PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Red Forman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valdemar Friman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Forman comes to the cage accompanied by Ultimate. Friman has chosen Metallica - Damage Inc. as his entrance music. Valdemar Friman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Forman
vs
Friman

176 cm
35
160 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

168 cm
41
160 lbs
24 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Red Forman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Forman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Friman misses with a wild combination.

Friman closes the distance and clinches.
Forman misses with some punches.
Friman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Forman blocks it with crossed arms.
Friman misses with a knee strike.

Friman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Friman is looking for a kimura but Forman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Friman to get the leverage.
Forman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Friman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Friman's back!
Forman looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Friman tries to break free.
Forman throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Forman lands shots from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friman turns into Forman and is now in his guard.
Friman is looking to work some ground and pound but Forman has wrist control.
Forman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Friman throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Friman postures up in Forman's guard and throws a big left but Forman blocks it.

Forman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Friman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Forman seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Friman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Friman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Forman looking to control.
Friman won't allow Forman to sweep him here.
Forman keeping moving, preventing Friman from controlling successfully.
Friman distracts Forman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Friman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Forman is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman preventing the sweep.
Friman tries to free his leg and advance position but Forman is retaining full guard.

Forman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Friman is aware though and is defending well.
Forman trying to control the position.
Friman passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Friman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Forman defends it well.
Friman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Forman defending well though.
Forman tries to get to full guard but Friman has control of the leg.
Friman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Friman connects with a nice short shot to Forman's temple.

Forman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Friman pulls his head out easily.
Forman is not content to let Friman control the position.
Friman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Forman won't allow Friman to pass to mount.
Forman is trying to control but can't.
Friman uses his free foot to push down on Forman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Forman.
Forman is desperately trying to improve his position but Friman has a good base and remains in mount.
Friman lands a heavy elbow.
Forman is bucking up trying to escape but Friman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Forman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Friman looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Friman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forman tries to reverse the position but Friman maintains control.
Forman tries to hold on but Friman pushes him away.
The referee warns Forman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Friman postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Forman looks a forlorn figure.
Friman lands a nice shot to the head.
Forman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Forman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Forman trying to control the position here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Friman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Friman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdemar Friman dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Crunch! Forman slams his shin into Friman's torso.
Good shot there by Forman.
Friman lands a nice looking body kick.
Friman misses with the combination.
Friman scores with a shot to the body.
Forman dodges the punch combination from Friman.
Forman blocks the body kick.
Friman lands a jab to the head.
Forman misses with the combination.
Friman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Forman ducks under a wild hook from Friman.

Friman drives through and clinches with Forman against the cage.
Friman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Forman scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Forman tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Friman.
Friman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Forman.
Friman crunches a lovely knee into Forman's ribcage.
Friman struggles to land a body shot inside as Forman controls his hands.
Friman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Friman prevents a body shot from Forman.
Forman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Forman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Forman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Friman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Forman can't find room to land a body shot as Friman controls the action.
Friman prevents a body shot from Forman.

Friman has Forman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Friman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Forman tumbling to the mat - Friman dives into Forman's guard.
Forman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Friman is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Forman pulls Friman in close to prevent any damage.
Friman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Forman is keeping the position for now.
Friman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Friman scoring with some ground and pound.
Forman is trying to control the position but Friman postures up.
Forman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Friman pushing down on Forman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Friman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Friman is nestled in close to Forman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Friman is thwarting Forman's attempts to control the position.

Friman wants to work for an arm triangle but Forman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Friman is thwarting Forman's attempts to control the position.
Forman is trying is best to control the position here.
Forman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Friman working his ground and pound in the gym.
Forman tries to get to full guard but Friman has control of the leg.
Friman tries to pass to full mount but Forman defends it.
Forman wants to control but Friman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Forman manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Friman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Friman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Friman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Forman is looking to sweep but instead, Friman has passed into half guard.
Forman is pressing down on Friman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Friman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
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!
Friman wants to pass the guard but Forman is keeping the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Friman postures up and lands a big shot to Forman's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdemar Friman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Forman works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Friman goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Forman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Forman wants it to stay on the feet.
Forman throws a leg kick but Friman sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Friman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Forman throws the left hand but Friman avoids the punch easily.
Friman scores with a jab.
Friman throws a right and a left that Forman avoids nicely.
Friman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab by Forman.
Friman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A combination from Forman does no damage.
Forman delivers a nice body kick.
Friman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Forman looks to land a right hand but Friman moved out of range.
No joy there for Friman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Friman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Forman throws out a loose jab but Friman uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Forman connects with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Friman.
Friman looks to score with a jab to the body but Forman is just out of range.
Forman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Forman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Friman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Forman thinking.
Red Forman is winning the standup battle so far.
A lazy left from Forman finds it's target.
Forman lands an overhand right.
Forman keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Forman throws a body punch but Friman moves out of range.
Friman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab lands there for Forman.
A head kick misses from Friman.
Red Forman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some bone on bone action there as Friman checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Forman throws a jab when Friman was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Forman lands a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Forman thuds his right hand into Friman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Forman cracks Friman with a right hand to the side of the head.
Forman throws a right and a left that Friman avoids nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Forman. Friman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Forman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Friman.
Forman moves out of range as Friman throws a body kick.
Friman ducks under a wild hook from Forman.
Friman just misses with a punch to the body.
Forman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Friman.
Forman defending well as Friman loads up on a big left hand.
Friman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Friman misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forman blocks a head kick by Friman.
Forman is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Friman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Forman shoots in looking for a takedown. Friman tries to sprawl out of it but Forman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Friman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Forman throws a hook but Friman blocks it.
Forman is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Red Forman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Friman cracks Forman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Friman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A big right from Forman misses.
Friman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Forman moves away.
Forman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Friman doesn't seem bothered though.
Forman punishes Friman's body with a nice straight punch.
Forman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Red Forman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Forman misses with a wild body shot.
Friman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Forman.
Friman misses with a wild combination.
Friman is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Forman rather than just go for the knockout.
Friman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Forman is looking to slow Friman down with leg kicks.
Valdemar Friman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Friman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Forman thuds his right hand into Friman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Forman moves out of range of the body kick from Friman.
Friman fails to land the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Friman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Forman scores with a jab to the jaw.
Forman thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Red Forman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Friman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdemar Friman!