PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Devlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petter Anier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Devlin
vs
Anier

172 cm
28
160 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

177 cm
31
160 lbs
14 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonathan Devlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 19 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petter Anier!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Devlin coming out on top.

Devlin moves into the clinch.
Anier wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Devlin has him pressed against the cage.
Anier misses with a hook to the ribs.

Anier decides to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Anier 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.

Anier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Devlin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Devlin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Devlin wants to get up but he can't break Anier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Devlin stopping the sweep attempt from Anier.
Devlin wants to get up but he can't break Anier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Devlin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Devlin wanted to stand there but Anier had control of the position.
Anier is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Anier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Devlin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Anier controls Devlin momentarily but Devlin frees himself.

Anier is looking for a triangle but Devlin pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anier working a defensive guard here.
Devlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Anier's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Devlin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Anier shoots in but no luck this time.

Devlin has Anier up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Devlin smiles and moves away.
Anier is looking to clinch.
Devlin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Anier counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Anier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Devlin as he jumps to the side.
Jonathan Devlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petter Anier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anier tries to clinch but Devlin moves out of range.
Devlin misses with a double jab.

Devlin has managed to clinch.
Anier's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short left from Devlin.
Anier has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Devlin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Anier jumps guard and drags Devlin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devlin wants to get up but he can't break Anier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Devlin stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Anier looking to score a takedown here. Devlin is defending well but Anier drives through and ends up in Devlin's guard.
Anier won't allow Devlin to get back to his feet.
Devlin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anier would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anier advances to half guard.

Devlin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Devlin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jonathan Devlin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Devlin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Anier.
Anier has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Devlin takes the fight into the clinch.
Devlin slowing the pace effectively.
Devlin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Devlin being controlled against the cage.
Devlin tries to stall but Anier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anier is looking to take this one to the mat.
Anier has Devlin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Devlin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jonathan Devlin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Devlin drives through and clinches with Anier against the cage.
Anier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Devlin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Anier wants to get back to striking at distance but Devlin won't allow it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Devlin lands a good knee to the midsection. Anier won't want to take too many of those.
Devlin throws an elbow that misses.
Devlin lands an uppercut.
Devlin leaning against his opponent.
Anier has had enough of the clinch but Devlin keeps him there for the moment.
Anier is looking for a takedown.
Devlin working aggressively here.
Anier lands an elbow just above Devlin 's eye.

Anier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Anier rushes Devlin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Devlin pushes off an throws an elbow but Anier leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Devlin scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anier can't find room to land a body shot as Devlin controls the action.
Devlin throws an elbow but it misses.
Devlin lands an elbow that stopped Anier in his tracks for a moment.
Devlin crunches a lovely knee into Anier's ribcage.
Devlin misses with a knee strike.
Devlin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Anier is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Devlin to keep the fight standing.
Devlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Anier dodges an elbow strike from Devlin.
Devlin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anier blocks the elbow strike.
Anier tries to score a body lock takedown but Devlin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jonathan Devlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petter Anier.
Anier looking to throw knees to the head but Devlin is blocking nicely.

Anier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anier fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Devlin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Anier dives in and grabs Devlin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Devlin pushes down on Anier's head and hops out.

Devlin moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devlin lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bit of stalling here from Devlin.
Anier digs a right hand underneath Devlin's ribcage. Devlin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Devlin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Devlin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Anier is breathing heavily.
Anier is trying to pull guard but Devlin has him pressed against the cage.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but Anier blocks it.
Devlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Devlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A shot in the inside from Devlin.
Jonathan Devlin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Devlin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Devlin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Anier blocks an elbow strike.
Anier is trying to force a seperation but Devlin has the dominant position.
Devlin misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin misses with an elbow over the top.
Devlin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Anier tries to break free but Devlin pushes him back against the cage.
Devlin avoiding damage.
Devlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Anier blocks the elbow strike.
Anier goes for a takedown in the clinch but Devlin prevents it.
Anier is working for takedown but Devlin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Devlin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Anier backwards.
Anier is trying to force a seperation but Devlin has the dominant position.
Devlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Petter Anier has been cut.
Devlin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Anier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Devlin.
Devlin wants to stall.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Anier blocks an elbow strike.
Anier tries to score a body lock takedown but Devlin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anier blocks an elbow strike.
Devlin pushes off an throws an elbow but Anier leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Devlin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Anier is trying to pull guard but Devlin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Anier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Anier takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anier is trying to pull guard but Devlin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Devlin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Devlin lands a knee to the head.
Anier blocks an elbow strike from Devlin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Devlin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Devlin throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Anier tries to clinch but Devlin moves out of range.
Devlin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Anier counters with a head kick. That will keep Devlin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Anier ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Anier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Devlin moves into the clinch.
Anier tries to pull guard but Devlin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Devlin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Devlin is pushing Anier up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Devlin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Anier is keeping busy.
Devlin managing to block the knees to the body from Anier.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anier scores with a push kick.

Devlin rushes Anier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Devlin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Anier jumps guard.
Devlin wanted to stand there but Anier had control of the position.

Anier working for a triangle but Devlin defends it easily.

Devlin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Anier doesn't manage to clinch there - Devlin circles away.

Anier tries to keep at a distance but Devlin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Anier wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anier wants to get back to striking at distance but Devlin won't allow it.
Devlin misses with a knee strike.
Devlin pushes Anier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Devlin lands an elbow inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anier comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Devlin misses with an elbow over the top.
Devlin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jonathan Devlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petter Anier.
Devlin tries to stall but Anier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Anier wants a takedown but no success here.
Anier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Devlin stalling against the cage.
Devlin lands a nice uppercut.
Devlin lands an uppercut.
Anier takes a knee right on the jaw!
Anier tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Devlin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anier blocks an elbow strike from Devlin.
Anier lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin tries a body shot but Anier blocks it.
Devlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Anier jumps guard but Devlin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Anier is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Devlin to keep the fight standing.
Devlin misses with an elbow strike.
Devlin throws an elbow that misses.
Devlin is looking to control Anier's arms but Anier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Devlin has his back to the cage.
Anier is looking for a takedown.
Anier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Devlin.
Devlin lands an elbow inside that Anier shrugs off.
Devlin pushes Anier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anier working hard to break the clinch.
Anier dodges an elbow strike from Devlin.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Anier jumps guard.
Devlin wants to stand but Anier is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Devlin stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Anier gets tackled into the cage by Devlin. Devlin maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Anier gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Devlin is looking to escape.
Devlin is staying active underneath Anier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Anier trying to control from Devlin's half guard. Devlin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Devlin has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Anier off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice takedown defense from Devlin. No joy for Anier on that attempt.
Petter Anier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jonathan Devlin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Devlin lands a right hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathan Devlin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Devlin, 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Devlin!
Jonathan Devlin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.