PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danny Festa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Savelyevich Onopko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny Festa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Festa
vs
Savelyevich Onopko

185 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Danny Festa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Savelyevich Onopko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Onopko misses with a hook. Festa ducked under it nicely.
Festa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Onopko's waist but Onopko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Festa off to one side.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
No luck for Festa with that takedown attempt.
Festa fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Festa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Festa tries for a takedown but Onopko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Onopko circles away.
Festa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Festa gets the takedown into side control.

Festa stands up.
Onopko circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onopko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Onopko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Onopko.
Festa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Onopko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Danny Festa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Festa misses with a takedown attempt - Onopko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A cross from Onopko lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onopko throws a hook but Festa avoids it easily.
Festa shoots in for a takedown but Onopko shows good takedown defense.
Festa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Onopko pinned against the cage. Onopko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Festa or perhaps it was just good defense by Onopko which made him look bad.

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.
Festa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Festa closes the distance and clinches up with Onopko, looking for a takedown. Festa pushes Onopko against the cage but Onopko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Some wild striking there from Onopko.
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 Danny Festa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Festa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Onopko misses with a series of wild punches.
Festa shoots for a double leg takedown but Onopko sprawls well. He's pushed Festa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festa shoots in for a takedown but Onopko shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Festa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onopko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Festa circles away quickly and effectively.

Festa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Festa showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Festa seems to be working for a kimura but Onopko defends the submission attempt.
Festa passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onopko is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festa looking to control but Onopko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Festa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Onopko wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Onopko blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Festa controlling from mount.
Onopko is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Festa dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Onopko scores with a one two! Festa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Festa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Onopko's waist but Onopko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Festa off to one side.
Danny Festa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice combination there by Onopko.
Nice straight punches there by Onopko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Onopko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Onopko takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Festa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Onopko tries to avoid it but Festa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Onopko to the ground. Onopko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Festa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Onopko scores with a nice head shot.
Onopko throws out a loose jab but Festa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Festa takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Festa shoots in but no luck this time.
Onopko fails to land with a series of punches.

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.
Onopko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Onopko misses with a straight left.
Onopko with a hook.
Festa falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Onopko to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onopko cracks Festa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice jab there from Onopko.
Onopko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Onopko throws a combination. Festa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Festa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Onopko keeps the fight on the outside.

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.
Onopko misses with a wild combination.
Festa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A left and a right from Onopko both land. Nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Savelyevich Onopko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Festa 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Festa!