PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nic Phlare (ranked 5238 p4p, 437 weight class) and Bruno Klaas (ranked 3889 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruno Klaas will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Phlare
vs
Klaas

180 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
250 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nic Phlare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruno Klaas!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Klaas clinches up with Phlare and pushes him back against the cage.
Klaas lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Nic Phlare has been cut.
Phlare is trying to push Klaas away but Klaas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Klaas is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Phlare wants to get back to striking at distance but Klaas won't allow it.
Phlare tries to break free but Klaas pushes him back against the cage.
Klaas scores with a shot to the side of Phlare's head.
Phlare tries to break free but Klaas pushes him back against the cage.
Phlare managing to block the knees to the body from Klaas.
Klaas tries to pull guard but Phlare forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Klaas manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klaas fails to land with a series of punches.
Phlare was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Klaas fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Phlare scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klaas keeps control of Phlare as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Klaas keeps control of Phlare as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phlare misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phlare is trying to force a seperation but Klaas has the dominant position.

Klaas breaks from the clinch.
Klaas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Klaas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Klaas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phlare manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little feinted left hand from Phlare on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Klaas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phlare manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Klaas darts in trying to clinch
and Phlare counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klaas thows a leg kick but Phlare checks it
and Phlare counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Klaas is looking to clinch.
Phlare keeps the fight on the outside.
Phlare appears to be looking for a big counter.
Klaas darts in trying to clinch
and Phlare counters with a stiff right hand.
Klaas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Klaas has managed to clinch.
Klaas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Klaas is trying to pull guard but Phlare turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nic Phlare has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Klaas.
Klaas misses with an elbow over the top.
Phlare is trying to push Klaas away but Klaas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Klaas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Klaas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Phlare counters with a three punch combo that has Klaas backing up. Klaas nods at Phlare to acknowledge the strikes.

Klaas closes the distance and clinches.
Phlare wants to break free but Klaas has control.
Phlare softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Klaas.
Phlare scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Phlare.
Klaas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Klaas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phlare circles away from the clinch attempt.

Phlare lands a left and a right that send Klaas crashing to the mat, dazed. Phlare thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Klaas is rocked!

It looks like Bruno Klaas has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phlare ducks under a wild hook from Klaas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phlare avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phlare swats away the attempt to clinch by Klaas.
It looked like Phlare was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Klaas.
Klaas wants to clinch but Phlare slips to the side

and Phlare counters with a crisp one two that drops Klaas! Phlare thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Klaas to his feet! Klaas is in big trouble!
Klaas is still on wobbly legs! Can Phlare finish him?
Phlare keeps the fight on the outside.
Klaas seems to have recovered his senses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Klaas.
Bruno Klaas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Klaas tries to clinch up but Phlare circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Klaas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Klaas doesn't manage to clinch there - Phlare circles away.
Phlare swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Klaas throws a head kick that misses.
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 Nic Phlare will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A shot to the body from Klaas misses
and Phlare counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Klaas is looking to clinch but Phlare is avoiding it.
Phlare is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Klaas wants to clinch.
Phlare is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Klaas tries to clinch up.
A quick step to the side and Phlare tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Klaas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phlare blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phlare lands a left hand that snaps the head of Klaas backwards.
Klaas tries to break free but Phlare pushes him back against the cage.
Phlare on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phlare cracks Klaas with a nice body shot.
Phlare cracks Klaas with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phlare has had enough of the clinch but Klaas keeps him there for the moment.
Klaas lands an elbow that stopped Phlare in his tracks for a moment.

Klaas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Klaas throws a combination that misses
and Phlare counters with a nice uppercut.
Klaas throws a lazy uppercut
and Phlare counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Klaas is breathing heavily.
Klaas is looking to clinch.
Klaas throws a head kick that misses.
Phlare went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Klaas misses with a low kick.

Klaas clinches.
Klaas tries to pull guard but Phlare holds him up against the cage and eventually Klaas drops back down to his feet.
Klaas has Phlare pressed against the cage, preventing Phlare from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phlare lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phlare looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Klaas throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Klaas tries to break free but Phlare pushes him back against the cage.
Phlare misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phlare wants to break the clinch but can't.
Klaas has had enough of the clinch but Phlare keeps him there for the moment.
Bruno Klaas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Klaas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Phlare up against the cage.
Klaas is trying to stall.

Klaas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Phlare dodges the punch combination from Klaas.
Nic Phlare is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klaas tries to clinch up but Phlare circles away and keeps his distance.
Phlare appears to be looking for a big counter.

Phlare drives through and clinches with Klaas against the cage.
Phlare lands a left hand.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Klaas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Phlare blocks the elbow strike.
Klaas effectively controlling the action here.
Klaas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Phlare goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Phlare wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phlare tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klaas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Phlare moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Klaas misses with a series of wild punches.

Klaas forces Phlare back against the cage and clinches.
Phlare has had enough of the clinch but Klaas keeps him there for the moment.
Klaas is trying to pull guard but Phlare has him pressed against the cage.
Klaas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Phlare lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phlare doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Klaas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Klaas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Klaas tries to clinch but Phlare moves away
and Phlare counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nic Phlare will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Klaas throws a head kick that half lands.
Klaas misses with a two punch combination.
Phlare circles away from the clinch attempt
and Klaas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Klaas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Phlare is trying to break the clinch but Klaas has him pressed against the cage.
Phlare struggles to land a body shot inside as Klaas controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Phlare's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klaas has a couple of punches blocked by Phlare.
Klaas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Phlare's efforts to push away.
Klaas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Klaas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phlare is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klaas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phlare walks away with a smile on his face. Klaas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Klaas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Phlare paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Phlare on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Klaas wants to clinch.

Phlare clinches with his opponent.
Phlare has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Klaas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Phlare wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klaas tries to clinch but Phlare moves out of range.

Klaas forces Phlare back against the cage and clinches.
Klaas misses with an elbow over the top.
Klaas tries to pull guard but Phlare holds him up against the cage and eventually Klaas drops back down to his feet.
Nic Phlare has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Klaas.
A head punch on the inside from Klaas fails to land.
Phlare can't find room to land a body shot as Klaas controls the action.
Good body shot from Phlare.
Klaas is trying to maintain a safe position but Phlare gets an underhook and turns Klaas into the cage.
Phlare wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Klaas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Klaas misses with a knee to the head.

Klaas drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Klaas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phlare stands and steps away. Klaas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Phlare swats away the attempt to clinch by Klaas.
Klaas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phlare appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Phlare keeps the fight on the outside.
Klaas is looking to clinch but Phlare is avoiding it.
Klaas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Klaas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phlare manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Klaas tries to clinch but Phlare is having none of it.
Klaas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Phlare swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Klaas throws a nice looking combination but Phlare bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phlare misses with a wild combination.
Nic Phlare is winning the standup battle so far.
Klaas tries to close the distance and clinch but Phlare swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Klaas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Phlare swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phlare throws a big counter combination but Klaas scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Klaas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Phlare connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Klaas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phlare swats away the attempt to clinch by Klaas.
Phlare is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Klaas darts in trying to clinch
and Phlare counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bruno Klaas.
I think Phlare 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!