PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Randleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunner Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Randleman
vs
Armstrong

160 cm
22
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kevin Randleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gunner Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Randleman scores with a takedown into Armstrong's guard.
Randleman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Armstrong can do anything to dispel that myth.
Randleman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Randleman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Randleman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Randleman postures up in Armstrong's guard and throws a big left but Armstrong blocks it.
Randleman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Randleman stands up over Armstrong, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Randleman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Randleman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Armstrong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Randleman wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.
Randleman distracts Armstrong with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randleman prevents Armstrong from getting back to his feet.
Randleman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Randleman wants to pass the guard but Armstrong is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Randleman thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Randleman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Randleman is looking to work some ground and pound but Armstrong has wrist control.
Armstrong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Randleman is controlling him.
Randleman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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.
Randleman wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.
Randleman really is a fat lump.
Armstrong looks gassed!
Randleman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Armstrong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Randleman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Randleman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Armstrong circles away.
Randleman shoots in for a takedown but Armstrong shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Randleman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Randleman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Armstrong.
Randleman shoots in for a takedown but Armstrong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Armstrong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Randleman backs up against the cage.
Armstrong stuffs the takedown.

Armstrong gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Armstrong stalls from top position.

Armstrong stands up and beckons Randleman to his feet.

Armstrong throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Randleman was covering up waiting for the punch and Armstrong finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Randleman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong trying to control but Randleman is working from the bottom.
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 Kevin Randleman will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Armstrong misses with a double jab.
Randleman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Armstrong counters by clinching up.
Randleman has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Armstrong avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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

Randleman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armstrong is trying to defend but Randleman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Randleman throwing shots but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Randleman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Randleman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Randleman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randleman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Randleman lands with a punch from half guard.
Randleman thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Armstrong to regain full guard.
Randleman throwing strikes from guard but Armstrong blocks nicely.
Randleman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Randleman landing some decent shots from guard.
Randleman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Randleman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Armstrong looking to control.
Randleman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Randleman throwing shots but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Armstrong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Randleman lands strikes from half guard.
Randleman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Armstrong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Randleman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Randleman not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Randleman connects with a nice short shot to Armstrong's temple.
Randleman thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Armstrong to regain full guard.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Randleman from controlling successfully.
Randleman postures up in Armstrong's guard and throws a big left but Armstrong blocks it.
Randleman wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Armstrong has his takedown stuffed

and Randleman counters with a takedown into side control.
Randleman is putting a hurting on Armstrong here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kevin Randleman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Randleman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randleman lands a nice forearm strike.
Randleman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Randleman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Randleman goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Armstrong has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Randleman but great work by Armstrong.
Randleman wants to get back to his feet but Armstrong drags him back down.
Randleman stops Armstrong from passing to mount.

Randleman throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Randleman dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Armstrong pushes Randleman up against the cage in a clinch.

Randleman has picked Armstrong up - he's going for a ride! Randleman dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Armstrong blocking the ground and pound attempt from Randleman.
Armstrong trying to control but Randleman postures up.
Randleman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Armstrong regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Randleman.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Randleman from controlling successfully.
Randleman thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randleman is in close to Armstrong's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Randleman thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Randleman gets a takedown into half guard.
Armstrong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Randleman.
Randleman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Armstrong's head.
Randleman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Randleman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Armstrong's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is staying active underneath Randleman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Randleman is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Armstrong is just riding it out for now. Randleman eventually gives up the hold.
Armstrong blocking the ground and pound attempt from Randleman.
Armstrong is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Randleman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Armstrong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Randleman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Randleman tries for a takedown but Armstrong circles away easily

and Armstrong counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Armstrong stops Randleman from getting back to his feet.
Armstrong trying to mount his opponent but Randleman defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randleman is looking to escape.
Gunner Armstrong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kevin Randleman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Armstrong seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kevin Randleman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Randleman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Randleman!