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, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Devlin
vs
Friman

172 cm
32
160 lbs
13 - 18 - 0

168 cm
43
160 lbs
26 - 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 - 18 - 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 26 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Devlin takes the fight into the clinch.
Friman misses with a knee to the head.
Friman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Devlin.
Devlin lands a damaging elbow.
Devlin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but Friman blocks with his arms.
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Friman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Devlin.
Devlin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Friman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Devlin takes an elbow to the temple.
Friman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Devlin blocks it with crossed arms.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Friman breaks the clinch.
Friman throws a sloppy head kick and Devlin moves out of range easily.

Devlin has managed to clinch.
Friman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Devlin lands an elbow just above Friman 's eye.
Devlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman lands an elbow inside.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Friman misses with a punch to the body.
Devlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Devlin looking to throw knees to the head but Friman is blocking nicely.
Devlin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Devlin pushes Friman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Devlin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Friman backwards.
Friman tries for a takedown but Devlin manages to get underhooks.
Devlin lands an elbow inside.
Devlin lands a nice knee to the body.
Devlin throws an elbow that misses.

Friman successfully pulls guard.
Friman trying to keep a closed guard but Devlin is proving a slippery customer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Friman looking for a sweep. Not yet Friman, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Devlin gets to his feet - Friman follows without any prompting.
Friman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Friman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Devlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Friman moves away.
Friman raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Devlin throws a series of punches but Friman avoids them all with ease.
Devlin throws a right and a left that Friman avoids nicely.
Friman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Devlin sets himself, and Friman steps forward looking for the clinch! Devlin avoids it this time.
Devlin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Devlin tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Friman plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Friman checks a low kick from Devlin.
Devlin lands with a nice body kick.
Friman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Devlin was well out of range. Poor timing from Friman.
Devlin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Friman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Devlin is looking to counter the offense by Friman and move into the clinch.
Jonathan Devlin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Devlin.
Friman throws a right and a left that Devlin avoids nicely.

Devlin clinches up against the cage.
Friman trying to land knees to the body.
Devlin avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Devlin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Devlin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Friman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Devlin looking to throw knees to the head but Friman is blocking nicely.
Friman lands a right hand.
Friman trying to land knees to the body.
Friman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Devlin throws an elbow but it misses.
Devlin missing with knees to the body.
Friman blocks an elbow strike.
Friman managing to block the knees to the body from Devlin.
Friman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Devlin's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Devlin blocks a body shot from Friman.
Friman tries a knee to the head but Devlin blocks it.
Friman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Devlin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Devlin swings wildly with an uppercut but Friman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Devlin lands a damaging elbow.
Devlin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Devlin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Devlin.
Devlin trying to land knees to the body.
Friman avoids the elbow strike from Devlin, against the cage.
Friman lands a body punch in the clinch.
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 can't find room to land a body shot as Friman controls the action.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Friman looking to throw knees to the head but Devlin is blocking nicely.
Friman is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Devlin dominated that round.
That's time! Devlin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Devlin lands a nice looking body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Devlin.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Devlin throws a punch but it's blocked by Friman.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Devlin blocks an elbow strike from Friman.
Friman throws an elbow that misses.
Devlin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Friman can do to turn this around?
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Devlin.
Devlin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Friman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Devlin.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Nice elbow from Devlin.
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!
Devlin lands a good knee to the midsection. Friman won't want to take too many of those.
Friman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Friman is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Devlin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Friman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Devlin misses with a punch to the body.
Friman misses with a body punch.
Devlin digs a right hand into Friman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Friman's gas tank.
Devlin with a knee to the head.
Devlin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Friman can't find room to land a body shot as Devlin controls the action.
Friman struggles to land a body shot inside as Devlin controls his hands.
Devlin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jonathan Devlin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Friman takes an elbow to the temple.
Friman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Devlin avoids it.
Devlin blocks the elbow strike.
Devlin lands an elbow inside that Friman shrugs off.
Devlin lands a nice elbow.
Friman throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman crunches a lovely knee into Devlin's ribcage.
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 tries a knee to the head but Devlin blocks it.
Devlin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Devlin looking to throw knees to the head but Friman is blocking nicely.
Friman trying to land knees to the body.
Devlin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Devlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
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 unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Friman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but Friman blocks with his arms.
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 is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Friman throws a right hand that Devlin ducks under and follows up with a left that Devlin also avoids with ease.
Devlin scores with a nice strike.
Devlin fails to land with a series of punches.

