PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Normand Stein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chindolly The Fast Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Machine's choice of entrance music: The Next Big Thing. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stein
vs
The Fast Machine

224 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Normand Stein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chindolly The Fast Machine!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machine drives through with a takedown into Stein's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Stein throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Machine is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stein is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Machine gets to his feet. Stein looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stein keeps the fight on the outside.

Machine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stein did well to prevent Machine getting side control.
Stein trying to control but Machine postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stein is trying to stand.
Machine is thwarting Stein's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stein actively working from the bottom here.

Machine escapes and gets back to his feet.
Chindolly The Fast Machine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machine looks winded!
Machine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stein throws a right hand that Machine ducks under and follows up with a left that Machine also avoids with ease.

Stein closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Machine's guard.

Stein is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Machine is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Machine has escaped and now he's on top!
Machine trying to control but Stein is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stein had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Machine defends it easily.

Stein escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stein tries to strike from the bottom.
Stein is trying to keep Machine in close.
Machine is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
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!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stein will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chindolly The Fast Machine wasn't active enough on the ground.
Danga de danga de dang - Machine scores with a four punch combination!

Stein shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Machine's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machine wants to sweep here but Stein controlling him for the moment.
Machine trying to keep a closed guard but Stein is proving a slippery customer.

Stein drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Machine dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stein doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Stein looking for a guillotine here but Machine defends easily.
Stein keeping moving, preventing Machine from controlling successfully.
Machine throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stein works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Stein looking for a guillotine here but Machine defends easily.
Stein controls Machine momentarily but Machine frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chindolly The Fast Machine will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stein moves into the clinch.

Stein jumps guard.

Stein is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stein really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Machine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stein is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machine is controlling him.

Stein is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Machine defends well.
Machine looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine trying to control the position from guard on top but Stein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chindolly The Fast Machine was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Machine shoots in and bounces Stein off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Machine is breathing heavily.
Machine stays in close to Stein's body and controls the position.
Stein throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Chindolly The Fast Machine has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machine won't allow Stein to get back to his feet.
Stein keeping moving, preventing Machine from controlling successfully.

Stein has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Machine off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Machine throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stein tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Machine is in Stein's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machine throwing strikes but missing.
Stein trying to keep a closed guard but Machine is proving a slippery customer.
Stein is really struggling to control Machine but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stein striking off his back but it's not causing Machine any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stein working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Machine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Machine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stein throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Stein working for a triangle but Machine defends it easily.
Machine controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Machine. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Machine tries to stand but Stein is controlling from the bottom.
Stein looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machine is looking to stand up but Stein won't let him.
Stein trying to keep a closed guard but Machine is proving a slippery customer.

Stein has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machine can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Machine stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Stein scores with a nice body kick.

Stein closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Stein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chindolly The Fast Machine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Machine has managed to clinch.

Stein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Machine closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stein quickly recovers to half guard.

Stein looking for submissions off his back.

Stein makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Stein scores with a takedown into Machine's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machine looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stein is one step ahead there.
Stein working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine trying to control the position here.
Machine trying to keep a closed guard but Stein is proving a slippery customer.

Stein decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Stein shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Machine is looking for a sweep. Stein is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Machine is looking to improve his position.
Stein stalling.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Stein is working for a submission of some sort.
Stein wants to control but Machine is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stein is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stein trying to control from half guard but Machine is working away.

Machine pushes Stein off and gets back to his feet.

Stein closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stein lands in his opponent's guard.
Machine wants to sweep here but Stein controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stein stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Machine gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stein to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stein looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Machine pulls Stein in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Normand Stein showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Machine 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chindolly The Fast Machine!
A very excited looking Chindolly The Fast Machine rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.