PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Quickius Rapidus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wilhelm Louis Stern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rapidus
vs
Louis Stern

194 cm
21
213 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
19
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Quickius Rapidus!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wilhelm Louis Stern!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stern shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rapidus's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rapidus wants to stand and escape but Stern is having none of it.
Rapidus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stern controls the pace.

Stern postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rapidus is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stern, into his guard.

Stern throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rapidus escapes and throws Stern's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stern can't do much from the bottom here.
Stern throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern is trying to control Rapidus's posture but Rapidus avoids it.
Stern tries to improve position but can't.
Rapidus tries to stand but Stern is controlling his head.

Rapidus decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Stern drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stern wants to control from the top but Rapidus keeps moving.
Stern missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern distracts Rapidus with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stern throwing strikes but missing.
Rapidus trying to control the position here.
Rapidus is trying to control the position but Stern postures up.
Stern stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rapidus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stern wants to control from the top but Rapidus keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapidus avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stern pushing down on Rapidus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stern is keen to just control but Rapidus is a slippery customer.

Stern is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rapidus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stern tries to pass to full mount but Rapidus defends it.
Stern not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stern tries to pass to full mount but Rapidus defends it.
Stern is stalling here. Rapidus is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Stern seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rapidus has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stern is looking to reverse the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stern slips under a jab.
Rapidus misses the shot to the body.
Stern tries to clinch up.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stern swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rapidus scores with a sloppy right hand. Stern should have avoided that one.
Stern on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stern slips a jab from Rapidus.
Stern shoots for a double leg takedown but Rapidus sprawls well. He's pushed Stern's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Stern has managed to clinch.
Stern prevents Rapidus from breaking the clinch.
Rapidus throws a punch but it's blocked by Stern.

Rapidus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stern lands with a slapping head kick.
Rapidus stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Quickius Rapidus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stern tries for a takedown but Rapidus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stern shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rapidus as he avoids it easily.
Quickius Rapidus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilhelm Louis Stern.
Stern looks gassed!
Rapidus misses with a straight left.
Rapidus misses with a straight left.
Stern is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stern slips under a jab.
Stern uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rapidus.
A jab from Rapidus finds it's way through Stern's defenses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Stern changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rapidus looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rapidus wants to get back to his feet but Stern drags him back down.

Stern tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stern has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stern creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rapidus sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Rapidus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stern misses with the ground and pound.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Stern.
Stern is looking to take a break and control but Rapidus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rapidus manages to get back to half guard.
Rapidus trying to control from the bottom.
Stern has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rapidus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Rapidus as Stern shoots in.
Rapidus fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stern looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rapidus scores with a one two! Stern had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stern looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rapidus is fending him off so far but Stern persists. Nope, Rapidus circles away and we're back to standing.
Donk. Rapidus catches Stern right on the button with a cross.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Stern has a takedown stuffed.
A slow jab from Rapidus misses its intended target.
Rapidus connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stern. Stern circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rapidus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stern takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stern shoots in but Rapidus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rapidus fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stern looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stern takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stern wants to clinch up but Rapidus keeps it at a distance.
Stern shoots in for a double leg but Rapidus sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rapidus throws a nice looking combination but Stern bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stern slips a jab and a cross from Rapidus.
Rapidus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Stern scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Stern is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Rapidus as he works his way to full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rapidus keeping moving, preventing Stern from controlling successfully.

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

Stern looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rapidus passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rapidus in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quickius Rapidus dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A big left from Rapidus misses.
Stern shoots in but Rapidus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A left lands for Rapidus.
Quickius Rapidus is winning the standup battle so far.
Rapidus punishes Stern's body with a nice straight punch.
Rapidus misses with an uppercut. Stern saw that one coming.
Rapidus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stern.
Rapidus throws a series of punches but Stern moves out of range.

Stern looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rapidus!
Stern misses with a head shot.
Stern throwing strikes here but Rapidus is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rapidus is wriggling around trying to escape.

Stern swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rapidus is now in Stern's guard. A big mistake from Stern there, giving up the dominant position!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapidus wants to stand but Stern has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rapidus postures up.

Stern throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rapidus escapes and throws Stern's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stern tries to buck Rapidus off but Rapidus is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stern is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rapidus off and has taken his back!
Rapidus just trying to survive but Stern is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
What can Rapidus do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Stern has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rapidus has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rapidus turns into Stern and is now in his guard.
Stern looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rapidus puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern is trying to control but Rapidus passes into side control!
Rapidus trying to control the position but Stern is working away.
Stern is looking for a sweep.

Rapidus stands up.

Rapidus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stern throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapidus is trying to keep Stern in close.
Stern stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rapidus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stern wants to control from the top but Rapidus keeps moving.
Stern forces his way into half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stern misses with a head shot. Rapidus uses the momentum to regain guard.
Rapidus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Stern drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stern jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Stern drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rapidus looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rapidus looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rapidus!
Stern is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rapidus moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Stern.
Stern is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rapidus stands up and beckons Stern to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Stern fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stern slips under a jab from Rapidus.
Rapidus misses with a wild body shot.
Rapidus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rapidus scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rapidus scores with a jab to the head.
Stern changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rapidus tries to avoid it but Stern manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rapidus to the ground. Rapidus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Quickius Rapidus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilhelm Louis Stern.
Rapidus throws a hook but Stern blocks it.
A jab lands there for Rapidus.
Rapidus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stern slips under a jab.
Stern walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rapidus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A right-left combo lands from Rapidus.

Stern closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stern lands in his opponent's guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Rapidus wriggles free and stands up.
Stern shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rapidus lands a lovely overhand right.
Rapidus fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rapidus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stern.
Stern closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rapidus circles away.
Stern is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rapidus.
No joy there for Rapidus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Quickius Rapidus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rapidus throws the left hand but Stern avoids the punch easily.

Stern shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rapidus is not content to let Stern control the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Stern is working for a kimura but Rapidus is defending it quite comfortably.
Stern is stalling here. Rapidus is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Stern seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rapidus has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Rapidus stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quickius Rapidus dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stern looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stern throwing shots but Rapidus is blocking nicely.
Stern is tying to control. Rapidus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rapidus looks like he's trying to stand up.

Stern is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rapidus is refusing to be controlled, as Stern sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stern is looking for a kimura but Rapidus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stern to get the leverage.
Rapidus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stern.
Rapidus trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rapidus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stern manages to avoid it.
Rapidus scores with a hook.
Stern takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Horrible takedown by Stern or perhaps it was just good defense by Rapidus which made him look bad.
Stern shoots in but Rapidus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stern takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rapidus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stern backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rapidus as he jumps to the side.
Quickius Rapidus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilhelm Louis Stern.
Rapidus looks to score with a jab to the body but Stern is just out of range.
Stern moves out of range as Rapidus strikes.
Stern fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Rapidus misses.

Stern feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stern throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rapidus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stern looking to sit in guard and control but Rapidus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stern is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Rapidus is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stern will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stern manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rapidus tries to lock up and control but Stern gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Stern misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Stern working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Rapidus turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Stern off and cradles Rapidus's limp body as Stern celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Wilhelm Louis Stern!
Wilhelm Louis Stern is the new light heavyweight champion!