PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuris Margarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Margarin's entrance music is Epic by Faith No More. A fine choice. 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.

Margarin
vs
Andre

167 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients
{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yuris Margarin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Andre!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Margarin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Andre.
Margarin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Margarin, as that shot connected.
Andre connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Margarin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Andre.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Margarin.
Andre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Margarin.
Margarin throws a series of punches but Andre moves out of range.
Margarin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Andre.

Margarin forces Andre back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andre's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andre throws a series of punches but Margarin moves out of range.
Margarin shoots in for a double leg but Andre sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuris Margarin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Margarin throws out a loose jab but Andre uses good head movement to avoid it.
Andre throws a combination. Margarin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Andre throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Andre thows a left - swing and a miss!
Margarin throws a combination that misses
and Andre counters with a stiff right hand.

Margarin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Margarin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Andre gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Andre prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Andre takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Margarin manages to pull guard.
Andre passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Andre is looking to take a break and control but Margarin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Margarin is looking to improve his position.
Margarin is working hard here to advance position.

Andre is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Margarin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Margarin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margarin trying to hold on to Andre's head to control him but Andre postures up.
Margarin wants to improve his position but Andre is controlling well.
Andre stalling away here and it's allowed Margarin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Margarin working a defensive guard here.

Andre 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.
Margarin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Andre throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Margarin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Andre was covering up waiting for the punch and Margarin finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Andre looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Margarin looking to pass the guard.
Margarin trying to control but Andre is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Andre looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Andre had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Margarin defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Andre dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Margarin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Margarin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Margarin working Andre over with strikes here.
Margarin trying to control but Andre is having none of it.
Margarin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Andre on the ground.
Margarin prevents Andre from getting the reversal.
Margarin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Margarin avoids the attempt from Andre to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Margarin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Margarin has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Andre's face.
Andre holds of for dear life.
Andre working to try and regain half guard.
Andre tries to hold on but Margarin postures up.
Margarin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Andre wants to control but Margarin is having none of it.
Andre is bucking up trying to escape but Margarin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margarin wants to control the pace but Andre is squirming around nicely.
Andre tries to hold on but Margarin postures up.
Margarin prevents Andre from getting the reversal.
Margarin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Margarin.
Andre sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Margarin wants to pass the guard but Andre is defending well.
Andre works his way to full guard. Good work.
Andre 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.
Andre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Margarin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margarin scoring with some ground and pound.
Andre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Andre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Margarin manages to get himself to full guard.
Andre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Margarin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Andre won't allow Margarin to sweep him here.
Margarin is trying to keep Andre in close.
Andre wants to control from the top but Margarin keeps moving.
Andre tries to free his leg and advance position but Margarin is retaining full guard.
Andre slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Andre is breathing heavily.
Margarin can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margarin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Andre throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Margarin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Andre trying to control here.
Margarin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Margarin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuris Margarin dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Margarin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Andre counters with a one-two to the body.
Alex Andre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Margarin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Andre blocks a jab.
Andre jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Margarin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Andre misses with an uppercut.

Margarin feints and as Andre raises his hands in defense, Margarin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Margarin wants to control from the top but Andre keeps moving.
Margarin throws and elbow that misses. Andre uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Margarin's guard. Nice move by Andre!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margarin keeping moving, preventing Andre from controlling successfully.
Andre advances to half guard.
Margarin is refusing to be controlled, as Andre sits in half guard.
Margarin wants to improve his position but Andre is controlling well.

Andre is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Margarin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Margarin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Margarin missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Margarin keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Andre is looking to take a break and control but Margarin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Margarin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Margarin is looking to improve his position.

Andre is looking for a kimura but Margarin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Andre to get the leverage.
Andre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Margarin wants to control but Andre is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Andre swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre looks to land a combination but Margarin avoids it well.
Margarin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Andre paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Margarin wants to clinch up but Andre keeps it at a distance.
Andre digs a good hook to Margarin's body.
Margarin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Andre misses the target.
Andre misses with a double jab.

Margarin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre trying to hold on to Margarin's head to control him but Margarin postures up.
Margarin is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Andre reverses the position - he's now on top in Margarin's guard.
Andre looking to sit in guard and control but Margarin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Andre had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Margarin defends it easily.
Margarin is looking to work some ground and pound but Andre has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Andre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Andre 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Andre!