PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Best (ranked 4661 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Foster (ranked 5917 p4p, 0 weight class). Damian Foster has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Best
vs
Foster

157 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nicholas Best!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damian Foster!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Best gets a takedown into half guard.
Best takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Best missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Best takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Best seems to be looking for submissions.
Best looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Best is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Best is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Foster doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Best.
Foster wants to control but Best is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Best is thwarting Foster's attempts to control the position.
Best thows a huge punch but Foster dodges it nicely.
Best is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Best is looking for a kimura but Foster is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Best to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foster is trying to maintain the position but Best is very close to passing his half guard.
Foster blocking the ground and pound attempt from Best.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Best sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two 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.
Best thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Foster's head.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Best throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Best slaps away a takedown attempt from Foster, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Foster shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Best pinned against the cage. Best gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Best appears to be looking for a big counter.

Best closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Best lands in his opponent's guard.

Foster pushes Best off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Foster with that takedown attempt.
Nicholas Best has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Foster.

Best throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Foster was covering up waiting for the punch and Best finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Best stays in close to Foster's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Foster for as long as he can get away with.
Foster is trying to control the position but Best postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Best loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Best working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foster pulls Best in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Best dominated that round.
That's time! Best's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Best swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Foster was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nicholas Best seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Foster gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Foster wriggles free and stands up.

Best rushes Foster and presses him up against the cage.
Foster is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Foster trying to control the position but instead, Best has worked for underhooks and has pushed Foster into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Best has Foster pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Foster manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Best gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Foster regains guard.
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!
Best controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster looking to hit a scissor sweep but Best is one step ahead there.

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

Best drives through and clinches with Foster against the cage.

Best has Foster pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Best pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Foster tumbling to the mat - Best dives into Foster's guard.

Foster kicks Best off and gets to his feet.
Best keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nicholas Best has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Foster.
Horrible takedown attempt by Foster or perhaps it was just good defense by Best, which made it look bad.
Foster fails to land the takedown.
Best misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Best shoots in and gets a takedown into Foster's guard.

Best stands and steps away. Foster gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best tries to bum rush Foster with a series of wild strikes but Foster uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Best throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Foster.
Best throws a series of punches but Foster moves out of range.
Best misses with a series of wild punches.
Foster ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Best moves away.

Foster feints and as Best raises his hands in defense, Foster changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Best pushes Foster off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Best is fending him off so far but Foster persists. Nope, Best circles away and we're back to standing.
Foster is looking to clinch but Best is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Foster misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Foster throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Foster misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Best misses.

Best closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Best lands in his opponent's guard.

Foster pushes Best off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Best 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!

Best throws a right hand that Foster ducks under and follows up with a left that Foster also avoids with ease.
Foster steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

Best dives in and scores a takedown into Foster's guard.

Best gets to his feet. Foster looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Some wild striking there from Best.
Nicholas Best is winning the standup battle so far.
Best keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foster looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Best is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Foster can do to turn this around?
Best stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Best wants it to stay on the feet.
Nicholas Best has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Foster.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best misses with the combination.

Best gets a double leg takedown into Foster's guard.
Best is standing up over Foster. Foster looks to escape but Best dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Best could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Best sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Foster is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Best fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Foster struggling a bit here.
Best working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Best has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Best looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Foster keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Best moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromFoster.
Foster shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Best shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Foster manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Foster working a defensive guard here.
Best throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Foster works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Best connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Best throws a big right hand that misses.

Best drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Foster manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Best has Foster in his guard.

Foster sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Best's guard.
Best works his way to full guard. Good work.

Foster 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.

Best is looking for a triangle here but Foster uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best is trying to improve his position.
Best wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Foster is looking to take a break and control but Best is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Best tries to bench press Foster off him but Foster keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholas Best showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Best 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholas Best!