PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steven Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Rustler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Finch
vs
Rustler

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Finch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Rustler!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rustler stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Finch.
A clash of legs there as Finch blocks the low kick.
Rustler has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Jimmy Rustler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rustler throws a leg kick
and Finch makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rustler blocks the body kick.
Rustler misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Finch misses.
An inside leg kick from Rustler misses.
Finch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Finch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rustler wants to land a leg kick but Finch is out of range.
Rustler throws a hook to the side of Finch's head but Finch sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rustler takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Rustler is predictable there
and Finch counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rustler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rustler misses with a shot to the body
and Finch counters with an inside leg kick.
Rustler looks to score with a jab to the body but Finch is just out of range.
Donk. Rustler catches Finch right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rustler misses with a leg kick
and Finch counters with a nice body kick.
A big right from Rustler misses.
Rustler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rustler throws a leg kick but Finch sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rustler misses with a wild body shot.
Rustler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Finch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Finch throws a big counter combination but Rustler scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Finch blocks a head kick by Rustler.
An attempted straight right counter from Finch misses the target.
Rustler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rustler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Finch misses with a series of wild punches.
A little jabbing left from Rustler on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Finch scores with a push kick.
Rustler throws a hook to the side of Finch's head but Finch sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Finch feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A low kick from Rustler is predictable there
and Finch counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rustler connects with a right hand. Finch shakes it off.
Finch throws a series of punches but Rustler avoids them all with ease.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rustler.
Rustler is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rustler. Finch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rustler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finch throws a big counter combination but Rustler scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Rustler misses with a hook
and Finch counters with an inside leg kick.
Rustler thuds his right hand into Finch's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Finch delivers a nice body kick.
Rustler thows a leg kick but Finch checks it
and Finch counters with a three punch combo that has Rustler backing up. Rustler nods at Finch to acknowledge the strikes.
Finch moves out of range of the leg kick from Rustler.
Rustler tried to score with a low kick but Finch checks it.
Rustler misses with a hook to the body
and Finch counters with a low kick, right behind Rustler 's knee.
Finch checks a low kick from Rustler.
Rustler throws a low kick but Finch avoids it.
Rustler misses with a right hand
and Finch counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rustler swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A shot to the liver by Finch. Beautiful body shot.
Rustler misses with a wild body shot.
Finch avoids the head kick by Rustler.
Rustler throws a low kick but it's checked well by Finch.
Rustler throws a low kick, looking for Finch's leg but Finch calmly moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Finch blocks the low kick.
Finch throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rustler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finch throwing a counter right hand but Rustler manages to avoid it.
Finch thumps Rustler with a low kick.
Rustler thows a leg kick but Finch checks it
and Finch counters with a nice body kick.
Nice shot by Finch.
Rustler connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Finch momentarily.
Rustler throws a lazy uppercut
and Finch counters with a left to the body.
Rustler throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rustler looks to land a left hand but Finch moved out of range nicely.
Rustler looks to throw the jab but Finch is out of range.
Finch fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rustler just manages to avoid it.
Rustler throws a leg kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rustler misses with a leg kick
and Finch counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rustler throws a sloppy head kick and Finch moves out of range easily.
Finch slips under a jab from Rustler.
Finch scores with a three punch combo!
A head kick misses from Finch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Finch.
Finch fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rustler throws a right hand that misses
and Finch counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Finch avoids the body shot from Rustler.
A low kick from Rustler is predictable there
and Finch counters with a thumping low kick.
Finch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Finch 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.

