PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Linic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Linic
vs
Campbell

191 cm
31
262 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

215 cm
24
285 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Rebel Pride Clothing. (Death Before Dishonor) $8 S

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mario Linic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rashad Campbell!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping body kick lands there for Linic.
Campbell wants to clinch up but Linic keeps it at a distance.
Campbell tries to clinch up.
Linic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Campbell tries to avoid it but Linic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Campbell to the ground. Campbell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Linic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Campbell avoids it really well and circles away.
Campbell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Linic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Linic lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campbell tries to clinch there but Linic circles away.
Campbell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Linic swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
Linic is looking to clinch but Campbell is avoiding it.
Campbell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Linic throws a good cross that connects.
Nice body punch from Campbell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Campbell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Campbell looks gassed!

Linic moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Campbell goes down! Can Linic finish him!?

Campbell is rocked!

It looks like Rashad Campbell has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Campbell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Campbell is still in real trouble! Can Linic finish him?
Linic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Campbell seems to have recovered his senses.
Campbell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Campbell keeping moving, preventing Linic from controlling successfully.
Linic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Linic throwing strikes but missing.
Linic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linic is pushing down on Campbell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Campbell is fighting to maintain full guard but Linic has managed to sneak the leg through.
Campbell is staying active underneath Linic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Campbell pushes Linic off looking to stand but Linic dives back in and keeps control.
Campbell is not content to let Linic control the position.
Linic wants to pass the guard but Campbell is defending well.
Linic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Campbell defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Campbell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Linic seems to be working for a kimura but Campbell defends the submission attempt.
Linic controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Linic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Linic controlling the action here.
Campbell wants to get back to his feet.
Linic trying to pass the guard but Campbell defending well.
Nice strikes from Linic there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Linic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Campbell!
Linic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Campbell is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Linic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rashad Campbell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Linic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Campbell but Campbell pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Linic tries to keep at a distance but Campbell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Linic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Linic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Linic turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Linic manages to end up in side control.

Linic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Campbell has escaped the position, nice work there.
The strikes coming from Linic are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Campbell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Linic asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mario Linic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Linic tries to move into full mount but can't pass Campbell's legs.
Linic laying and praying for a moment but Campbell takes advantage and regains half guard.

Linic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Linic 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linic wants to take a breather but Campbell is having none of it.
Linic is looking to advance position but Campbell won't allow it.
Campbell looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Linic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Campbell won't allow Linic to pass to mount.
Linic trying to control from half guard but Campbell is working away.

Linic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Linic is working for a kimura but Campbell is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Linic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rashad Campbell's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch but Linic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Campbell is looking to clinch but Linic is avoiding it.
Linic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Campbell circles away.
Campbell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Linic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Campbell can do to turn this around?
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Linic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Linic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rashad Campbell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Campbell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Campbell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Linic manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Linic is defended easily by Campbell.
Linic cracks Campbell with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Linic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Linic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Campbell bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Linic's head.
Campbell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Linic thows a body shot but no joy.

Linic forces Campbell back against the cage and clinches.
Linic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Campbell avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Campbell stops a takedown attempt from Linic.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Linic looking for a takedown.
Linic can't get the takedown.
Campbell digs a right hand into Linic's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Linic's gas tank.
Rashad Campbell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Campbell.
A short right from Campbell on the inside.
Campbell tries to work over Linic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Campbell.
Campbell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Linic backwards.
Linic has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Campbell after a bit of a struggle.
Campbell lands with a short shot to the head.
Linic misses with the head strike.
Campbell lands a left hand.
Campbell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Campbell lands a right hand.
Campbell scores with a shot to the side of Linic's head.
A shot in the inside from Campbell.

Linic is rocked!

It looks like Mario Linic has been cut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Campbell.
Oh Linic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Campbell lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Campbell throws a big uppercut that drops Linic! More strikes from Campbell and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Linic lies dazed against the cage as Campbell celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rashad Campbell!
In his post fight interview, Rashad Campbell started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.