Devlin forces Friman back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman can't find room to land a body shot as Devlin controls the action.
Friman takes an elbow to the temple.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Friman blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Friman fails to land.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Devlin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Devlin lands an elbow inside that Friman shrugs off.
Devlin working Friman over with knees to the body.
Friman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Devlin trying to land knees to the body.
Devlin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Friman looking to slow down the pace here.
Devlin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Devlin connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Devlin pushes Friman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Friman avoids it.
Friman tries to land a knee to the head but Devlin blocks with his arms.
Friman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Friman tries to stall but Devlin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Friman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Devlin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Friman's brow.
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 lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Devlin blocks an elbow strike from Friman.
Devlin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Friman avoids the elbow strike from Devlin, against the cage.
Devlin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Friman lands an elbow that stopped Devlin in his tracks for a moment.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Devlin scores with a shoulder strike.
Friman prevents a body shot from Devlin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Devlin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Devlin!
Devlin throws a jab but it's blocked by Friman.
Devlin swings for the body but Friman moves out of range.
Jonathan Devlin is winning the standup battle so far.
Friman cracks Devlin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Devlin misses with the combination.
Friman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Friman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Devlin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Friman somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devlin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Despite the aggression on Friman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Devlin tries to clinch but Friman moves away
letting Friman counter with a right hand.
Friman blocks a head kick by Devlin.
Devlin misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman misses with a takedown attempt - Devlin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No joy there for Devlin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Friman is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Devlin with a body shot.
Friman lands an overhand right.

Friman gets tackled into the cage by Devlin. Devlin maintains the clinch.
Friman tries to land knees in the clinch but Devlin avoids the damage to the body.
Nice body punch from Friman - that landed with a thud.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Devlin lands a nice elbow.
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Friman takes a knee right on the jaw!
Friman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Devlin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Devlin blocks the elbow strike.
Friman tries a knee to the head but Devlin blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman misses with an elbow over the top.
Devlin throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Friman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Devlin's brow.
Friman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
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 lands a nice elbow.
Friman tries to work over Devlin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Friman tries to work over Devlin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Friman managing to block the knees to the body from Devlin.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Devlin.
Devlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Friman working aggressively here.
Friman takes an elbow to the forehead.
Friman managing to block the knees to the body from Devlin.
Devlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Devlin misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman misses with a knee to the head.
Friman connects with a knee to the head.
Friman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Friman is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Friman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Devlin misses with an elbow over the top.
Devlin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Devlin lands an elbow that stopped Friman in his tracks for a moment.
Devlin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Friman blocks an elbow strike from Devlin.
A right hand to the body from Devlin.
A short uppercut from Devlin.
Friman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Devlin.
Devlin lands an uppercut.
Valdemar Friman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Devlin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Frimans head.
Friman blocks an elbow strike from Devlin.
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Devlin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Devlin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Friman's face.
Friman lands an elbow inside that Devlin shrugs off.
Devlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Friman tries to work over Devlin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Friman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Friman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Devlin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Devlin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Devlin lands a knee to the head.
Devlin lands an elbow that stopped Friman in his tracks for a moment.
Friman blocks an elbow strike from Devlin.
Jonathan Devlin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Friman lands a good knee to the midsection. Devlin won't want to take too many of those.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathan Devlin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Devlin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Devlin!
Jonathan Devlin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.