkle jabs Phichai right on the nose. Phichai blinks but takes it well.
Phichai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Phichai.
Phichai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Finkle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Finkle throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phichai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finkle was well out of range. Poor timing from Phichai.
Phichai misses with a wild body shot.
Finkle takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Phichai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Finkle takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Finkle fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Finkle scores with a nice right hand.
Phichai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Phichai connects with an inside leg kick.
Phichai takes a swing at Finkle's ribcage but misses.
Phichai on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Phichai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Phichai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phichai scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Finkle throws a head kick that misses.
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!
Finkle lands a leg kick that knocks Phichai off balance momentarily.
Phichai misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Finkle checks the leg kick.
Finkle plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Phichai misses with a hook.
Finkle misses with a looping right.
Finkle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Phichai throws a body punch but Finkle moves out of range.
Phichai throws a leg kick
and Finkle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Finkle scores with a crisp jab that stopped Phichai in his tracks.

Phichai darts in and clinches Finkle up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Finkle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phichai tries to land a knee to the head but Finkle blocks with his arms.
Phichai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Phichai misses with a body punch.
Phichai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Finkle looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Phraya Phichai just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Phraya Phichai's cut.
That's time! Finkle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Phichai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Finkle.
Phichai throws a leg kick but Finkle checks it.
Nice cross by Finkle.
Phichai drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Finkle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Phichai misses with a body kick.
Phichai misses with a hook.
Finkle tries to clinch but Phichai moves out of range.
Finkle jabs at Phichai's body.
Finkle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Finkle throws a shot from downtown. Phichai moves away and avoids it.
Finkle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phichai lands a nice shot to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Phichai.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Finkle.
Phichai lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Phichai.

Phichai has managed to clinch.
Finkle lands an elbow inside.
Phichai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Phichai tries to land knees in the clinch but Finkle avoids the damage to the body.
Phichai blocks the elbow strike.
Finkle tries to throw a body punch but Phichai avoids it by throwing Finkle back against the cage.
Phichai digs a right hand underneath Finkle's ribcage. Finkle let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Phichai blocks the elbow strike.
Phichai lands a nice shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Phichai.
Phichai blocks an elbow strike.
Finkle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Finkle throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Finkle prevents a body shot from Phichai.
Phichai missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phichai tries to work over Finkle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A body shot lands from Finkle.
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!
With the fighters up against the cage, Finkle throws an elbow but misses.
Phichai has a couple of punches blocked by Finkle.
Finkle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Phichai throws a head punch that misses.
Finkle landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Phichai is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Finkle misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Phichai.
Finkle lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phichai.
Phichai throws an elbow that misses.
Finkle blocks an uppercut.
Finkle utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Finkle.
Finkle tries a knee to the head but Phichai blocks it.
Finkle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phichai misses with a punch on the inside.
Finkle lands an elbow that stopped Phichai in his tracks for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Finkle.
Finkle gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Finkle with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phichai throws a head punch that misses.
Finkle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Phichai backwards.
Finkle lands an elbow inside that Phichai shrugs off.
Phichai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Finkle lands a big knee! That's hurt Phichai! Oh, he's all over the place! Finkle lands another knee that sends Phichai to the floor and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ray Finkle!
Ray Finkle retains his middleweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Ray Finkle thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.