PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sterling French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ro Nin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think French might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Cemetery Gates-Pantera. Ro Nin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

French
vs
Nin

175 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sterling French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ro Nin!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nin shoots in but French avoids the takedown attempt easily.

French instigates a clinch.

French pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nin shoots in and drives through. French sprawls well.
Nin shoots in for a takedown but French shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sterling French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ro Nin.

Nin shoots in and bounces French off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. French swivels though and keeps the full guard.

French looking for a guillotine here but Nin defends easily.
Nin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. French swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French looking for a sweep. Not yet French, not yet.
Nin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. French is keeping the position for now.
Nin trying to control but French is working from the bottom.
Nin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. French swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
French keeping moving, preventing Nin from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Nin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two 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.

Nin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but French is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
French struggling a bit here.
Nin is looking to take a break and control but French is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nin moves into full mount!
French tries to lock up and control but Nin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Nin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and French is now in Nin's guard. A big mistake from Nin there, giving up the dominant position!
French throws a big right hand that misses.
French wants to control from the top but Nin keeps moving.
French tries to free his leg and advance position but Nin is retaining full guard.
French won't allow Nin to sweep him here.
French pushes down on Nin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nin wants to control but French is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nin is refusing to be controlled, as French sits in half guard.
French is pressing down on Nin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nin is holding on for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nin misses with a takedown attempt - French sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
French keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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

Nin got a little sloppy there for a moment and French has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nin has managed to get both his arms back between French's legs - danger averted.
French keeping full guard, as Nin tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ro Nin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nin tries to score a power double leg takedown but French sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nin somewhat.

French gets caught flat footed, as Nin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
French keeping full guard, as Nin tries to pass.
Nin trying to control but French is working from the bottom.
Nin passes French's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nin sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nin seems to be working for a kimura but French defends the submission attempt.

Nin is working for a kimura here but French manages to reverse the position and he's now in Nin's guard.
Nin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two 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.
Nin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
French is looking to improve his position but Nin isn't that keen on the idea.
French really wants to buck Nin off and get back to his feet.

French defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nin.
French sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nin wants to work for an arm triangle but French is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Nin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, French has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nin is breathing heavily.
Nin trying to control the action but French is working from the bottom.
Nin wants to pass to mount but French is defending the position.

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.
Nin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

French actively working from the bottom here.
Nin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for French!

Nin has control of French's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and French regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nin has hold of French's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and French manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ro Nin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

French moves into the clinch successfully.

French breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as French sprawls well. French wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nin gets slowly back to his feet.

Nin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Nin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, French has worked his arm free - good work by French!
Nin has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Nin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nin working for a submission but French is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French working to try and regain half guard.
French is squirming around, avoiding Nin's attempts to control the action.

Nin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, French has worked his arm free - good work by French!
Nin is looking to take a break and control but French is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Nin laying and praying for a moment but French takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nin blocks the strikes from French.

French actively working from the bottom here.
Nin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nin trying to mount his opponent but French defends it.

Nin is trying to work for a kimura but French is defending well.

French looking for submissions off his back.
French wants to get back to full guard but Nin has passed into side control.

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.

Nin is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! French is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ro Nin!