PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Columbus Wells (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lop Criato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wells
vs
Criato

159 cm
25
279 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

189 cm
26
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Columbus Wells!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lop Criato!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Criato closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wells tries to roll over but Criato keeps him under control.

Criato is working for a submission of some sort.
Criato wants to pass the guard but Wells is defending well.

Criato is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wells keeps control of the position for the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Criato looking for a submission but Wells manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Criato controls from within his opponent's guard.
Criato wants to get up but he can't break Wells's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Criato wants to control from the top but Wells keeps moving.
Wells looking to hit a scissor sweep but Criato is one step ahead there.
Wells wants to stand and escape but Criato is having none of it.
Wells controls Criato momentarily but Criato frees himself.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Criato moves into the clinch.
Criato stalling in the clinch.
Wells tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wells controlling the action here for a moment.
Wells fails to pull guard.
Criato stalling against the cage.
Wells effectively controlling the action here.

Criato manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wells avoids a punch combination nicely.
Criato digs a good hook to Wells's body.
Wells wants to clinch up but Criato keeps it at a distance.

Criato closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Wells's guard.
Criato looking to pass the guard.

Criato drops back, looking for a kneebar! Wells looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Wells looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Wells!

Sloppy strikes there by Wells.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Criato tries to bench press Wells off him but Wells keeps the position.
Wells could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Wells is staying tight to Criato's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Wells has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Criato can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lop Criato dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Criato throws a nice looking combination but Wells bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Criato tries to keep at a distance but Wells has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wells misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Criato.
Wells tries to pull guard but Criato won't allow it.

Wells is fighting off a takedown attempt but Criato is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wells to the mat. Wells regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Criato must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wells keeping full guard, as Criato tries to pass.
Criato wants to control from the top but Wells keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Criato tries to stand but Wells is controlling from the bottom.
Criato scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wells working a defensive guard here.
Criato advances to half guard.
Criato stops Wells from getting back to his feet.

Criato decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Wells tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wells shoots in for a takedown but Criato shows good takedown defense.

Criato shoots in and bounces Wells off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Wells manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Criato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Criato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wells.
As Wells backs off Criato throws a huge counter combo but Wells manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Columbus Wells. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Criato takes a swing at Wells's ribcage but misses.
As Criato looks to move away, Wells throws a big counter combo but Criato just gets out of the way.
Wells moves in looking to clinch but Criato pushes him off.

Criato has Wells up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

Criato throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Wells tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Criato is in Wells's guard.
Wells looking to hit a scissor sweep but Criato is one step ahead there.
Criato stands and throws Wells's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wells is not content to let Criato control the position.
Criato is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Wells will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Wells taking punishment in the form of punches.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Wells keeps Criato under control for a moment.
Wells is looking to regain half guard here but Criato keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Criato working away.
A control attempt from Wells but he's now mounted!
Criato postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Wells looks a forlorn figure.
Wells really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Criato can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wells is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lop Criato 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!

Criato tests Wells's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Criato drives through and clinches with Wells against the cage.
Wells throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Criato blocks it with crossed arms.
Criato has Wells pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wells tries to land knees in the clinch but Criato avoids the damage to the body.
Wells misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Criato.
Criato on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Criato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wells struggles to land a body shot inside as Criato controls his hands.

Criato has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Wells regains guard immediately.

Criato stands and steps away. Wells gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Criato circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wells moves in looking to clinch but Criato pushes him off.
Criato lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Criato scores with a takedown into Wells's guard.

Wells manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wells trying to control the position but instead, Criato has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wells into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Wells.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wells's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wells fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Wells is fighting off a takedown attempt but Criato is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wells to the mat. Wells regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Criato trying to control the position from guard on top but Wells is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wells is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wells keeping moving, preventing Criato from controlling successfully.
Criato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wells swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wells bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Criato's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Criato is controlling Wells's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Criato can do anything to dispel that myth.
Criato looking for a sweep. Not yet Criato, not yet.
Wells controls from within his opponent's guard.
Criato wants to stand and escape but Wells is having none of it.
Wells might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wells is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Wells.
Lop Criato is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Criato tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lop Criato.
Well Criato 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lop Criato!