PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Devlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valdemar Friman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Friman has chosen Metallica - Damage Inc. as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Devlin
vs
Friman

172 cm
32
160 lbs
13 - 17 - 0

168 cm
43
160 lbs
25 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

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 13 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonathan Devlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Devlin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Friman can pounce on him.
Devlin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Friman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Friman fails to land with a series of punches.
Friman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Devlin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Devlin looks to land a combination. Friman sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Friman keeps the fight on the outside.
Friman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Devlin circles away quickly and effectively.
Friman closes the distance and clinches up with Devlin, looking for a takedown. Friman pushes Devlin against the cage but Devlin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It looked like Devlin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Friman rushes Devlin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Friman landing knees to the head.
Devlin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Friman up against the cage.
Devlin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Friman's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Friman throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Devlin prevents the takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Devlin.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Friman tries to land knees in the clinch but Devlin avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman scores with a shoulder strike.
Friman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Devlin tries to throw a body punch but Friman avoids it by throwing Devlin back against the cage.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Devlin stalls.
Friman lands a nice uppercut.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Friman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but Friman blocks with his arms.
Friman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Devlin avoids it.
Devlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Friman takes a knee right on the jaw!
A nice left hand lands by Friman.
Still in the clinch, Friman scores with a nice short uppercut.
Friman scores with a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Devlin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Friman's brow.
We've been informed that Friman has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Friman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devlin tries to throw a body punch but Friman avoids it by throwing Devlin back against the cage.
Devlin is pressed up against the cage. Friman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Devlin down to the mat. Devlin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jonathan Devlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdemar Friman.
Devlin throws a body shot but no joy.
Devlin swinging wildly here.

Devlin closes the distance and pushes Friman back into the cage.
Friman stalls.
Friman misses with a body punch.
Friman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Devlin's elbow.
Friman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Devlin avoids it.
Devlin blocks a body shot from Friman.
Devlin missing with knees to the body.
Devlin blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but Friman blocks with his arms.
Devlin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Friman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Devlin is trying to stall.
Friman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Devlin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Friman.
Friman missing with knees to the body.
Friman trying to stall but Devlin improves his position.
Devlin works on Friman's body with a couple of short punches.
Devlin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Friman is defending well for now.
Friman tries to land knees in the clinch but Devlin avoids the damage to the body.
Friman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Devlin trying to control the position but instead, Friman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Devlin into the cage.
Devlin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Devlin blocks it with crossed arms.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Friman missing with knees to the body.
Friman tries to land a knee to the head but Devlin blocks with his arms.
Devlin missing with knees to the body.
Devlin prevents a body shot from Friman.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Devlin lands an elbow inside.
Devlin lands an elbow inside.
Devlin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Devlin looking to stall.
Devlin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Friman looking to throw knees to the head but Devlin is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Devlin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Friman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Devlin throws a series of punches but Friman moves out of range.
Nice body kick from Devlin.
A clash of legs there as Devlin blocks the low kick.
Devlin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jonathan Devlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Devlin throws a leg kick
and Friman counters with a series of strikes. Devlin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Devlin throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Devlin lunges at Friman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Friman's hand.
Devlin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Friman's calf.
Friman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Friman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Devlin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Devlin is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Friman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Devlin trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devlin landing knees to the head.
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Devlin is trying to maintain a safe position but Friman gets an underhook and turns Devlin into the cage.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Friman tries a body shot but Devlin blocks it.
Friman managing to block the knees to the body from Devlin.
Devlin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but Friman blocks it.
Friman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Devlin swings wildly with an uppercut but Friman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin with a knee to the head.
Jonathan Devlin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Friman looking to stall.
Devlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Devlin misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Friman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Devlin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Friman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Devlin tries to throw a body punch but Friman avoids it by throwing Devlin back against the cage.
Devlin misses with an elbow over the top.
Friman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Devlin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Friman blocks it with crossed arms.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Friman tries to land a knee to the head but Devlin blocks with his arms.
Friman tries a body shot but Devlin blocks it.
Friman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Devlin avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Devlin.
A knee to the head by Friman.
Devlin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Devlin misses with a knee to the head.
Friman avoids the elbow strike from Devlin, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman trying to land knees to the body.
Friman is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Friman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Friman trying to land knees to the body.
Devlin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Friman's face.
Devlin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Friman up against the cage.
Devlin blocks an elbow strike from Friman.

Friman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Friman moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Devlin wants to land a leg kick but Friman is out of range.
Devlin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice defenses there by Devlin.
Devlin is looking to counter punch.
Friman plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Friman loads up on a big right hand but Devlin slips the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devlin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman fails to land with a series of punches.
Friman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Devlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Friman moves away.
Friman throws a series of punches but Devlin moves out of range.
Friman is breathing heavily.
Devlin tries to clinch but Friman moves out of range.
Friman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Devlin lands a shot to the body.
Devlin trying to stall but Friman improves his position.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Devlin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonathan Devlin will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Devlin throws a leg kick which misses Friman's front leg but catches the back leg as Friman tries to avoid it.
Devlin throws a leg kick that misses.
Devlin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Devlin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Friman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Friman checks a leg kick.
Friman takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Friman scores with a three punch combo!
A head kick misses from Friman.
Devlin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Devlin throws a right and a left that Friman avoids nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Friman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Devlin circles away quickly and effectively.
Devlin tries to clinch but Friman is having none of it.
Good shot there by Devlin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devlin connects with the punch.

Friman forces Devlin back against the cage and clinches.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Devlin is struggling to control the position.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Friman trying to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Devlin.

Friman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Devlin dodges the punch combination from Friman.
Friman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Devlin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Devlin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Devlin moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Friman lands with a short shot to the head.
Friman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Friman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Friman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Devlin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Devlin keeps control of Friman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Friman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Devlin.
Devlin blocks a body shot from Friman.
Devlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Friman dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Devlin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Devlin is trying to stall.
Devlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Devlin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin lands a damaging elbow.
Devlin misses with a knee to the head.
Friman lands a shot to the body.
Friman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Devlin avoids it.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin misses with a knee strike.
Devlin lands a nice elbow.
Devlin lands a body shot.
Devlin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Friman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Devlin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Friman takes a knee to the side of the body.
Devlin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Friman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Devlin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Friman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Devlin is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Devlin blocks it with crossed arms.
Friman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Devlin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
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 blocks an elbow strike.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Friman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Devlin blocks it with crossed arms.
Devlin lands a damaging elbow.
Devlin blocking some punches.
Friman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Devlin is defending well for now.
Devlin is pushing Friman up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Friman fails to land.
Devlin lands with a light punch inside.
Devlin has Friman pressed against the cage, preventing Friman from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Valdemar Friman.
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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

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