PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zdeno Chara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Caine (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.

Chara
vs
Caine

200 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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, Zdeno Chara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Billy Caine!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caine stuffs the takedown.
Caine tries to close the distance and clinch but Chara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Chara gets a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chara.
Chara lands an elbow inside that Caine shrugs off.

It looks like Billy Caine has been cut.
Chara lands an elbow inside that Caine shrugs off.
Caine lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Chara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Chara moves into range and clinches up with Caine.
Caine is trying to break free.
Chara wants a takedown but no success here.

Chara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Chara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Caine darts in and clinches Chara up against the cage.
Chara wants to break the clinch but can't.

Chara breaks the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Caine circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chara tries to clinch but Caine is having none of it.
Chara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Caine pinned against the cage. Caine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zdeno Chara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick from Caine lands but Chara takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chara fails to land the takedown.

Chara has Caine up against the cage in a clinch.
Chara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Chara tries to break the clinch but Caine is controlling the position.
Chara landing knees to the head.
Chara prevents Caine from breaking the clinch.
Chara throws a knee to the head but misses.
Chara is trying to break free.
Chara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chara tries a knee to the head but Caine blocks it.
Chara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Caine avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chara is breathing heavily.
Caine wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chara has him pressed against the cage.
Caine wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Chara is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Caine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Caine being controlled against the cage.
Caine is looking to break free of the clinch but Chara has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Caine keeps control of Chara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Chara jumps guard but Caine stands there with Chara around his waist. Chara gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Chara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Caine has him pressed against the cage.
Caine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Chara wants to get back to striking at distance but Caine won't allow it.
Caine blocks an elbow strike from Chara.

Chara breaks the clinch.
Caine is looking to clinch.
Caine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Chara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Caine is fending him off so far but Chara persists. Nope, Caine circles away and we're back to standing.
Caine tries to clinch but Chara is having none of it.
Caine lands a nice hook to Chara's body. Chara takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Caine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Caine misses with a head kick.
Caine lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Caine.
Caine throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
Caine throws a series of punches but Chara moves out of range.
Caine throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
Chara tries to clinch but Caine moves out of range.
Caine is looking to land body kicks.
Caine lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Chara backs up against the cage.
Caine throws a head kick that misses.
Caine works Chara's body with a nice hook.
Caine scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Caine lands with a nice combination. Chara backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Caine throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Caine.

Caine gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Caine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Caine has a couple of punches blocked by Chara.
Caine throws a knee to the head but misses.
Chara is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Caine is keeping busy.
Chara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caine dodges an elbow strike from Chara.
Caine lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chara backwards.
Caine is looking to break free of the clinch but Chara has double underhooks.
Caine wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Caine is trying to break the clinch but Chara has him pressed against the cage.
Caine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Chara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chara takes a kick to the side of the head.
Caine throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
Caine scores with a jab to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Caine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caine lands a head kick. Chara smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Chara clinches.
Chara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Caine has him pressed against the cage.

Caine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Caine dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billy Caine'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.

Caine moves into the clinch successfully.
Chara lands a nice elbow.
Chara throws an elbow that misses.
Caine is looking to break free of the clinch but Chara has double underhooks.
Chara looking to throw knees to the head but Caine is blocking nicely.
Chara looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Chara misses with a knee to the head.

Chara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chara is looking to clinch.
Caine misses with the combination.

Caine has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caine wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Caine misses with a punch on the inside.
Chara lands an elbow that stopped Caine in his tracks for a moment.

Chara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caine throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Caine is trying to break free.
Caine looking to throw knees to the head but Chara is blocking nicely.
Chara misses with a knee strike.
Chara keeps control of Caine as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Caine is trying to break the clinch but Chara has him pressed against the cage.

Caine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caine throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Chara on the side of the head.
Caine misses with a two punch combination.
Caine tries a head kick but it misses.
Caine lands with a slapping head kick.
Billy Caine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chara tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Caine swivels and escapes.
Caine rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Caine misses with a head kick.
Caine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zdeno Chara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Caine tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Chara holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caine wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chara has him pressed against the cage.
Caine tries to land a knee to the head but Chara blocks with his arms.

