PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hans von Finkelstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thrall Durotan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thrall Durotan will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

von Finkelstein
vs
Durotan

176 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hans von Finkelstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thrall Durotan!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durotan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hans von Finkelstein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Durotan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Durotan trying to control the action but von Finkelstein is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on von Finkelstein's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
von Finkelstein might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Durotan tries to stand but von Finkelstein is controlling his head.
von Finkelstein is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
von Finkelstein stops Durotan from passing to mount.
von Finkelstein sneaks back into half guard.
Durotan is keen to just control but von Finkelstein is a slippery customer.
von Finkelstein is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
von Finkelstein closes this distance looking for a takedown but Durotan circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
von Finkelstein tries to close the distance and clinch but Durotan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Durotan looks to clinch

and von Finkelstein counters by moving into the clinch.
Durotan is trying to drag von Finkelstein to the mat but von Finkelstein just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Come on von Finkelstein - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
von Finkelstein tries for a takedown. No joy.
von Finkelstein softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
von Finkelstein lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Durotan drops down looking for an ankle pick but von Finkelstein pulls his leg out and moves away.
Durotan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says von Finkelstein as he avoids it easily.
Hans von Finkelstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thrall Durotan.
Durotan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. von Finkelstein tries to avoid it but Durotan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag von Finkelstein to the ground. von Finkelstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Durotan looks gassed!
von Finkelstein avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durotan is looking to clinch but von Finkelstein is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durotan throws a sloppy head kick and von Finkelstein moves out of range easily.
von Finkelstein throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Durotan's waist but Durotan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing von Finkelstein off to one side.
von Finkelstein misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
von Finkelstein tries to clinch but Durotan moves out of range.
von Finkelstein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Durotan manages to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from von Finkelstein as Durotan shoots in.
Durotan throws a head kick that misses.
von Finkelstein shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice combination there by von Finkelstein.
Durotan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
von Finkelstein fails to land the takedown.
Durotan tries to clinch up but von Finkelstein circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
von Finkelstein throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
von Finkelstein tries to clinch up.
Durotan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. von Finkelstein tries to avoid it but Durotan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag von Finkelstein to the ground. von Finkelstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

von Finkelstein rushes Durotan and presses him up against the cage.
Durotan tries for a takedown but von Finkelstein manages to get underhooks.
von Finkelstein manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short right from von Finkelstein.
von Finkelstein stalling in the clinch.
von Finkelstein lands a hook that snaps the head of Durotan backwards.
von Finkelstein drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Durotan tries to score a body lock takedown but von Finkelstein shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Come on von Finkelstein - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
von Finkelstein drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Durotan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans von Finkelstein dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Durotan wants to clinch up but von Finkelstein keeps it at a distance.
von Finkelstein tries to clinch but Durotan is having none of it.
Durotan fails with the takedown.

von Finkelstein has Durotan up against the cage in a clinch.
Durotan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
von Finkelstein throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Durotans head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A nice right hand lands inside from von Finkelstein.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durotan looking to throw knees to the head but von Finkelstein is blocking nicely.
von Finkelstein drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
von Finkelstein lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
von Finkelstein on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Durotan is trying to maintain a safe position but von Finkelstein gets an underhook and turns Durotan into the cage.
von Finkelstein effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durotan takes a shot to the head.

von Finkelstein gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
von Finkelstein postures up.

Durotan looking for subs off his back but von Finkelstein has passed one foot through into half guard.
Durotan is looking for a sweep. von Finkelstein is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
von Finkelstein is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durotan tries to get to full guard but von Finkelstein has control of the leg.
Durotan trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
von Finkelstein frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Durotan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
von Finkelstein takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Durotan is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans von Finkelstein dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

von Finkelstein throws a jab when Durotan was well out of range.
von Finkelstein tries to clinch but Durotan is having none of it.
von Finkelstein showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Durotan.
Durotan closes this distance looking for a takedown but von Finkelstein circles away.

von Finkelstein closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Durotan tries to pull guard but von Finkelstein won't allow it.
von Finkelstein lands a left hand.
Durotan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Durotan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hans von Finkelstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thrall Durotan.
A short right hand to the side of the head by von Finkelstein.
von Finkelstein changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Durotan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
von Finkelstein wants to clinch up but Durotan keeps it at a distance.
Durotan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
von Finkelstein fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
von Finkelstein will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
von Finkelstein tries to close the distance and clinch but Durotan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
von Finkelstein tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durotan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Durotan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
von Finkelstein swats away the attempt to clinch by Durotan.
von Finkelstein slips a jab and a cross from Durotan.
Durotan shoots in looking for a takedown. von Finkelstein tries to sprawl out of it but Durotan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. von Finkelstein manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Durotan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
von Finkelstein shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Durotan fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Durotan stuffs the takedown attempt from von Finkelstein. von Finkelstein gets slowly back to his feet.
von Finkelstein takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hans von Finkelstein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
von Finkelstein fails with an attempt to clinch.

Durotan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
von Finkelstein is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Durotan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Durotan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
von Finkelstein keeping moving, preventing Durotan from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
von Finkelstein is adopting a defensive guard.
Durotan trying to control the position from guard on top but von Finkelstein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durotan looking to sit in guard and control but von Finkelstein gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four 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.
von Finkelstein showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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 Hans von Finkelstein.
Well von Finkelstein 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans von Finkelstein!