PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Martin Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seth Probert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black comes to the cage accompanied by Rob Dougan - Speed me towards death. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Probert

172 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

161 cm
18
141 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seth Probert!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black closes this distance looking for a takedown but Probert circles away.
Black wants to clinch up but Probert keeps it at a distance.
Probert keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Black.
Black throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Probert's waist but Probert gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Black off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Probert tries to avoid it but Black manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Probert to the ground. Probert escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Black shoots for a takedown but Probert saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Black shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Probert but Probert pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Black shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Black will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Probert sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Probert keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black prevents Probert from improving his position.
Probert is controlling Black's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Black trying to pass the guard but Probert defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black is breathing heavily.
Probert is trying to get back to full guard.
Probert is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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.
Probert is doing well to control the position and prevent Black from advancing to side control.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Probert keeps working.
Probert holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Black is controlling the pace.
Probert slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Probert is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Probert keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Probert 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.
Black stands and throws Probert's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Probert prevents Black from moving into mount.
You can see the frustration on Probert's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Probert gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

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.
Black is thwarting Probert's attempts to control the position.
Probert throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Probert has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Black is working away from the top position though.
Probert is doing well to control the position and prevent Black from advancing to side control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Seth Probert just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Probert as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Probert throws a head kick that misses.

Black closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Probert regains half guard.
Probert is not content to let Black control the position.
Probert misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Probert is holding on to half guard well.
Probert wants to control but Black is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Probert desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Probert tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Probert is trying to maintain the position but Black is very close to passing his half guard.
Probert wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Black fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Black misses with a takedown attempt - Probert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Black fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Probert as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Black shoots in and drives through. Probert sprawls well.
Black tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Probert swivels and escapes.
Black fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Martin Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Probert throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No joy there for Probert, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Probert throws a big shot that misses.
Probert has his takedown stuffed

and Black counters with a single leg into guard. Probert didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Probert has wrist control.
Black postures up.
Probert is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Probert keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black stands and throws Probert's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Black decides to stand back up. Black steps back and let's Probert get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Probert misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Black tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Black misses with a takedown

and Probert counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Black!
Black is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black working to try and regain half guard.
Black tries to hold on but Probert pushes him away.
Black is squirming around, avoiding Probert's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Martin Black will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Black with a poor takedown

and Probert counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Black's guard now.
Probert wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Probert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Probert pushes down on Black's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Black is staying active underneath Probert, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Black blocking the ground and pound attempt from Probert.
Black wants to control but Probert is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Probert controlling the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Probert throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to control here.
Black is staying active underneath Probert, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Black scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Probert preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Black is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Probert doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Black.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Probert gets back to full guard.
Black is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Black wants to stand but Probert has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Black sitting in guard here, content to control.
Probert is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Black stalling.
Probert trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Black dominating with strikes here.

Black working for a submission but Probert is keeping him at bay.
Probert is trying desperately to improve position.
Probert tries to hold on but Black pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Black breaks from Probert's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Black content just to control the position here.
Black wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Black content just to control the position here.
Black tries to control but Probert wriggling away.
Black is really struggling to control Probert but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Probert is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Seth Probert.
I think Probert 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Seth Probert!