PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Fluggerstaff (ranked 25189 p4p, 5390 weight class) and Sloan Wickenhauser (ranked 540 p4p, 502 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Fluggerstaff
vs
Wickenhauser

188 cm
26
196
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Evgeni Fluggerstaff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sloan Wickenhauser!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fluggerstaff looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wickenhauser is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Fluggerstaff dives into side control.

Wickenhauser stops Fluggerstaff from passing to mount.
Fluggerstaff knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wickenhauser on the ground.

Fluggerstaff has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Wickenhauser defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fluggerstaff.
Fluggerstaff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wickenhauser looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wickenhauser slaps away a takedown attempt from Fluggerstaff, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeni Fluggerstaff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wickenhauser will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fluggerstaff shoots in looking for a takedown. Wickenhauser tries to sprawl out of it but Fluggerstaff keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wickenhauser manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wickenhauser shoots in but Fluggerstaff avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wickenhauser shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fluggerstaff sprawls well. Fluggerstaff wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wickenhauser gets slowly back to his feet.
Fluggerstaff shoots in for a double leg but Wickenhauser sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wickenhauser finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Wickenhauser tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fluggerstaff paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wickenhauser tries to close the distance and clinch but Fluggerstaff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fluggerstaff seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fluggerstaff tries to keep at a distance but Wickenhauser has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fluggerstaff is pushing Wickenhauser up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fluggerstaff on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wickenhauser is trying to push Fluggerstaff away but Fluggerstaff has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Wickenhauser is trying to break free.
Fluggerstaff goes for a takedown attempt but Wickenhauser pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fluggerstaff scores with the left hand. Wickenhauser knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wickenhauser shoots for a takedown but Fluggerstaff saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fluggerstaff fails to land the takedown.
Fluggerstaff fails with a takedown attempt.
Wickenhauser misses with a few strikes there.
Wickenhauser shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fluggerstaff as he jumps to the side.
Fluggerstaff tests Wickenhauser's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wickenhauser fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fluggerstaff clinches up against the cage.

Wickenhauser jumps guard.
Wickenhauser looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wickenhauser manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fluggerstaff manages to get himself to full guard.

Wickenhauser stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fluggerstaff swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wickenhauser is pushing down on Fluggerstaff's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fluggerstaff is fighting to maintain full guard but Wickenhauser has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fluggerstaff wants to get back to his feet.
Wickenhauser is looking to advance position but Fluggerstaff won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sloan Wickenhauser will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fluggerstaff closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Wickenhauser quickly recovers to half guard.
Wickenhauser is trying to control but can't.
Wickenhauser manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wickenhauser can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fluggerstaff controls the pace.
Wickenhauser trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fluggerstaff throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wickenhauser utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Fluggerstaff gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wickenhauser shoots in for a takedown but Fluggerstaff shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fluggerstaff feinted with a counter takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fluggerstaff.
Fluggerstaff keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Evgeni Fluggerstaff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fluggerstaff pushes Wickenhauser up against the cage in a clinch.

Fluggerstaff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fluggerstaff takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wickenhauser looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Fluggerstaff.
Wickenhauser shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fluggerstaff counters with a nice body shot.
Evgeni Fluggerstaff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sloan Wickenhauser.
Wickenhauser is breathing heavily.
Wickenhauser tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fluggerstaff counters with a straight right hand.
Wickenhauser fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fluggerstaff went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Wickenhauser misses with a head kick.
Fluggerstaff closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wickenhauser circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wickenhauser shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fluggerstaff but Fluggerstaff pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wickenhauser defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fluggerstaff.
Wickenhauser wants to counter the offense by Fluggerstaff and move into the clinch position.
Wickenhauser tries to score with a low kick but Fluggerstaff moves his leg out of the way.

Fluggerstaff moves into the clinch.

Fluggerstaff decides to pull guard.
Wickenhauser pushing down on Fluggerstaff's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fluggerstaff controlling the position well.

Wickenhauser stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fluggerstaff is defended easily by Wickenhauser.
Wickenhauser steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Fluggerstaff.
Wickenhauser wants to clinch up but Fluggerstaff keeps it at a distance.
Wickenhauser throws a body kick that misses.
Wickenhauser throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Fluggerstaff clinches up with Wickenhauser and pushes him back against the cage.
Wickenhauser tries for a takedown but Fluggerstaff manages to get underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fluggerstaff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wickenhauser blocks the body kick.
Wickenhauser tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fluggerstaff defends well and Wickenhauser ends up having to push Fluggerstaff into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Fluggerstaff dominated that second round.
That's time! Fluggerstaff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fluggerstaff avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Fluggerstaff closes the distance and clinches.
Wickenhauser jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fluggerstaff walks away with a smile on his face. Wickenhauser gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wickenhauser tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fluggerstaff swivels and escapes.
Fluggerstaff misses with a takedown attempt - Wickenhauser sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wickenhauser dives in and grabs Fluggerstaff's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fluggerstaff pushes down on Wickenhauser's head and hops out.
Evgeni Fluggerstaff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sloan Wickenhauser.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wickenhauser looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wickenhauser fails with the takedown

and Fluggerstaff holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Wickenhauser takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fluggerstaff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wickenhauser stalks Fluggerstaff and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fluggerstaff's face. Fluggerstaff staggers backwards, shaken.
Wickenhauser stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wickenhauser wants it to stay on the feet.

Fluggerstaff gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wickenhauser tries for a takedown but Fluggerstaff manages to get underhooks.

Fluggerstaff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wickenhauser tries to clinch but Fluggerstaff moves out of range.
Wickenhauser displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fluggerstaff.
Wickenhauser is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fluggerstaff with a body shot.
Wickenhauser throws a head kick that misses.
Wickenhauser shoots for a double leg takedown but Fluggerstaff sprawls well. He's pushed Wickenhauser's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fluggerstaff shoots in for a takedown but Wickenhauser shows good takedown defense.
Wickenhauser fails with the takedown
and Fluggerstaff counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fluggerstaff has managed to clinch.
Fluggerstaff is looking to take this one to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wickenhauser looking to stall.
Wickenhauser has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Fluggerstaff seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Wickenhauser can turn it around.
Fluggerstaff is stalling here.
Wickenhauser is looking for a takedown.
Wickenhauser gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fluggerstaff.

Fluggerstaff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wickenhauser moves into range and connects with a jab.
Wickenhauser lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Wickenhauser tries a head kick but it misses.
Fluggerstaff stuffs the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Fluggerstaff misses the target.
Wickenhauser tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fluggerstaff swivels and escapes.
Fluggerstaff shoots for a takedown but Wickenhauser saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wickenhauser stuffs the takedown.
Wickenhauser shapes to counter with a head kick.
Wickenhauser fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Fluggerstaff rushes Wickenhauser and presses him up against the cage.
Wickenhauser is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fluggerstaff tries to pull guard but Wickenhauser forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Wickenhauser tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fluggerstaff avoids it.
Fluggerstaff tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fluggerstaff tries to pull guard but Wickenhauser won't allow it.
Fluggerstaff has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Wickenhauser after a bit of a struggle.
Wickenhauser is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Fluggerstaff is defending well.
Fluggerstaff pressing his opponent against the cage.
Wickenhauser wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Fluggerstaff showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fluggerstaff has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeni Fluggerstaff!