PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucien Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Klitschko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Briggs
vs
Klitschko

185 cm
23
279 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucien Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vladimir Klitschko!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Klitschko moves into the clinch.

Briggs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A lazy body kick from Klitschko
and Briggs counters with a left and a right that stings Klitschko.

Klitschko rushes Briggs and presses him up against the cage.
Klitschko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Briggs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Briggs breaks the clinch.
Briggs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Klitschko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Briggs somewhat.

Klitschko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Klitschko tries to score with some ground and pound. Briggs controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klitschko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Klitschko goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Briggs rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Klitschko's guard! Nice work there by Briggs!
Briggs wants to get up but he can't break Klitschko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Klitschko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Briggs wants to stand but Klitschko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko working a defensive guard here.
Briggs tries to stand but Klitschko is controlling from the bottom.
Klitschko is pulling down on Briggs's head to control his posture.
Klitschko looking to control but Briggs passes into half guard.
Klitschko keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Klitschko kicks off Briggs and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Klitschko.
Briggs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Briggs effectively controlling the action here.
Briggs prevents Klitschko from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Briggs breaks from the clinch.
Klitschko throws a leg kick

and Briggs holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

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

Klitschko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Klitschko creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Briggs sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Klitschko controlling from side mount.
Briggs wants to control but Klitschko postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Klitschko misses with an elbow over the top.
Briggs trying to land knees to the body.
Briggs missing with knees to the body.

Briggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lucien Briggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Briggs is defended easily by Klitschko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Klitschko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Briggs quickly recovers to half guard.
Briggs tries to kick Klitschko off in order to stand up. Klitschko Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs wants to get back to his feet.
Klitschko working away.
Briggs manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Klitschko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Briggs is staying active underneath Klitschko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Briggs won't allow Klitschko to pass to mount.
Klitschko is taking a breather. Briggs says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Klitschko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Briggs's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Klitschko trying to control from half guard but Briggs is working away.

Klitschko decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Klitschko closes the distance and pushes Briggs back into the cage.

Briggs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Briggs wants to clinch up but Klitschko keeps it at a distance.
Klitschko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Briggs tries to sprawl but Klitschko drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Briggs has one foot on Klitschko's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Klitschko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Klitschko stands up and beckons Briggs to join him on the feet.

Briggs gets caught napping as Klitschko dives in and scores a takedown. Briggs manages to retain guard.
Klitschko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Klitschko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko postures up and lands a big shot to Briggs's brow.
Klitschko trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.

Briggs is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Klitschko is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Klitschko is stalling in the full guard.
Klitschko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Briggs is keeping the position for now.
Klitschko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Klitschko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Klitschko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Briggs sprawls well initially but Klitschko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Klitschko. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Klitschko wants to free his trapped foot but Briggs is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Klitschko trying to control the pace.
Klitschko wants to take a breather but Briggs is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Briggs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Klitschko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Briggs!
Klitschko looking to finish with strikes here!
Klitschko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Briggs is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Klitschko 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.
Klitschko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Briggs wants to control but Klitschko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Klitschko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Briggs manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Klitschko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vladimir Klitschko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Klitschko is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Klitschko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Klitschko slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Klitschko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Klitschko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Klitschko!