PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maureen Finkelstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruckus Engel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maureen Finkelstein has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Finkelstein
vs
Engel

194 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
23
225 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maureen Finkelstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ruckus Engel!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finkelstein throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Engel's waist but Engel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Finkelstein off to one side.
Finkelstein tries to score a power double leg takedown but Engel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Finkelstein somewhat.
Finkelstein fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maureen Finkelstein. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finkelstein fails with a takedown attempt.
Maureen Finkelstein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Engel circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkelstein lands a jab to Engel's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkelstein looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Engel is fending him off so far but Finkelstein persists. Nope, Engel circles away and we're back to standing.
Finkelstein tries to close the distance and clinch up but Engel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Finkelstein looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Engel is fending him off so far but Finkelstein persists. Nope, Engel circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Engel. No joy for Finkelstein on that attempt.
Finkelstein shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Engel as he avoids it easily.
Finkelstein dives in and grabs Engel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Engel pushes down on Finkelstein's head and hops out.
Engel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Engel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Engel is trying to move to mount but Finkelstein reverses beautifully and ends up in Engel's guard.
Engel wants to hit a switch here but Finkelstein passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Engel there!
Engel is working to get back to half guard.
Finkelstein tries to control but Engel wriggling away.
Finkelstein controlling his opponent.
Finkelstein prevents Engel from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finkelstein looking to control but Engel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Engel is looking to get to half guard.
Finkelstein putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Engel is trying to escape the mount.
Engel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Engel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Engel is not content to let Finkelstein control the position.
Finkelstein trying to pass the guard but Engel defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Engel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Engel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Finkelstein missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Finkelstein wants to take a breather but Engel is having none of it.
Finkelstein wants to free his trapped foot but Engel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Engel is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finkelstein tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Finkelstein doesn't manage to clinch there - Engel circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ruckus Engel will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Finkelstein misses with a low kick as Engel jumps back.

Finkelstein drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Engel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Finkelstein misses with the ground and pound.
Engel is trying to get back to half guard.
Finkelstein trying to control the position but Engel is working away.

Finkelstein looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Engel tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Finkelstein with a lazy takedown attempt

and Engel counters with a shoot takedown. Finkelstein fights it but they end up in guard.
Engel looking to pass the guard.

Engel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Finkelstein manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Engel has Finkelstein in his guard.
Engel is breathing heavily.
Finkelstein wants to control from the top but Engel keeps moving.

Finkelstein 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Engel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Engel looking for a guillotine here but Finkelstein defends easily.

Engel is working an open guard so Finkelstein takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Finkelstein shoots and misses

and Engel counters with a takedown into side control.
Finkelstein can't do much from the bottom here.

Engel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein sneaks back into half guard.
Finkelstein wants to control but Engel is keeping busy.

Engel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Engel trying to pass the guard but Finkelstein defending well.
Finkelstein controlling the position for now.
Engel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four 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.
Finkelstein slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Engel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Engel working away.
Engel tries to move into full mount but can't pass Finkelstein's legs.
Finkelstein gets back to half guard.
Finkelstein is trying to control but can't.
Finkelstein moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Engel has gone for a leg lock! Finkelstein slips out almost immediately though and dives into Engel's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruckus Engel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Engel avoids the head kick by Finkelstein.
Engel keeps the fight on the outside.
Finkelstein has his takedown stuffed

and Engel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Finkelstein won't be happy with that.
Engel advances to mount.

Finkelstein defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Engel.
Engel avoids the attempt from Finkelstein to control.
Engel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkelstein regains half guard.
Finkelstein slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Finkelstein holds on and takes a little breather.
Engel won't allow Finkelstein to sweep him here.
Engel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Engel stops Finkelstein from standing up.

Engel drops back, looking for a kneebar! Finkelstein looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Finkelstein looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Finkelstein!
Finkelstein wants to control but Engel is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Finkelstein trying to control the position but Engel is working away.
Engel is looking to regain half guard here but Finkelstein keeps moving and retains side control.
Engel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Finkelstein pushes Engel off looking to stand but Engel dives back in and keeps control.
Finkelstein won't allow Engel to pass to mount.
Finkelstein moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Engel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Finkelstein is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Engel stands and throws Finkelstein's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Finkelstein regains half guard.
Finkelstein trying to control here.
Engel trying to mount his opponent but Finkelstein defends it.
Finkelstein flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Engel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Finkelstein is just riding it out for now. Engel eventually gives up the hold.
Engel wants to pass to mount but Finkelstein is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finkelstein lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Ruckus Engel has been cut.
Finkelstein pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finkelstein attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maureen Finkelstein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Engel checks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maureen Finkelstein showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Engel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ruckus Engel!