PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Ardin (ranked 4731 p4p, 4723 weight class) and Artis Freibergs (ranked 73 p4p, 72 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ardin
vs
Freibergs

193 cm
25
255
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
260
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucas Ardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Artis Freibergs!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Freibergs with that takedown attempt.
Ardin tries to counter with a takedown but Freibergs is quick to defend against it.
Freibergs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Freibergs gets a takedown into half guard.
Ardin is pressing down on Freibergs's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Freibergs won't allow Ardin to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ardin keeping full guard, as Freibergs tries to pass.
Freibergs must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ardin managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freibergs trying to control but Ardin is working from the bottom.
Freibergs sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Freibergs throwing strikes from guard but Ardin blocks nicely.
Ardin pulls Freibergs in to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Ardin moves into the clinch successfully.

Ardin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ardin wants to stand but Freibergs is controlling his arm.
Freibergs tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ardin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Ardin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Freibergs is looking for a sweep.
Freibergs gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ardin is working for a guillotine from mount but Freibergs frees his head quite easily.

Ardin working for a guillotine from mount but Freibergs is in no mood to give up.
Ardin controlling the position easily from mount.
Ardin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Freibergs is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freibergs working to try and regain half guard.

Ardin looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Freibergs flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Freibergs is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ardin controlling from the full mount.
Ardin working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Ardin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Freibergs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ardin feinted with a counter takedown.
Ardin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Freibergs can do to turn this around?

Freibergs throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ardin was covering up waiting for the punch and Freibergs finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ardin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ardin seems keen to control Freibergs's posture.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ardin throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Freibergs advances to half guard.
Ardin punching from the bottom.
Freibergs is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ardin!
Ardin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Freibergs raining down shots from the mount!
Freibergs pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freibergs landing strikes from the mount and Ardin is in trouble!
Freibergs forces the positional change into back control.
Ardin trying to control the position but Freibergs manages to sink in the hooks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freibergs biding his time, controlling Ardin.
Freibergs is looking to control Ardin but Ardin is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Ardin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freibergs thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ardin holds of for dear life.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ardin wants to control but Freibergs is having none of it.
Freibergs throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Freibergs trying to control but Ardin is having none of it.
Ardin wants to hold on but Freibergs pushes him away.

Freibergs working for a submission but Ardin is keeping him at bay.
Freibergs is breathing heavily.
Ardin is working to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ardin holds on to Freibergs around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artis Freibergs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Freibergs scores with a leg kick.

Ardin clinches.
Freibergs stops a takedown attempt from Ardin.
Ardin is pushing Freibergs up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ardin is pressed up against the cage. Freibergs has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ardin down to the mat. Ardin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Freibergs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freibergs working away.
Ardin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ardin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Freibergs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ardin keeps working.
Ardin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Freibergs trying to control from half guard but Ardin is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ardin blocks a head kick by Freibergs.
Freibergs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ardin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Freibergs somewhat.
Freibergs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Freibergs is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freibergs tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Freibergs tries to clinch up but Ardin circles away and keeps his distance.
Freibergs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ardin as he jumps to the side.
Lucas Ardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artis Freibergs.
A combination from Ardin does no damage.
Freibergs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ardin as he avoids it easily.

Ardin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Freibergs fails to pull guard.
Ardin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Freibergs is defending well for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ardin stands and throws Freibergs's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Freibergs's face as Ardin controls the position.
Ardin advances to mount.

Freibergs is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Ardin locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Freibergs is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lucas Ardin!