PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moses Sithole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sithole comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I Miss The Misery kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Finkle
vs
Sithole

193 cm
37
203 lbs
31 - 21 - 2

187 cm
33
203 lbs
24 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 31 - 21 - 2, fighting out of New York, Ray Finkle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Moses Sithole!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sithole motions for Finkle to come forward. Sithole throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Finkle throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sithole counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Finkle throws out a loose jab but Sithole uses good head movement to avoid it.

Finkle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sithole to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sithole is looking to work some ground and pound but Finkle has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finkle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sithole landing with the ground and pound.
Sithole wants to control from the top but Finkle keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sithole trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Finkle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole keeping moving, preventing Finkle from controlling successfully.
Sithole wants to sweep but no luck.
Finkle sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sithole has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sithole wants to hit a switch here but Finkle passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sithole there!
Finkle thowing shots but they're missing.
Sithole can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sithole is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Finkle working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sithole tries to lock up and control but Finkle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sithole tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sithole manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sithole is looking to get back to full guard here but Finkle has managed to pass to side control instead.
Sithole regains half guard.
Sithole is pressing down on Finkle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Finkle trying to control the position from guard on top but Sithole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sithole trying to control the position.
Finkle stopping the sweep attempt from Sithole.
Finkle wants to control from the top but Sithole keeps moving.
Sithole looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sithole trying to keep a closed guard but Finkle is proving a slippery customer.
Finkle throwing strikes from guard but Sithole blocks nicely.
Sithole is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Finkle sitting in guard here, content to control.
Finkle trying to control but Sithole is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Finkle tries a low kick but Sithole avoids it.
Finkle with a nice cross.
Finkle throws the left hand but Sithole avoids the punch easily.

Sithole is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Finkle's half guard.
Finkle taking some punishment here, with Sithole in his half guard.
Sithole drops an elbow to the side of Finkle's head.
Sithole landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sithole throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sithole misses with a head shot. Finkle uses the momentum to regain guard.
Finkle controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ray Finkle will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Finkle misses with a head kick.

Sithole shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sithole with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Finkle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Finkle holds on and takes a little breather.
Finkle looking for a sweep. Not yet Finkle, not yet.
Finkle controlling Sithole's posture.
Finkle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkle looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sithole throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole pushing down on Finkle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Finkle trying to control from the bottom.
Sithole lands with a punch from half guard.
Finkle is trying to maintain the position but Sithole is very close to passing his half guard.
Moses Sithole has got the better of the ground game so far.
Finkle has his hands clasped together around Sithole's back. He's all about the action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sithole connects with a nice short shot to Finkle's temple.
Sithole lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Finkle taking some punishment here, with Sithole in his half guard.
Sithole winds up and cracks Finkle with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sithole.
Sithole not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Finkle is trying to get back to full guard.
Sithole throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Finkle to regain full guard.
Sithole throws an elbow that misses. Finkle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sithole's guard. Nice move by Finkle!

Finkle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sithole wants to sweep here but Finkle controlling him for the moment.
Finkle wants to control from the top but Sithole keeps moving.
Sithole not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sithole looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sithole working a defensive guard here.
Sithole controlling the position.
Finkle trying to control the position from guard on top but Sithole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sithole tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sithole being controlled here, momentarily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sithole seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sithole slips under a jab from Finkle.
Sithole scoring well with a low kick there.
Sithole cracks Finkle with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sithole throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sithole lands a nice leg kick that just misses Finkle's sensitive parts.
Finkle dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Finkle does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sithole connects with the punch.
Finkle throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Finkle is looking to clinch.

Sithole scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!
Finkle is trying to control but can't.
Sithole performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Finkle manages to get to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finkle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sithole is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Sithole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sithole looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Finkle is fending him off so far but Sithole persists. Nope, Finkle circles away and we're back to standing.
Finkle lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Finkle connects with an inside leg kick.
Sithole will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sithole uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finkle.
Sithole throws a body punch but Finkle moves out of range.
Sithole misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finkle.
Ray Finkle is winning the standup battle so far.
Finkle dodges the punch combination from Sithole.
Sithole has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Sithole shoots in and bounces Finkle off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Finkle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkle trying to control the position.
Finkle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sithole is one step ahead there.
Sithole has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole works over Finkle with some ground and pound from guard.
Sithole looking to sit in guard and control but Finkle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Finkle trying to control but Sithole is working from the bottom.
Finkle's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sithole pulls Finkle in close to his closed guard and prevents Finkle from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Finkle seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sithole trying to control the position here.
Finkle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Finkle wants to control from the top but Sithole keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sithole seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sithole manages to avoid it.
Finkle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sithole is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Finkle.
Finkle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sithole.
Sithole moves out of range of the body kick.
Finkle connects with a leg kick. Sithole looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sithole throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Finkle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sithole staying out of range there.
Sithole changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Finkle takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sithole shoots in looking for a takedown but Finkle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sithole's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ray Finkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moses Sithole.
The fighters circling - Finkle throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sithole fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ray Finkle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Finkle scores with a leg kick.
A big left from Finkle misses.
Sithole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sithole throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sithole manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Finkle on his heels. He'll look to pass Finkle's guard now, I'm sure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finkle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Finkle wants to control from the top but Sithole keeps moving.
Sithole trying to control the position.
Finkle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finkle controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Finkle trying to control but Sithole is working from the bottom.
Sithole is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

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 Ray Finkle.
I think Finkle has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!