Chara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caine tries a head kick but it misses.
Chara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chara tries to clinch but Caine moves out of range.
Caine pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chara is looking to clinch but Caine is avoiding it.
Caine plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Caine throws a combination. Chara tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Caine pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chara moves in looking to clinch but Caine pushes him off.
Caine goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Caine throws a series of punches but Chara moves out of range.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Chara. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Caine throws a jab when Chara was well out of range.
Caine lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Caine clinches but Chara breaks the clinch

and Chara counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Caine avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chara misses with an elbow over the top.
Caine lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Caine avoids the elbow strike from Chara, against the cage.
Chara wants to break free but Caine has control.
Caine throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chara blocks it with crossed arms.

Caine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chara tries to close the distance and clinch but Caine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Caine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Caine is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Chara throws a head kick that misses.
Caine tries to clinch

and Chara moves into the clinch.

Caine manages to break the clinch.
Caine lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caine looks to clinch
and Chara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Caine gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Caine tries to avoid it but Chara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Caine to the ground. Caine escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zdeno Chara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caine darts in trying to clinch

and Chara moves into the clinch.
Caine tries to break the clinch but Chara is controlling the position.

Chara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caine moves in looking to clinch but Chara pushes him off.
Chara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Caine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Chara's sensitive parts.
Caine lands a nice looking body kick.

Caine moves into range and clinches up with Chara.
Caine wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chara has him pressed against the cage.
Chara wants a takedown.
Chara tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Caine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Billy Caine's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Caine goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Chara doesn't manage to clinch there - Caine circles away.
Caine throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
Caine stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Billy Caine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Caine throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Chara throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Caine.
Caine throws a head kick that misses.
Caine is looking to clinch.
Chara is looking to clinch.
Chara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Caine gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Caine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Caine throws a head kick that misses

and Chara counters by clinching up.

Chara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Caine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chara.
Chara tries to clinch there but Caine circles away.
Caine tries a head kick but it misses.
Billy Caine seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Chara pushes Caine up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chara doesn't manage to clinch there - Caine circles away.
Caine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Caine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Caine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chara.

Chara pushes Caine up against the cage in a clinch.
Caine can't break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chara throws an elbow but misses.
Chara wants to break free but Caine has control.
Chara is looking to break free of the clinch but Caine has double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Caine.
Chara is looking to break free of the clinch but Caine has double underhooks.
Caine cracks Chara with a nice body shot.
Caine is trying to break free.
Chara is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Caine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

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.
Chara avoids the head kick by Caine.
Caine ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Caine throws a head kick that misses.
Chara wants to clinch up but Caine keeps it at a distance.
Caine throws the left hand but Chara avoids the punch easily.
Chara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caine throws a head kick but Chara moves out of range.
Caine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Caine throws a right hand that Chara ducks under and follows up with a left that Chara also avoids with ease.

Chara shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Chara showed some decent athleticism there.
Chara missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Chara is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Chara decides to stand up.
Caine has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caine misses with a head kick.
Caine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Chara takes the fight into the clinch.

Chara manages to break the clinch.
Chara is looking to clinch.
Caine tries to clinch but Chara moves out of range.
Caine misses with the combination.
Chara shoots in for a double leg but Caine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Caine throws a sloppy head kick and Chara moves out of range easily.

Chara moves into the clinch.

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.
Chara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Caine has him pressed against the cage.

Chara manages to break the clinch.
Caine throws a push kick but Chara slaps the foot to one side.
Caine tries to clinch up.
A nice combination there by Caine.
A head kick misses from Caine.
Caine tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chara paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Chara drives through and clinches with Caine against the cage.
Chara throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zdeno Chara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chara landing knees to the head.
Chara swings wildly with an uppercut but Caine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Caine wants to break the clinch but can't.

Chara breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Billy Caine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Caine swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Chara.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zdeno Chara showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Caine 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Caine!