PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Richard Lionheart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justina Vanovcan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lionheart comes to the cage accompanied by Van Damme - Lion Heart (Final Fight). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vanovcan's choice of entrance music: Moskau. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lionheart
vs
Vanovcan

160 cm
32
142 lbs
26 - 9 - 2

153 cm
34
130 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Richard Lionheart!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justina Vanovcan!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanovcan is looking to clinch.
Lionheart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vanovcan manages to avoid it.
Vanovcan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lionheart.
Lionheart scores with a jab. Vanovcan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lionheart throws a jab when Vanovcan was well out of range.
Horrible takedown by Vanovcan or perhaps it was just good defense by Lionheart which made him look bad.
Lionheart throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Lionheart shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vanovcan's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lionheart preventing the sweep.
Lionheart throwing strikes but missing.
Lionheart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lionheart with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lionheart postures up in Vanovcan's guard and throws a big left but Vanovcan blocks it.
Lionheart is looking to work some ground and pound but Vanovcan has wrist control.
Vanovcan has momentary wrist control but Lionheart slips an elbow through the middle.
Vanovcan keeping moving, preventing Lionheart from controlling successfully.
Lionheart is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vanovcan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vanovcan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lionheart throws a big elbow that misses.
Lionheart throws an elbow that misses. Vanovcan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lionheart's guard. Nice move by Vanovcan!

Lionheart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lionheart keeping moving, preventing Vanovcan from controlling successfully.
Lionheart wants to sweep here but Vanovcan controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lionheart had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vanovcan defends it easily.
Lionheart is trying to control the position but Vanovcan postures up.
Vanovcan lands a couple of digs.

Lionheart working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vanovcan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vanovcan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lionheart trying to control the position here.
Vanovcan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vanovcan wants to control from the top but Lionheart keeps moving.
Lionheart tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan wants to pass the guard but Lionheart is keeping the position.
Vanovcan throws a big elbow that misses.
Vanovcan content to stall in guard here.
Vanovcan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lionheart is keeping the position for now.
Lionheart has his hands on Vanovcan's head, controlling the position.
Lionheart trying to keep a closed guard but Vanovcan is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vanovcan tries to clinch there but Lionheart circles away.
Vanovcan closes the distance but Lionheart moves to the side

and Lionheart counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vanovcan won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Vanovcan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lionheart creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vanovcan wants to control but Lionheart postures up.
Vanovcan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lionheart landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lionheart works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lionheart scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lionheart postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Vanovcan bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Lionheart and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richard Lionheart!
Richard Lionheart retains his bantamweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Richard Lionheart thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.