PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nero Padilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). He arrived on a last minute flight shortly after looking tired and unhappy. Officials decided the fight should still take place, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nero Padilla and Ray Finkle. Padilla comes to the cage accompanied by Dead by Dawn by Deicide. 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.

Padilla
vs
Finkle

190 cm
29
195 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

193 cm
28
203 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

BeastMode

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nero Padilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ray Finkle!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Padilla thows a leg kick but Finkle checks it
and Finkle counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Padilla avoids the head kick by Finkle.
Finkle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ray Finkle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finkle throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Padilla fails in his attempt to clinch.
Padilla looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Finkle looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Finkle misses with a body punch
and Padilla counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A combination from Finkle does no damage.
Padilla avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Padilla misses with a leg kick
and Finkle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finkle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Padilla.
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!
Padilla ducks under a wild hook from Finkle.
Finkle scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Finkle.
Padilla jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Finkle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Padilla.
Finkle lands a slapping body shot.
Padilla tries a head kick but it misses.
A little jabbing left from Finkle on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Padilla there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A slow jab from Padilla misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Finkle.
Sloppy strikes from Padilla. Those never looked like landing.
Finkle misses with a few strikes there.
Finkle checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've been informed that Finkle has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Some wild striking there from Padilla.
Padilla paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Finkle digs a good body shot into Padilla's ribs.
Padilla uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Finkle.
Finkle throws out a loose jab but Padilla uses good head movement to avoid it.
A solid body kick from Finkle.
Finkle misses the shot to the body.
Padilla fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Finkle on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle moves out of range of the body kick from Padilla.
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!
Finkle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Padilla lands with a right hand.
Finkle misses with a looping left.
Padilla throws the kick towards the body but Finkle avoids it.
A slow jab from Finkle misses its intended target.
Finkle looks to land a right hand but Padilla moved out of range.
Finkle misses the jab.
Finkle tries a head kick but it misses.
Padilla throws a push kick but Finkle slaps the foot to one side.
Finkle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Padilla looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Padilla tries a head kick but it misses.
Finkle connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Finkle lands a leg kick that knocks Padilla off balance momentarily.
Finkle misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Padilla uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Finkle.
Padilla listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Finkle pivots, looking for a leg kick but Padilla is out of range and Finkle settles back down.
Padilla tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finkle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Padilla tries to land a body kick
and Finkle counters with a stiff right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Padilla as he connects with a hook.
Padilla goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Finkle lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A jab from Finkle misses.
Finkle throws a looping overhand right but Padilla ducks down to avoid it.
Padilla blocks a head kick by Finkle.
Finkle lands a slapping body shot.
Finkle does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Padilla misses with a kick to the body.
Finkle throws a series of punches but Padilla avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Padilla was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Padilla tries to keep at a distance but Finkle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Finkle trying to land knees to the body.
Finkle lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Padilla blocks the elbow strike.
Padilla tries to work over Finkle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Padilla misses with a punch on the inside.

Padilla jumps guard and drags Finkle to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Finkle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Finkle content to stall in guard here.

Finkle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finkle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Finkle dominated that round.
That's time! Padilla's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Padilla misses with a looping left.
Finkle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Finkle paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Finkle clobbers Padilla with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Finkle misses with an uppercut. Padilla saw that one coming.
Finkle thows a left - swing and a miss!
Finkle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Padilla.
Padilla throws out a loose jab but Finkle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Finkle misses with a leg kick.
Padilla throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finkle.
Finkle swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A decent looking cross lands there for Finkle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkle works the jab nicely.
A left lands for Finkle.
Padilla staying out of range there.
Finkle on the wrong end of a nice hook.
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!
Finkle cracks the inside of Padilla's front leg.
Padilla ducks under a wild hook from Finkle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Padilla.
Finkle throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Padilla on the side of the head.
Padilla lands with an uppercut that bounces Finkle off the cage and back into range.
Finkle throws a head kick that misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Finkle.
Finkle throws a hook but Padilla blocks it.
Ray Finkle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finkle lands a nice leg kick that just misses Padilla's sensitive parts.
Finkle lands with a kick to the temple. Padilla shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Padilla looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Finkle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Padilla throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Padilla darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Finkle throws a big shot that misses.
Padilla scores with a nice strike.
Finkle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finkle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla misses with an attempted mid kick.
Padilla feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Finkles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Padilla throws a hook but Finkle avoids it easily.
Padilla throws out a loose jab but Finkle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Padilla slips a straight right by Finkle.
Finkle takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Finkle lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Finkle throws a shot from downtown. Padilla moves away and avoids it.
Finkle cracks Padilla with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Padilla throws a poor cross that misses
and Finkle counters with a stiff right hand.
Finkle throws a push kick but Padilla slaps the foot to one side.
Padilla blocks the body kick.
Finkle shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Finkle pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Finkle slips a straight right by Padilla.
Padilla throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkle avoids a kick to the body.
Finkle throws a push kick but Padilla slaps the foot to one side.
Finkle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Padilla.
Finkle is trying to counter with his kicks.
Padilla throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Finkle lands a head kick!
Finkle swings away with a body shot that misses

