PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raimo Kivikorva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burt Fangle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burt Fangle has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kivikorva
vs
Fangle

190 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Raimo Kivikorva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Burt Fangle!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fangle shoots in but no luck this time.
Kivikorva looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Fangle closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Fangle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kivikorva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fangle takes a little break here. Kivikorva wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kivikorva is looking for a sweep.
Fangle taking a breather here.
Fangle wants to control but Kivikorva is keeping him busy.
Fangle takes a little break here. Kivikorva wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kivikorva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fangle's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fangle slows the pace down in half guard.
I looks like Fangle might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Burt Fangle just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fangle fails with a takedown attempt.
Kivikorva tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

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

Kivikorva has an active guard here but Fangle has managed to pass into half guard.
Still in half guard, Fangle seems content to control.
Fangle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fangle content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kivikorva trying to control but Fangle postures up.
Fangle wants to control but Kivikorva is keeping him busy.
Fangle trying to control from Kivikorva's half guard. Kivikorva has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kivikorva keeping full guard, as Fangle tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivikorva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fangle is looking to improve his position but Kivikorva isn't that keen on the idea.
Fangle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kivikorva looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kivikorva wants to take Fangle's back but he can't do it this time.
Kivikorva prevents Fangle from getting the reversal.
Fangle wants to hold on but Kivikorva pushes him away.
Fangle working to try and regain half guard.
Fangle sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fangle trying to control from the bottom.
Fangle holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Fangle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kivikorva.
Fangle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kivikorva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kivikorva's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fangle throwing damaging strikes from the back! Kivikorva could be in trouble here!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Let's hope that Fangle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Fangle is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kivikorva has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Fangle loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Kivikorva hold on?
Kivikorva wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Fangle dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fangle tries to clinch there but Kivikorva circles away.

Fangle gets the takedown into side control.
Fangle just content to control the position.
Kivikorva struggling a bit here.
Kivikorva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fangle happy to just control the position for now.

Fangle stands up and beckons Kivikorva to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivikorva tries for a takedown but Fangle circles away easily

and Fangle counters with a takedown into side control.
Fangle taking a breather here.
Fangle taking a break here but Kivikorva is having none of it and regains half guard.
Burt Fangle has got the better of the ground game so far.

Despite being in the dominant position, Burt Fangle just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kivikorva gets a takedown into half guard.
Fangle is trying to get back to full guard.
Kivikorva is thwarting Fangle's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fangle is refusing to be controlled, as Kivikorva sits in half guard.
Fangle keeping control of the position.
Fangle missing with punches from the bottom.
Kivikorva prevents Fangle from standing back up.
Fangle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fangle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kivikorva!
Fangle working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fangle working the ground and pound effectively.
Kivikorva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fangle dominating with strikes here.
Fangle controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kivikorva can't escape the position.
Fangle lands a heavy elbow.
Fangle controlling his opponent.
Fangle with shots to the head and body - Kivikorva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Fangle controlling from the full mount.
Fangle landing shots from mount.
Fangle landing strikes from the mount.
Fangle lands a nice shot to the head.
Fangle controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivikorva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fangle is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kivikorva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Fangle controlling his opponent.
Kivikorva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fangle working the ground and pound effectively.
Fangle is landing with some decent strikes but Kivikorva is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kivikorva tries to lock up and control but Fangle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fangle controlling the position easily from mount.
Kivikorva working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Fangle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fangle fails with the takedown

and Kivikorva counters with a takedown into side control.
Fangle is looking for a sweep.

Kivikorva goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Fangle rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kivikorva's guard! Nice work there by Fangle!
Fangle sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kivikorva working for a triangle but Fangle defends it easily.
Kivikorva keeping moving, preventing Fangle from controlling successfully.
Fangle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fangle preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fangle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fangle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kivikorva working a defensive guard here.

Kivikorva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fangle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kivikorva wants to sweep but no luck.
Kivikorva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fangle throws a poor cross that misses

and Kivikorva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kivikorva trying to control the position from guard on top but Fangle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fangle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kivikorva!
Fangle working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fangle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kivikorva is looking to get to half guard.
Fangle controlling the position easily from mount.
Fangle with good strikes from the mount here!
Fangle controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fangle unloading with bombs!
Kivikorva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Fangle connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kivikorva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kivikorva sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kivikorva is not content to let Fangle control the position.
Fangle tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kivikorva.
Nice strikes from Fangle there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivikorva tries to get to full guard but Fangle has control of the leg.
Fangle sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kivikorva gets back to full guard.
Fangle sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kivikorva keeping moving, preventing Fangle from controlling successfully.
Raimo Kivikorva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kivikorva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fangle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kivikorva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fangle controls the pace.

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 Raimo Kivikorva.
I think Fangle 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burt Fangle!