PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Peter Difin (ranked 4373 p4p, 5270 weight class) and Casper Blackwater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Difin
vs
Blackwater

180 cm
23
135
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
135
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Peter Difin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Casper Blackwater!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Difin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Blackwater looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Difin passes into half guard.

Blackwater actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blackwater looking for submissions off his back.
Difin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Difin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Blackwater.
Difin controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwater works his way to full guard. Good work.

Blackwater throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Blackwater had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Difin defends it easily.
Blackwater can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Difin controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Difin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blackwater's guard.

Blackwater is looking for a triangle here but Difin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Difin controlling the position.

Difin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blackwater is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Difin wants to stand but Blackwater has his arm trapped.
Blackwater is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Difin off and has taken his back!

Blackwater is looking for the choke from the back position but Difin is controlling his hands well.

Blackwater looking for the RNC.
Blackwater looks winded!
Blackwater keeps control of the position as Difin tries to break free.
Difin wants to control his opponent's hands but Blackwater gets his hands free.
Difin tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blackwater is looking for a choke. Difin gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Difin manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

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

Blackwater has an active guard here but Difin has managed to pass into half guard.
Difin slips a nice elbow through Blackwater's hands, connecting with Blackwater's forehead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Difin content to control rather than advance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Difin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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 Peter Difin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Difin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blackwater.

Difin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Peter Difin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Difin wants to stand but Blackwater is controlling his arm.
Blackwater can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwater gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Blackwater looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Difin is keen to just control but Blackwater is a slippery customer.

Blackwater looking for submissions off his back.
Difin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blackwater!
Difin manages to capitalize on a mistake by Blackwater to take his back!
Blackwater is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Difin lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Difin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blackwater can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater is in bad spot here.
Blackwater trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Difin has good solid back control here.

Difin is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Blackwater defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Difin is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Blackwater defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Blackwater tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Difin.
Difin biding his time, looking for the opening.

Difin working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
We've been hearing good reports from Difin'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.
Blackwater trying to control the hands but Difin won't let him.
Blackwater tries to break free.
Difin really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Blackwater.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater trying to control but not successfully.
Blackwater looking very determined here, making life difficult for Difin.
Difin keeps control of the position as Blackwater tries to break free.

Difin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Blackwater is defending well though. Difin let's go of the attempt for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackwater trying to get back to his feet but Difin is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Difin dominated that second round.
That's time! Difin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Blackwater shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Difin as he avoids it easily.

Difin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Blackwater regains half guard.
Difin tries to pass to full mount but Blackwater defends it.
Difin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Blackwater looking for submissions off his back.
Blackwater is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Difin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Blackwater has given up his back here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Difin is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Difin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Blackwater's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Difin controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Blackwater is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Blackwater is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Difin is looking for the choke from the back position but Blackwater is controlling his hands well.
Blackwater wants to escape the position.
Difin is trying to stick to Blackwater's back but Blackwater is turning into Difin. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Difin's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Blackwater.

Blackwater drops back looking for a leg! Difin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Difin manages to kick Blackwater off! Blackwater jumps back into Difin's guard.
Difin controlling Blackwater's posture.

Blackwater 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackwater drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Difin dives on top into guard.

Blackwater looking for a guillotine here but Difin defends easily.
Difin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Difin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Difin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Blackwater is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Difin defends well.

Blackwater had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Difin defends it easily.
Casper Blackwater has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Peter Difin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Difin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Difin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Difin 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Difin!