PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Hartman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael First (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hartman
vs
First

195 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Hartman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael First!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from First. No joy for Hartman on that attempt.
Hartman fails to land the takedown.
First shoots for a double leg takedown but Hartman sprawls well. He's pushed First's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hartman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
First tries to clinch but Hartman is having none of it.
Hartman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
First is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hartman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
First misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jon Hartman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael First.
Hartman darts in looking for a takedown but First gets double underhooks and turns Hartman into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
First will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
First stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and First wants it to stay on the feet.
Hartman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hartman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has First pinned against the cage. First gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
First fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hartman avoids it really well and circles away.
First shoots for a double leg takedown but Hartman sprawls well. He's pushed First's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
First slaps away a takedown attempt from Hartman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
First shoots in but no luck this time.
First keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hartman is breathing heavily.
First fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hartman avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartman is trying hard to land a takedown here. First sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by First or perhaps it was just good defense by Hartman, which made it look bad.
Hartman blocks a head kick by First.
Hartman throws a right and a left that First avoids nicely.

Hartman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for First!
First tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
First keeps trying to improve his position.
Hartman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
First is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hartman has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Hartman is trying to get an arm triangle but First is defending well.

Hartman decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hartman closes this distance looking for a takedown but First circles away.

Hartman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. First manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartman is looking to stand up but First won't let him.
First thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

First throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hartman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of First is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

First looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hartman passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Hartman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

First stuffs the takedown.
A punch combination from Hartman misses.
First thinks about the counter body kick.
First tries for a takedown but Hartman circles away easily
and Hartman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
First is looking to clinch.
First wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hartman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Hartman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and First defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

First has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hartman is on him like a limpet, forcing First back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartman is pressed up against the cage. First has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hartman down to the mat. Hartman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

First moves into the clinch.

First breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

First gets caught flat footed, as Hartman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hartman trying to control the position from guard on top but First is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
First trying to control the position.
Hartman trying to stand up but can't free himself from First's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

First is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hartman wants to stand but First has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
First wants to control the position but Hartman says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Hartman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hartman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but First sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
First is holding on to half guard well.
First is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hartman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that First can do to turn this around?
First stuffs the takedown attempt from Hartman. Hartman gets slowly back to his feet.

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.
First closes the distance and clinches up with Hartman, looking for a takedown. First pushes Hartman against the cage but Hartman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jon Hartman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael First.
First is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Hartman. No joy for First on that attempt.
First closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hartman circles away.

Hartman moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hartman jumps guard and drags First to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
First trying to control but Hartman is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Hartman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hartman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hartman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Hartman. No joy for First on that attempt.
First misses with a takedown attempt - Hartman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
First shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hartman sprawls well. Hartman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. First gets slowly back to his feet.
As First tries to get set, Hartman tries to push him back and clinch up but First manages to avoid the attempt.
Jon Hartman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael First.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hartman fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
First throws a lazy head kick
and Hartman counters with a left and a right that stings First.
First takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hartman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts First as he jumps to the side.
First fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hartman tries for a takedown but First sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
First shoots in for a takedown but Hartman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hartman shoots in and bounces First off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hartman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of First is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
First is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hartman trying to control the position from guard on top but First is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hartman stands and steps away. First gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jon Hartman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
First fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hartman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hartman went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartman shoots in and drives through. First sprawls well.
Hartman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hartman misses with a takedown attempt - First sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
First wants to counter the offense by Hartman and move into the clinch position.
First shoots in for a takedown but Hartman shows good takedown defense.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hartman.
First is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
First sizes up Hartman with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
First shoots in for a double leg but Hartman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
First dives in for a single leg takedown but Hartman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
First defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hartman.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from First is defended easily by Hartman.
Hartman tries to counter by clinching up but First breaks away and moves out of range.
Hartman is trying to force a seperation but First has the dominant position.
Hartman tries to break the clinch but First is controlling the position.
First wants to take the fight to the mat but Hartman manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
First drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michael First has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Hartman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
First taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Hartman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hartman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Hartman!