PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vaai Finau (ranked 2289 p4p, 298 weight class) and Dmitry Boitsov (ranked 2337 p4p, 303 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Finau
vs
Boitsov

196 cm
22
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

179 cm
20
222 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vaai Finau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Boitsov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boitsov connects with a single shot there.
Finau throws a nice looking combination but Boitsov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Boitsov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Finau can pounce on him.
Boitsov misses the jab.
Boitsov misses with a straight left.

Finau shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Boitsov is trying to defend but Finau finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Boitsov wants to improve his position but Finau is controlling well.
We've been hearing that Finau has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Boitsov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Finau passes into side control!
Finau scores with a couple of short elbows.
Finau will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boitsov struggling a bit here.
Boitsov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Finau's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Boitsov wants to control but Finau is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau drops an elbow to the side of Boitsov's head.
Finau prevents Boitsov from improving his position.

Boitsov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Finau pulls his head out easily.
Boitsov taking some punishment here, with Finau in his half guard.
Finau drops an elbow to the side of Boitsov's head.
Finau seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Boitsov is looking for a sweep. Finau is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Finau wants to control but Boitsov is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boitsov actively working from the bottom here.
Finau lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boitsov actively working from the bottom here.
Finau winds up and cracks Boitsov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Finau prevents Boitsov from improving his position.
Finau is thwarting Boitsov's attempts to control the position.
Finau scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Finau takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Boitsov is trying to maintain the position but Finau is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finau working Boitsov over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Finau there.
Finau is stalling here. Boitsov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Finau seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Boitsov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Finau parries the strikes from Boitsov easily there. Boitsov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Finau to escape.
Boitsov is working Finau over with some ground and pound from side control.
Finau wants to control but Boitsov postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finau avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Boitsov.
Boitsov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Finau to see if he's OK.
Finau tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boitsov misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov misses with the ground and pound.
Boitsov in side control, throwing shots but Finau defends.
Boitsov working the ground and pound but Finau is defending the strikes.
Finau takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Boitsov scoring with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Finau tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sloppy strikes there by Boitsov.
Finau is trying to control Boitsov's posture but Boitsov avoids it.
Boitsov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Finau parries the strikes from Boitsov easily there. Boitsov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Finau to escape.

Boitsov is trying to get an arm triangle but Finau is defending well.
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 Vaai Finau will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Finau avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Finau looks to land a left hand but Boitsov moved out of range nicely.
Finau throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dmitry Boitsov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finau staying out of range there.
It looked like Finau wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Finau fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Boitsov to the ground. Finau is now in Boitsov's guard.

Boitsov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Finau gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Finau landing with the ground and pound.

Finau has gone for a leg lock! Boitsov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Finau's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finau is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boitsov wants to control from the top but Finau keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boitsov postures up in Finau's guard and throws a big left but Finau blocks it.
Boitsov throwing strikes from guard but Finau blocks nicely.
Boitsov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boitsov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boitsov won't allow Finau to sweep him here.
Finau is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boitsov throwing strikes from guard but Finau blocks nicely.
Finau not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boitsov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Finau wants to sweep here but Boitsov controlling him for the moment.
Boitsov forces his way into half guard.
Boitsov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Boitsov thows a huge punch but Finau dodges it nicely.
Finau trying to control but Boitsov postures up.
Finau is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Finau taking some punishment here, with Boitsov in his half guard.
Boitsov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Finau trying to hold on to Boitsov's head to control him but Boitsov postures up.
Boitsov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

It looks like Vaai Finau has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov wants to control but Finau is keeping him busy.
Boitsov misses with a head shot. Finau uses the momentum to regain guard.
Finau working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Boitsov.
Boitsov trying to move into half guard but instead Finau has managed to sweep!

Finau lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Boitsov has his foot on Finau's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Finau works his way back into a safe position though.
Boitsov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Finau landing with the ground and pound.

Finau drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Boitsov dives on top into guard.

Boitsov postures up and lands a big shot to Finau's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov trying to control the position from guard on top but Finau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finau wants to sweep here but Boitsov controlling him for the moment.
Boitsov looking to pass the guard.

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

Finau content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boitsov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Finau wants to control from the top but Boitsov keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dmitry Boitsov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vaai Finau's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Boitsov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Boitsov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Boitsov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Boitsov throws a big shot that misses.
Finau's corner calls for a 1-2. Finau obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A lazy left from Finau finds it's target.
Boitsov catches Finau with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Boitsov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Finau thows a left - swing and a miss!
Finau misses with a wild combination.
Boitsov cracks Finau with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Boitsov slips a jab and a cross from Finau.
Boitsov misses with a hook.
Finau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Finau slips a straight right by Boitsov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Boitsov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Finau to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Finau chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boitsov has his feet on Finau's thighs here. He's pushed Finau off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Finau screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dmitry Boitsov!
Dmitry Boitsov bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.