PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fried Slobberknacker (ranked 6551 p4p, 4118 weight class) and Yuri Gagarin (ranked 620 p4p, 447 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Slobberknacker
vs
Gagarin

172 cm
28
165
3 - 6 - 0

185 cm
20
165
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fried Slobberknacker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yuri Gagarin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slobberknacker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gagarin fails to land with a series of punches.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Slobberknacker is looking to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Gagarin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Slobberknacker shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gagarin trying to control here.
Gagarin is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gagarin wants to control the action here but instead Slobberknacker manages to pass to full mount!
Slobberknacker looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gagarin tries to reverse the position but Slobberknacker maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slobberknacker misses with a head shot.
Gagarin is squirming around, avoiding Slobberknacker's attempts to control the action.
Slobberknacker throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Gagarin regains half guard.
Gagarin wants to control but Slobberknacker is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slobberknacker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Slobberknacker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gagarin keeps working.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gagarin wants to get back to his feet.
Slobberknacker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slobberknacker is just content to waste time from the top position. Gagarin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Slobberknacker trying to control but Gagarin is working from the bottom.

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

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Gagarin throws a jab when Slobberknacker was well out of range.
Gagarin misses with a wild combination.
Slobberknacker digs a good body shot into Gagarin's ribs.
Slobberknacker shoots in for a takedown but Gagarin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Gagarin.
Slobberknacker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin swings widly with a right hand
and Slobberknacker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gagarin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Yuri Gagarin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gagarin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A big right from Slobberknacker misses.
Slobberknacker slips under a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slobberknacker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gagarin.
Gagarin tries to counter with a clinch but Slobberknacker shakes him off and moves away.
Slobberknacker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gagarin.
Slobberknacker misses the jab.
Slobberknacker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gagarin was well out of range. Poor timing from Slobberknacker.
Slobberknacker fails to land the takedown.
Slobberknacker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Fried Slobberknacker has been cut.
Slobberknacker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Slobberknacker.
Jab, jab by Gagarin - just one landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fried Slobberknacker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fried Slobberknacker's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Slobberknacker scores with a jab.
Slobberknacker takes a jab right on the kisser.
Slobberknacker dodges the punch combination from Gagarin.
Slobberknacker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gagarin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Slobberknacker.
Slobberknacker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gagarin can do to turn this around?
Gagarin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Slobberknacker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gagarin looks to land a combination but Slobberknacker avoids it well.
Gagarin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gagarin there as he acknowledges the shot.

Gagarin is rocked!

Slobberknacker drops his shoulder and cracks Gagarin with a huge uppercut! Gagarin goes down! Can Slobberknacker finish him?
Gagarin is still in real trouble! Can Slobberknacker finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slobberknacker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Slobberknacker chips away with some ground and pound.
Slobberknacker stays in close to Gagarin's body and controls the position.
Slobberknacker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Slobberknacker has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gagarin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Slobberknacker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gagarin is controlling Slobberknacker's posture.
Gagarin seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin wants to stand and escape but Slobberknacker is having none of it.
Slobberknacker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gagarin keeping moving, preventing Slobberknacker from controlling successfully.
Gagarin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gagarin working a defensive guard here.
Slobberknacker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slobberknacker wants to control from the top but Gagarin keeps moving.
Gagarin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Slobberknacker trying to control the position from guard on top but Gagarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin wants to sweep here but Slobberknacker controlling him for the moment.
Slobberknacker won't allow Gagarin to get back to his feet.
Slobberknacker stands up over Gagarin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gagarin keeping moving, preventing Slobberknacker from controlling successfully.
Gagarin managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Slobberknacker lands a jab to the nose.
Gagarin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Slobberknacker has time to react.
Gagarin fails to land with a series of punches.
Slobberknacker looks to throw the jab but Gagarin is out of range.
Gagarin throws an overhand right that lands on Slobberknacker's shoulder, as Slobberknacker tries to avoid the shot.

Slobberknacker closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gagarin to the mat! Gagarin manages to get full guard.

Gagarin working for a triangle but Slobberknacker defends it easily.
Gagarin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Slobberknacker.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fried Slobberknacker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fried Slobberknacker's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Slobberknacker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Slobberknacker walks into a jab.
Fried Slobberknacker is winning the standup battle so far.

Slobberknacker closes the distance and pushes Gagarin back into the ropes.
Slobberknacker has Gagarin pressed against the ropes, preventing Gagarin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gagarin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Slobberknacker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Slobberknacker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gagarin backwards.
Slobberknacker taking a breather.
Slobberknacker lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Slobberknacker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gagarin is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gagarin.
Slobberknacker lands a shoulder strike.
Slobberknacker digs a right hand into Gagarin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gagarin's gas tank.
Slobberknacker has Gagarin pressed against the ropes, preventing Gagarin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Slobberknacker presses Gagarin against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Slobberknacker as Gagarin tries to tie him up.
Slobberknacker has a couple of punches blocked by Gagarin.
Slobberknacker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Slobberknacker lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Gagarin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Slobberknacker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gagarin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Slobberknacker circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gagarin looks to land a left hand but Slobberknacker moved out of range nicely.
Gagarin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Slobberknacker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gagarin.
Slobberknacker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gagarin throws out the jab.
Gagarin might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Slobberknacker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slobberknacker jabs Gagarin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Slobberknacker shoots in for a takedown but Gagarin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Slobberknacker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gagarin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Slobberknacker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gagarin.
Gagarin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yuri Gagarin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch lands to the side of Slobberknacker 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fighters circling - Gagarin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gagarin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gagarin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Slobberknacker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gagarin has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gagarin!
Gagarin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Slobberknacker lands a glancing blow to the side of Gagarin's head.
Gagarin throws a body shot but no joy.

Slobberknacker rushes Gagarin and presses him up against the ropes.
Gagarin being controlled against the ropes.
Gagarin is looking to control Slobberknacker's arms but Slobberknacker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gagarin has his back to the ropes.
Slobberknacker misses with a body punch.
Slobberknacker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gagarin's elbow.
Gagarin wants to break free but Slobberknacker has control.
Slobberknacker misses with a hook to the ribs.
A frustrated look appears on Gagarin's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slobberknacker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gagarin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Slobberknacker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Slobberknacker is stalling here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yuri Gagarin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slobberknacker cracks Gagarin with a nice body shot.
Slobberknacker pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Slobberknacker blocking some punches.
Slobberknacker cracks Gagarin with a nice body shot.
Fried Slobberknacker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gagarin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Slobberknacker backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fried Slobberknacker.
Well Slobberknacker 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fried Slobberknacker!