Rustler throws a leg kick but Finch sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rustler looks to land a body kick but Finch moved away.
Finch half committed to a counter leg kick.
Finch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Finch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rustler can do to turn this around?
Rustler is looking to land body kicks.
It looked like Finch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rustler's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Finch lands a glancing blow to the side of Rustler's head.
Finch checks a leg kick.
Rustler takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rustler shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rustler throws a right hand that misses
and Finch counters with an outside leg kick.
Finch checks the leg kick nicely there.
Finch is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Finch pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rustler! But no joy.
Rustler fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Finch checks it well.
Finch checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rustler.
Finch quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Rustler might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Finch has got the better of the exchanges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rustler on the side of the head.
Finch checks the leg kick.
Rustler scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good shot there by Rustler.
Finch lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rustler backs up against the cage.
Rustler swings for the body but Finch moves out of range.
Rustler throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Finch counters with an outside leg kick.
Rustler cracks the inside of Finch's front leg.
Rustler throws a body kick that misses.
Rustler connects with a looping right hand.
Rustler falls off balance throwing a combination
and Finch counters with an outside leg kick.
Rustler throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rustler throws a head kick but Finch moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rustler misses with a low kick.
Good leg kick by Finch there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rustler wants to slow Finch down by chopping away at his legs.
As Rustler backs away, Finch returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Finch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rustler manages to avoid it.
Rustler throws a leg kick
and Finch counters with a slapping leg kick.
Finch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Finch is looking to slow Rustler down with leg kicks.
Rustler throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Finch counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A low kick from Rustler misses
and Finch counters with an outside leg kick.
A combination from Rustler does no damage.
Rustler is breathing heavily.
Rustler attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A little feinted left hand from Finch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Finch blocks a head kick by Rustler.
A punch combination from Rustler misses.
Finch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rustler takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rustler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Finch manages to avoid it.
Finch appears to be looking for a big counter.
Finch slips under a jab from Rustler.
Rustler throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from Rustler is predictable there
and Rustler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rustler doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rustler takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rustler throws a leg kick
and Finch counters with an inside leg kick.
Finch throws out a loose jab but Rustler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rustler throws a head kick but Finch moves out of range.
Finch throws a quick counter head kick but Rustler was just out of range.
Rustler misses with an uppercut
and Finch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finch paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rustler with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd cheers as Finch lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rustler doesn't seem phased though.
Finch gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slapping leg kick lands for Finch.
Rustler walks into a left hand.
Rustler throws a leg kick
and Finch counters with a series of strikes. Rustler will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rustler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Finch.
Rustler throws a right hand that misses
and Finch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Finch digs a good body shot into Rustler's ribs.
Rustler throws an overhand right that lands on Finch's shoulder, as Finch tries to avoid the shot.
Rustler throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Finch to counter with a crisp jab.
Rustler misses with a leg kick.
Finch checks a leg kick.
Finch appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Finch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rustler.
Finch is looking to counter punch.
Rustler walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Finch checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rustler is looking to slow Finch down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Finch dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rustler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Finch seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rustler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rustler throws a body shot but no joy.
Rustler throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Finch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rustler has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rustler throws a sloppy head kick
and Finch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Finch moves out of range as Rustler throws a body kick.
The fighters circling - Rustler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Finch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rustler cracks Finch with an open hand slap.
Finch looks to score with a jab to the body but Rustler is just out of range.
Rustler thows a leg kick but Finch checks it
and Finch counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finch works the jab nicely.
A jab from Rustler misses.
Finch lands with an overhand left.
Rustler throws a leg kick
and Finch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rustler fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Finch is out of range.
It looked like Finch was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Steven Finch is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rustler misses with an uppercut
and Finch counters with a left to the body.
Rustler misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rustler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Finch fails to land with a series of punches.
Rustler tries a head kick but it misses.
Finch looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rustler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Finch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rustler throws a leg kick
and Finch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A solid leg kick lands there for Finch.
Rustler misses with a right hand
enabling Finch to counter with a crisp jab.
Rustler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rustler misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Rustler misses.
Rustler throws a head kick that misses.
Finch avoids a kick to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Finch misses the target.
Rustler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jimmy Rustler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rustler throws a lazy body kick
and Finch makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Finch looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Finch closes the distance and clinches.
Finch's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Finch lands a nice uppercut.
Rustler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Finch scores with a nice hook to the head.
Finch has Rustler pushed against the cage.
Rustler is trying to break the clinch but Finch has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stalling in the clinch from Finch.
Finch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rustler's elbow.
Rustler wants to get back to striking at distance but Finch won't allow it.
A short right from Finch on the inside.
Finch working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Finch lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rustler.
Finch is trying to push Rustler away but Rustler has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Finch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Finch effectively controlling the action here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Finch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Finch throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Rustler's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Finch lands a shot to the body.
Finch tries a body shot but Rustler blocks it.

Rustler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rustler has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Finch finds it's way round the side to connect with Rustler's head.
Some bone on bone action there as Finch checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rustler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rustler walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Finch checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Finch swings for the body but Rustler moves out of range.
A leg kick checked by Finch.
Rustler throws a lazy body kick
and Finch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rustler throws out a leg kick but Finch moves out of range and Rustler only half commits.
A counter left hand to the body from Finch misses its target.
Finch scores with a nice body kick.
Rustler tries to work over Finch's front leg with a kick but Finch checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Finch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Finch 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Finch!