PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcin Held (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Dolinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Held comes to the ring accompanied by Bob Marley - Buffalo soldier. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Held
vs
Dolinger

175 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

167 cm
25
151 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Arcticus
REAR NAKED CHOKE NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcin Held!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Felix Dolinger!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Dolinger has taken the fight to the clinch.
Held tries to score a body lock takedown but Dolinger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Held gets control of Dolinger's arms and successfully pulls guard. Held will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've been hearing good reports from Held's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Dolinger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Held is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dolinger defends well.
Held managing to control the position.
Dolinger scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Held keeping moving, preventing Dolinger from controlling successfully.

Held escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dolinger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dolinger is looking to stand up but Held won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Held had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dolinger defends it easily.
Dolinger is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dolinger slips nicely into half guard.

Dolinger is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Held sees it coming and defends easily.
Held is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dolinger is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolinger is looking to take a break and control but Held is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dolinger wants to work for an arm triangle but Held is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dolinger prevents Held from improving his position.
Dolinger trying to control from half guard but Held is working away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Dolinger seems to be looking for submissions.
Dolinger works his way into side control.
Held manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dolinger is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Held is staying active underneath Dolinger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Dolinger wants to stand up but Held has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Dolinger wants to pass the guard but Held is defending well.
Held is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Held is looking to control Dolinger's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Held avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Held actively working from the bottom here.
Held tries to roll over but Dolinger keeps him under control.
Dolinger wants to stand but Held has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dolinger keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dolinger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Held sprawls well initially but Dolinger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Dolinger dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Held shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dolinger pinned against the ropes. Dolinger gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dolinger defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Held.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Held shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dolinger but Dolinger pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dolinger drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Held defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcin Held. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolinger throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Held was covering up waiting for the punch and Dolinger finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dolinger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Held keeping moving, preventing Dolinger from controlling successfully.

Held has an active guard here but Dolinger has managed to pass into half guard.
Held moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolinger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Held keeping moving, preventing Dolinger from controlling successfully.
Held is trying to keep Dolinger in close.

Dolinger drops back looking for a leg! Held is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Held manages to kick Dolinger off! Dolinger jumps back into Held's guard.
Dolinger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Held trying to keep a closed guard but Dolinger is proving a slippery customer.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dolinger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Held is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Held has escaped and now he's on top!

Held postures up.
Held trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Held forces his way into half guard.
Dolinger has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA St Petersburg. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Held frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Held moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Dolinger has worked his arm free - good work by Dolinger!

Held looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dolinger is looking to regain half guard here but Held keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Felix Dolinger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Held has his takedown stuffed
and Dolinger counters with a nice body shot.
Dolinger keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dolinger drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Held defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Held shoots in but Dolinger avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dolinger steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Held.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcin Held. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolinger slaps away a takedown attempt from Held, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Held shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Held was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Held laying and praying for a moment but Dolinger takes advantage and regains half guard.
Held looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Held looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Held is trying to control the action in half guard but Dolinger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Held in particular looking to stall.

Held is looking for a kimura but Dolinger is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Held to get the leverage.
Dolinger is refusing to be controlled, as Held sits in half guard.

Held is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Held is trying to work for a kimura but Dolinger is defending well.
Dolinger works his way to full guard. Good work.

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.
Dolinger keeping full guard, as Held tries to pass.
Held trying to control the position from guard on top but Dolinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Held with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dolinger counters by moving into the clinch.
Held has Dolinger pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Dolinger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Held wants a takedown but no success here.
Held misses with an elbow over the top.
Held is looking to take this one to the mat.

Dolinger pulls guard successfully.
Held stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dolinger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Felix Dolinger just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Held's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dolinger scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Dolinger is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Held is just riding it out for now. Dolinger eventually gives up the hold.
Dolinger trying to control the action but Held is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Held is looking to control Dolinger's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Held avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolinger seems to be working for a kimura but Held defends the submission attempt.
Held wants to control but Dolinger is keeping busy.
Held is looking to improve his position.

Held is defending against the submission attempts here by Dolinger.

Held looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Dolinger sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dolinger wants to free his trapped foot but Held is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Held is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Felix Dolinger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Held is refusing to be controlled, as Dolinger sits in half guard.

Dolinger seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Held is not content to let Dolinger control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Held tries to land a body kick

and Dolinger counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Held has his foot on Dolinger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dolinger works his way back into a safe position though.

Held working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Dolinger has passed into half guard!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Dolinger looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Held wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dolinger is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Held has managed to free his arm - good work.
Held is looking for a sweep. Dolinger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Held works his way to full guard. Good work.

Dolinger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Held is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dolinger wants to get up but he can't break Held's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Dolinger dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Held is looking to clinch but Dolinger is avoiding it.
Dolinger drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Held defends it well.
Held looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dolinger is fending him off so far but Held persists. Nope, Dolinger circles away and we're back to standing.
Held looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dolinger is fending him off so far but Held persists. Nope, Dolinger circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Held with that takedown attempt.
Dolinger feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcin Held. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dolinger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Held manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Held is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dolinger is aware though and is defending well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Dolinger working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Held looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Dolinger passes into half guard.

Dolinger is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Held sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolinger is looking to take a break and control but Held is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dolinger moves nicely into side control.

Dolinger decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Felix Dolinger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Dolinger closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolinger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Held keeps working.
Held trying to control here.
Dolinger takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Held actively working from the bottom here.
Dolinger perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Held is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dolinger controlling the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marcin Held has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Held with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dolinger counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Held tries to roll over but Dolinger keeps him under control.
Well, if Dolinger is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Held misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Held actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Dolinger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dolinger has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 44:50
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 46:50
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Dolinger!
Marcin Held spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm back, trust me, I'm back.'.