PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Max Fightmaster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fightmaster
vs
West

175 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

159 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Attliction Inc. - badass sold out last night....

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Fightmaster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James West!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West fails with the takedown.

Fightmaster scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
West is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fightmaster scoring with punches from side control.
West wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
West sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
West tries to kick Fightmaster off but Fightmaster keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
West is looking for a sweep. Fightmaster is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fightmaster looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks West with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
West is looking to escape.
Fightmaster slips a nice elbow through West's hands, connecting with West's forehead.
Fightmaster looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks West with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fightmaster not doing much here.
Fightmaster scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightmaster looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
West keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fightmaster prevents West from standing back up.
Fightmaster slips a nice elbow through West's hands, connecting with West's forehead.
Fightmaster takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fightmaster is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fightmaster lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Fightmaster will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fightmaster working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fightmaster looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks West with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fightmaster content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
West is trying to stand.
West is not content to let Fightmaster control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
West pushes Fightmaster off looking to stand but Fightmaster dives back in and keeps control.
West looks gassed!
Fightmaster seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but West does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
West wants to control but Fightmaster is keeping busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Fightmaster shoots in and bounces West off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fightmaster working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
West being controlled here, momentarily.
Fightmaster has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
West manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fightmaster manages to get himself to full guard.
Fightmaster on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fightmaster tries to get out of the position.
West being controlled here momentarily.
West pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fightmaster is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West throwing strikes but missing.
Fightmaster tries to land a sweep but no joy.
West tries to stand but Fightmaster is controlling from the bottom.
West is fighting to break Fightmaster's control of his arms but Fightmaster is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Fightmaster scores with a short punch from the bottom.
West stopping the sweep attempt from Fightmaster.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
West lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

West scores with a takedown into Fightmaster's guard.
Fightmaster looking for a sweep. Not yet Fightmaster, not yet.
West stands up out of Fightmaster's guard for a moment - Fightmaster manages to land a nice upkick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West tries to stand but Fightmaster is controlling from the bottom.
West trying to control the position from guard on top but Fightmaster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
West pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fightmaster is keeping the position for now.
West is stalling in the full guard.
West wants to control from the top but Fightmaster keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
West lands with a hook. Fightmaster tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

West closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fightmaster to the mat! Fightmaster manages to get full guard.
Fightmaster is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
West wants to stand and escape but instead Fightmaster has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Fightmaster dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fightmaster looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fightmaster stays in close to West's body and controls the position.
West manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fightmaster tries to get back to half guard but can't.
West landing strikes, looking to finish!
West throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Fightmaster because West loaded up on that one.
Fightmaster tries to hold on but West pushes him away.
West fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
West looking to control but Fightmaster is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
West landing strikes from the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
West prevents Fightmaster from getting the reversal.
West can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fightmaster is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightmaster is looking to get to half guard.
West lands a big shot there that rocks Fightmaster but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
West scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Fightmaster is squirming around, avoiding West's attempts to control the action.
West looking to finish Fightmaster with some ground and pound. This is bad for Fightmaster!
Fightmaster working to try and regain half guard.
Fightmaster in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fightmaster is looking to get to half guard.
Fightmaster is working hard here to advance position.
West with good strikes from the mount here!
Fightmaster can't escape the position.
West working away from the top, dropping strikes.

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.
Fightmaster tries to lock up and control but West gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West tries to control but Fightmaster wriggling away.
Fightmaster is trying to escape the mount.
Fightmaster regains half guard.
Fightmaster manages to get to full guard.
Fightmaster is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fightmaster looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Fightmaster has his feet on West's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
West avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
West throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fightmaster showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from West.
West looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fightmaster fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fightmaster moves out of range of the strikes.
West looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Fightmaster fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. West sprawls well initially but Fightmaster persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fightmaster prevents West from standing back up.
Fightmaster thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
West tries to roll over but Fightmaster keeps him under control.
West is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Max Fightmaster overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West wants to control but Fightmaster is keeping busy.
West is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

West shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Fightmaster is trying desperately to improve position.
West wants to control the pace but Fightmaster is squirming around nicely.
Fightmaster working to try and regain half guard.
West has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
West can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fightmaster is looking to escape.
Fightmaster sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Fightmaster gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Fightmaster dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fightmaster closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming West to the mat! West manages to get full guard.
West wants to get back to his feet but Fightmaster is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fightmaster wanted to stand there but West had control of the position.
West keeping moving, preventing Fightmaster from controlling successfully.
Fightmaster is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because West is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
West wants to stand but Fightmaster is controlling the position.
West keeping moving, preventing Fightmaster from controlling successfully.
Fightmaster tries to free his leg and advance position but West is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fightmaster keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of West's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fightmaster misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
West fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West misses with a takedown attempt - Fightmaster sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fightmaster fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for West with that takedown attempt.
Max Fightmaster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James West.
West fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
West gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fightmaster counters with a single leg into guard. West didn't expect that.
Fightmaster lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fightmaster stands up over West, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fightmaster working some strikes from top position.
West bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fightmaster's guard.
West slips nicely into half guard.
West wants to stand up but Fightmaster has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fightmaster manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fightmaster trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West wants to stand but Fightmaster has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Fightmaster throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fightmaster manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fightmaster lands a heavy elbow.
West wants to get back to his feet.
Fightmaster sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
West is trying desperately to improve position.
Fightmaster lands a nice shot to the head.
Fightmaster trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fightmaster lands with some vicious ground and pound - can West hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fightmaster cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
West is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
West is trying desperately to improve position.
West is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
West working to try and regain half guard.
West squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
West wants to hold on but Fightmaster pushes him away.
James West has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
West slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fightmaster content to control rather than advance.
Fightmaster prevents West from improving his position.

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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fightmaster lands a nice short elbow.
West flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
West moves into full guard.
West is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fightmaster is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fightmaster scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fightmaster throws a big right hand that misses.
Fightmaster landing some decent shots from guard.
West wants to stand up but Fightmaster is controlling him.
Fightmaster postures up and lands a big shot to West's brow.
Fightmaster passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Fightmaster showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fightmaster, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Fightmaster!