PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Torkel Bystrom (ranked 5062 p4p, 396 weight class) and Marcelinho Lima (ranked 5615 p4p, 408 weight class). Marcelinho Lima has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bystrom
vs
Lima

202 cm
24
255 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

202 cm
26
270 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Torkel Bystrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho Lima!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bystrom gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lima tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bystrom smiles and moves away.
Some wild striking there from Bystrom.

Bystrom shoots in and bounces Lima off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lima looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lima throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bystrom content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lima wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bystrom has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lima is proving hard to escape from.
Bystrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lima escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bystrom gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bystrom wanted to stand there but Lima had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bystrom 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.
Lima looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lima trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bystrom lands a right hook to the body.
Lima walks into a left hand.
Bystrom jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lima shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bystrom sprawls well. Bystrom wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lima gets slowly back to his feet.

Bystrom takes the fight into the clinch.
Lima is looking for a takedown.
Torkel Bystrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelinho Lima.
Lima changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bystrom fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bystrom cracks Lima with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lima takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Lima shoots in and gets a takedown into Bystrom's guard.
Bystrom pulls Lima in to control the position.
Bystrom keeping moving, preventing Lima from controlling successfully.
Bystrom pulls Lima in close to prevent any damage.
Lima stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bystrom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lima trying to control the position from guard on top but Bystrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bystrom is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bystrom is trying to keep Lima in close.

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

Bystrom has managed to clinch.
Bystrom gets underhooks to prevent Lima's takedown attempt.

Bystrom manages to break the clinch.
Bystrom defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lima.

Bystrom closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lima is trying to pull guard but Bystrom turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bystrom drags the fight down to the ground.
Lima stops Bystrom from standing up.

Lima drops back looking for a leg! Bystrom is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bystrom manages to kick Lima off! Lima jumps back into Bystrom's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Torkel Bystrom dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lima avoids the head kick by Bystrom.
Despite the aggression on Lima's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bystrom scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Lima gets tackled into the cage by Bystrom. Bystrom maintains the clinch.
Lima tries to pull guard but Bystrom holds him up against the cage and eventually Lima drops back down to his feet.
Bystrom is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lima can do to turn this around?
Bystrom lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lima tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bystrom smiles and moves away.
Lima circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bystrom misses with a head kick.
Bystrom tries to clinch there but Lima circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bystrom closes the distance and clinches.
Bystrom misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lima.
Bystrom prevents a takedown attempt there.
Torkel Bystrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelinho Lima.

Bystrom has picked Lima up - he's going for a ride! Bystrom dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bystrom is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bystrom wants to stand up but Lima has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Lima makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lima.
Lima wants to sweep here but Bystrom controlling him for the moment.

Lima looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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.
Lima is trying to control the position but Bystrom postures up.

Lima working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bystrom doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bystrom manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Lima escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bystrom gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Lima looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lima has his hands on Bystrom's head, controlling the position.

Bystrom decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lima, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bystrom connects with a jab.
Lima tries to move into range but Bystrom moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lima bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bystrom's head.
Lima looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bystrom is fending him off so far but Lima persists. Nope, Bystrom circles away and we're back to standing.
A lazy left from Bystrom finds it's target.

Bystrom has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lima changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bystrom fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bystrom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lima avoids the head kick by Bystrom.
Lima takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bystrom circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lima fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bystrom to the ground. Lima is now in Bystrom's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bystrom pulls Lima in close to his closed guard and prevents Lima from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bystrom looking for a sweep. Not yet Bystrom, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bystrom controlling the position.
Lima working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lima looking to pass the guard.
Bystrom is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lima looking to pass the guard.

Lima is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lima preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Torkel Bystrom dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lima fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lima.
Lima uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bystrom.
Lima fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Torkel Bystrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelinho Lima.
Crunch! Bystrom slams his shin into Lima's torso.
Torkel Bystrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lima uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bystrom.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lima enables Bystrom to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lima manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lima can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bystrom controls the pace.

Bystrom stands and steps away. Lima gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bystrom thuds a left hand into Lima's body.
Lima takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lima shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bystrom moves into the clinch successfully.
Lima fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Bystrom gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Lima regains guard.

Bystrom stands up from Lima's guard - Bystrom perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bystrom lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bystrom throws a body shot but no joy.
Lima walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bystrom scores with a kick to the body.
Bystrom pushes Lima away with a front kick.
Torkel Bystrom is winning the standup battle so far.

Bystrom clinches.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Bystrom here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lima tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bystrom just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bystrom gets control of Lima's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bystrom will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Marcelinho Lima has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Torkel Bystrom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bystrom has Lima pulled in close to control his posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lima accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lima won't allow Bystrom to get back to his feet.
Bystrom tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bystrom looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lima trying to control but Bystrom is working from the bottom.
Lima is looking to work some ground and pound but Bystrom has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bystrom is adopting a defensive guard.
Lima trying to control the position from guard on top but Bystrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lima circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bystrom throws a shot to the body.
Lima on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bystrom pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Bystrom instigates a clinch.
Lima looking for a takedown.
Bystrom scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bystrom blocks a body shot from Lima.

Lima jumps into guard, dragging Bystrom to the mat.
Lima managing to control the position.
Lima has a closed guard, preventing Bystrom from standing up.
Bystrom prevents Lima from getting back to his feet.
Bystrom wants to get up but he can't break Lima's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bystrom is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Torkel Bystrom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Torkel Bystrom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bystrom 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Torkel Bystrom!