PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Petter Anier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Devlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Anier
vs
Devlin

177 cm
34
160 lbs
17 - 25 - 1

172 cm
31
160 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 17 - 25 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petter Anier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonathan Devlin!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Anier decides to pull guard.
Devlin is looking to stand up but Anier won't let him.
Anier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Anier working a defensive guard but Devlin passes into half guard.
Anier is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devlin wants to stand up but Anier has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Anier wants to improve his position but Devlin is controlling well.
Devlin seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anier manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Anier shoots in looking for a takedown. Devlin tries to sprawl out of it but Anier keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Devlin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Anier has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anier jumps guard but Devlin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Anier lands a knee to the body.
Anier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Devlin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petter Anier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Devlin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Anier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Anier is looking to control Devlin's arms but Devlin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anier has his back to the cage.
Devlin gets underhooks to prevent Anier's takedown attempt.
Devlin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Anier's defenses.

It looks like Petter Anier has been cut.
A hook to the body from Anier.
Anier lands an elbow just above Devlin 's eye.
Devlin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Anier's defenses.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Anier is trying to trip Devlin. He has hold of a leg but Devlin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Anier persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Anier tries to free his leg and advance position but Devlin is retaining full guard.
Anier trying to control but Devlin is working from the bottom.

Anier stands up and waves to Devlin to follow him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anier is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Anier is trying to push Devlin away but Devlin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Anier breaks the clinch.
Anier misses with a kick to the body

and Devlin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Anier wants to stall.
I was talking to Anier's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Anier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anier buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Anier turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Devlin blocks a head kick by Anier.
Anier closes the distance and clinches up with Devlin, looking for a takedown. Anier pushes Devlin against the cage but Devlin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Devlin closes the distance and clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Devlin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Devlin receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Devlin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Devlin pushes Anier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin lands a right hand.
Devlin has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Anier seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Devlin can turn it around.
Devlin lands an elbow just above Anier 's eye.
Devlin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Devlin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anier in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Anier tries to pull guard but Devlin holds him up against the cage and eventually Anier drops back down to his feet.
Devlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Anier jumps guard but Devlin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Anier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Anier changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Devlin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Devlin slaps away a takedown attempt from Anier, before circling back to the center of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Anier letting Devlin take a breather here.
Anier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Devlin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anier in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Anier tries to pull guard but Devlin holds him up against the cage and eventually Anier drops back down to his feet.
Devlin has Anier pressed against the cage, preventing Anier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Devlin has a couple of punches blocked by Anier.
Devlin looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Anier decides to pull guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Devlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Anier's guard.
Anier looking for a sweep. Not yet Anier, not yet.
Devlin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Devlin is looking to stand up but Anier won't let him.

Anier has his foot on Devlin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Devlin works his way back into a safe position though.

Anier is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Petter Anier will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Anier looks for the body kick but Devlin saw that one coming.
Anier throws a head kick but Devlin moves out of range.
Anier misses with a head kick.
Devlin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anier.

Devlin closes the distance and clinches.
Devlin with a knee to the head.
Devlin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Devlin lands a left hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Devlin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Anier tries for a takedown but Devlin manages to get underhooks.
Devlin trying to stall but Anier improves his position.
Anier wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petter Anier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Anier as Devlin tries to tie him up.
Anier jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Devlin walks away with a smile on his face. Anier gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Devlin scores with a one two! Anier had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Devlin throws a nice inside leg kick.

Devlin gets tackled into the cage by Anier. Anier maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devlin lands with a short shot to the head.
Anier prevents a body shot from Devlin.
Devlin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Anier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Anier wants to break free but Devlin has control.

Anier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Devlin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Petter Anier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Anier moves into range and clinches up with Devlin.
Devlin is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Anier pulls guard.
Devlin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Anier throws his legs up looking for a submission but Devlin uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Devlin stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Anier on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Devlin gets tackled into the cage by Anier. Anier maintains the clinch.
Devlin digs a right hand underneath Anier's ribcage. Anier let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Devlin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anier is trying to drag Devlin to the mat but Devlin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Devlin tries to land knees in the clinch but Anier avoids the damage to the body.
Anier trying to stall but Devlin improves his position.

Anier gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Anier is just content to waste time from the top position. Devlin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Anier stops Devlin from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Devlin pushes Anier off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Anier moves into range and clinches up with Devlin.

Devlin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Anier is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Devlin to the mat. Devlin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Devlin keeping moving, preventing Anier from controlling successfully.
Devlin wants to stand but Anier is controlling the position.
Anier trying to control the position from guard on top but Devlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anier looking to pass the guard.
Anier trying to control but Devlin is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devlin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Anier controls the pace.

Anier gets to his feet. Devlin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jonathan Devlin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Devlin as Anier shoots in.
Jonathan Devlin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Devlin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Anier's calf.
Devlin connects with the punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Anier.
Anier keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Devlin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anier shoots in looking for a takedown but Devlin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Anier's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Devlin thumps Anier with a low kick.
Anier throws a right and a left that Devlin avoids nicely.
Anier shoots in and drives through. Devlin sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Anier clinches up with Devlin and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Devlin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Devlin lands a high kick!
Anier shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Devlin as he avoids it easily.
Anier misses with a series of wild punches.

Devlin gets tackled into the cage by Anier. Anier maintains the clinch.
Devlin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Devlin lands an elbow inside that Anier shrugs off.
Devlin connects with a knee to the head.
Anier avoids a wild elbow strike from Devlin.

Anier pulls guard effortlessly.
Anier has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Devlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Anier's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Devlin gets tackled into the cage by Anier. Anier maintains the clinch.
Anier is looking to break free of the clinch but Devlin has double underhooks.

Anier pulls guard effortlessly.
Anier trying to keep a closed guard but Devlin is proving a slippery customer.

Anier working for a triangle but Devlin defends it easily.

Devlin stands up from Anier's guard - Devlin perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anier throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Devlin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Anier is in Devlin's guard.
Anier won't allow Devlin to get back to his feet.
Anier is stalling in the full guard.
Anier wants to pass the guard but Devlin is keeping the position.
Devlin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Anier is controlling him.
Anier slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The referee asks Anier politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Anier prefers to stall for the moment though.
Petter Anier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin wants to get back to his feet.
Anier cracks Devlin with a big elbow.
Devlin is trying to get back to his feet.
Anier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Devlin keeps working.
Anier tries to advance to mount but Devlin denies him.
Anier trying to control the position but Devlin is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Devlin is pushing Anier's head away, looking to escape. Anier manages to hold on to the position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No luck for Anier with that takedown attempt.

Anier gets a clinch.
Anier is trying to force a seperation but Devlin has the dominant position.
Anier tries to break free but Devlin pushes him back against the cage.

Anier breaks from the clinch.
Anier avoids the head kick by Devlin.
Anier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Devlin circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petter Anier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Devlin avoids the head kick by Anier.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Devlin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Anier momentarily.
Anier avoids the head kick by Devlin.

Devlin has Anier up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Petter Anier.
I think Anier has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petter Anier!
A very excited looking Petter Anier made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.