PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antony Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ding Ling (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.

Avila
vs
Ling

179 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antony Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ding Ling!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Avila pushes Ling up against the cage in a clinch.

Ling gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ling trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Avila is working an open guard so Ling takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Ling shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ling was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Avila is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Avila struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ling decides to stand back up.
Avila shoots in but no luck this time.

Avila instigates a clinch.
Avila holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Avila manages to break the clinch.

Ling gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Avila tries to keep at a distance but Ling has taken the fight into the clinch.
Avila keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ling's efforts to push away.
Avila misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ling wants to get back to striking at distance but Avila won't allow it.

Ling gets control of Avila's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ling will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ling has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Avila has passed into side control.
Ling sneaks back into half guard.

Avila is working for a submission of some sort.
Ling tries to roll over but Avila keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ling blocking the ground and pound attempt from Avila.

Avila wants to work for an arm triangle but Ling is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ling holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

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.
Let's hope that Ling 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.
Ling wants to improve his position but Avila is controlling well.
Ling gets full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ling pulls Avila in close to prevent any damage.
Avila lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ding Ling dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ling misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Ling closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Avila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ling or not.

Ling manages to break the clinch.
Avila closes the distance and clinches up with Ling, looking for a takedown. Avila pushes Ling against the cage but Ling circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ling forces Avila back against the cage and clinches.
Avila tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Avila decides to pull guard.
Avila controls Ling momentarily but Ling frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avila is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ling is controlling him.
Avila is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ling stopping the sweep attempt from Avila.
Avila wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ling is now in half guard.
Avila is looking to control Ling's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Avila avoid being mounted?
It looks like Ling is going to stand back up.

Ling postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Avila to stand up.
Avila tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ling defends well and Avila ends up having to push Ling into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Ling gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Avila manages to break the clinch.

Ling darts in and clinches Avila up against the cage.
Ling is trying to break free.
Avila stalling in the clinch but Ling improves position.

Ling ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ling no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ling is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Avila with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ling is trying to control the position but Avila postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Avila accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Avila has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Avila connects with a couple of short punches.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ling looks to land a combination but Avila avoids it well.
Ling misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Avila drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ling sprawls and moves away.
Antony Avila is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ling closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Avila to the mat! Avila manages to get full guard.

Avila kicks Ling off and gets to his feet.
Ling displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Avila.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antony Avila. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ling misses with a combination

and Avila counters by moving into the clinch.
Avila content to slow the pace in the clinch.
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!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ling trying to land knees to the body.
Avila misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ling.
Avila cracks Ling with a nice body shot.
Avila stalling in the clinch but Ling improves position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ling is trying to break free.

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

Ling shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Avila is trying to defend but Ling finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Avila kicks off Ling and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ding Ling will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ling shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ling showed some decent athleticism there.
Avila trying to control from the bottom.
Avila is concentrating on defense, preventing Ling from advancing position.

Ling is trying to work for a kimura but Avila is defending well.
Avila trying to hold on to Ling's head to control him but Ling postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ling clinches up with Avila and pushes him back against the cage.

Avila escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Avila gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ling gets control of Avila's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ling will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ling is trying to keep Avila in close.
Ling avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Avila won't allow Ling to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avila postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Avila missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Avila postures up in Ling's guard and throws a big left but Ling blocks it.
Ling is trying to keep Avila in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Avila steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ling. That one must have hurt.

Ling drives through and clinches with Avila against the cage.
Avila taking a breather.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ling avoids it really well and circles away.
Avila will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Avila fails with the takedown

and Ling counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antony Avila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Avila stalling against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Avila breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ding Ling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Avila tries to keep at a distance but Ling has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ling works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Avila is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ling dives into side control.

Avila is trying to get back to half guard.

Ling decides to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ling changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Avila looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Avila throws Ling to one side and escapes!

And that's the end of the fight!
Antony Avila showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ling has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!