PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sub Hero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Levin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hero's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Giant Squid - Panthalassa. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hero
vs
Levin

164 cm
31
146 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

165 cm
31
145 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30

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 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sub Hero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ariel Levin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hero lands a jab.
Levin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hero tries to avoid it but Levin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hero to the ground. Hero escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Levin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Levin throws out a loose jab but Hero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Levin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hero swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Levin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Levin has his foot on Hero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hero works his way back into a safe position though.
Hero trying to control the position from guard on top but Levin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Levin keeping moving, preventing Hero from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Levin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

Levin working for a triangle but Hero defends it easily.
Levin keeping moving, preventing Hero from controlling successfully.

Levin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Levin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hero defends it easily.
Levin keeping moving, preventing Hero from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hero keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Levin's head.

Levin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hero trying to control the position from guard on top but Levin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hero got a little sloppy there for a moment and Levin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hero has managed to get both his arms back between Levin's legs - danger averted.

Levin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hero stacks Levin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hero!
Hero landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
A lull in the action here as Hero stalls from top position.
Hero lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hero scoring with punches from side control.
Hero working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levin is looking for a sweep.
Hero working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Levin keeps working.
Levin is looking for a sweep.
Hero wants to take a breather but Levin manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Hero.
Hero controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hero lands a couple of digs.

Levin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hero works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Hero dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Levin has closed the distance and engaged Hero in a clinch.
Hero lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Hero ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hero no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hero looking to control.
Levin trying to control but Hero is working from the bottom.
Levin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hero manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hero blocking the ground and pound attempt from Levin.
Levin is trying to control. Hero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Levin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Levin stalling away here and it's allowed Hero to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Levin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hero's head.

Hero looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Levin passes into side control.
Hero is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hero wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levin is trying to control. Hero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sub Hero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Levin controlling the pace.
Hero is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Levin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hero wants to improve his position but Levin is controlling well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hero has hold of Levin's hands but Levin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Levin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Levin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hero has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hero is trying to get back to full guard.

Levin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hero trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levin stalling away here and it's allowed Hero to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Levin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Levin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Levin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hero wants to sweep but no luck.
Levin forces his way into half guard.
Hero is looking for a sweep. Levin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Levin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Levin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hero swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hero thows a body shot but no joy.
Hero thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hero feints a jab promting Levin to slip. Hero then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Levin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Levin moves out of range as Hero strikes.
Hero avoids the body shot from Levin.
Sub Hero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hero misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Levin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hero's guard.
Levin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hero bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Levin's guard.
Hero is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hero gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Levin working for a triangle but Hero defends it easily.
Levin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hero landing with the ground and pound.

Levin has his foot on Hero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hero works his way back into a safe position though.
Hero lands a couple of elbows.
Hero sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hero lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hero is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Levin wants to stand but Hero is controlling the position.
Hero looking to sit in guard and control but Levin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Levin advances position into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Who's going to make the next move?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hero works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Hero moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hero controls Levin momentarily but Levin frees himself.
Hero keeping moving, preventing Levin from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levin throwing strikes from guard but Hero blocks nicely.
Hero keeping full guard, as Levin tries to pass.
Hero trying to keep a closed guard but Levin is proving a slippery customer.
Levin wants to control from the top but Hero keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hero trying to keep a closed guard but Levin is proving a slippery customer.

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 Sub Hero.
Well Hero 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sub Hero!
An out of breath and clearly excited Sub Hero thanked ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).