and Padilla moves into the clinch.
Padilla throws a head punch that misses.
Padilla lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Padilla throws a punch but it's blocked by Finkle.
Finkle blocking some punches.
Finkle with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Padilla tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Padilla blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Finkle misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Padilla.
Finkle blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla throws a punch but it's blocked by Finkle.
Padilla dodges an elbow strike from Finkle.
Finkle looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Finkle has a couple of punches blocked by Padilla.
Finkle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Padilla dodges an elbow strike from Finkle.
A shot in the inside from Padilla.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Padilla throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Finkles head.
Padilla misses with some punches.
Padilla lands a body shot.
Padilla lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Finkle backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Finkle obliges.
Finkle misses with an elbow over the top.
Finkle unloads a knee to the mid-section. Padilla lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short right from Padilla on the inside.
Finkle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Padilla is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Finkle to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ray Finkle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Padilla fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Finkle checks it well.
Finkle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Padilla.
Finkle takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Padilla misses the target.
Finkle throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Padilla ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Padilla swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Finkle misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Padilla misses its intended target.
Despite the aggression on Finkle's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Finkle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla misses with a low kick.
Finkle tries to land a leg kick but Padilla saw it coming and moves away.
Padilla was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Finkle tests Padilla's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Finkle blocks a head kick by Padilla.
Finkle swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Finkle misses its intended target.
It appears Padilla was looking to counter with a kick there.
Finkle connects with a solid leg kick.
Padilla stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Finkle just misses with a punch to the body.
Finkle misses with a low kick.
Padilla scores with a punch to the head.
Padilla connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Finkle misses with a straight left.
It looked like Padilla wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Finkle throws a half hearted mid kick.
Finkle misses with a low kick.
Finkle will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Padilla getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Padilla throws a head kick but Finkle moves out of range.
Padilla throws a jab but it's blocked by Finkle.
A head kick misses from Finkle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla with a hook.
Padilla throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
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!
Padilla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finkle looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Finkle bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Finkle misses with a hook
letting Padilla counter with a right hand.
Padilla pivots, looking for a leg kick but Finkle is out of range and Padilla settles back down.
Finkle unleashes a big counter combination but Padilla bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Finkle takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Finkle tries a low kick but Padilla avoids it.
Padilla throws a big counter combination but Finkle scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Padilla throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finkle blocks a jab.
Padilla steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Finkle.
Finkle looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Padilla fires out a quick counter leg kick but Finkle just manages to avoid it.
Finkle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Padilla.
Padilla slips under a jab.
A clash of legs there as Finkle blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkle moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Finkle scores with a spinning back kick!
Padilla takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Finkle.
Nice defenses there by Finkle.
Padilla scores with a body shot.
A big left from Padilla misses.
Finkle takes a swing at Padilla's ribcage but misses.
Finkle tries to land a leg kick but Padilla saw it coming and moves away.
Padilla throws an overhand right that lands on Finkle's shoulder, as Finkle tries to avoid the shot.
Padilla moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Finkle stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Padilla throws a jab when Finkle was well out of range.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Finkle. Padilla shrugs it off though.
Finkle moves out of range as Padilla throws a body kick.
Finkle steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Padilla.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Padilla misses with a body kick.
Finkle misses with a left hand
and Padilla counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Finkle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Padilla misses with a takedown attempt
and Finkle counters with a straight right hand.
Finkle connects with a looping right hand.
Padilla misses with a hook.
Finkle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Padilla.
Finkle moves out of range as Padilla strikes.
Finkle misses the shot to the body.
Finkle lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Padilla takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Finkle lands with a kick to the temple. Padilla shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Finkle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Padilla goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Padilla misses with a wild combination.
Finkle is looking for the big counter here.

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 Nero Padilla.
I think Finkle 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Nero Padilla!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Ray Finkle!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Ray Finkle!

Ray Finkle wins by split decision!
Ray Finkle took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.