PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between The Filipino Champ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Rang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for The Filipino Champ has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Filipino Champ
vs
Rang

175 cm
24
162 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
162 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, The Filipino Champ!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Van Rang!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Champ has his takedown stuffed

and Rang counters with a nice double leg into side control. Champ won't be happy with that.
Champ is trying to improve his position.
Champ looks to move to half guard but instead Rang has passed into mount! Damn!
Champ tries to reverse the position but Rang maintains control.
Rang controlling the pace for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rang in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Champ can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rang controlling his opponent.
Champ really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Champ is working hard here to advance position.
Champ regains half guard.
Champ tries to roll over but Rang keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Champ has a hand on Rang's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rang takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Champ really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rang tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Champ is wriggling around trying to escape.
Champ takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champ takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Champ taking shots to the head.
Champ is desperately trying to improve his position but Rang has a good base and remains in mount.
Rang landing punches.
Champ working to try and regain half guard.
Rang controlling from mount.
Champ manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rang scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rang in particular looking to stall.
Rang is pressing down on Champ's thigh, looking to free his foot. Champ is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Champ is looking to improve his position.
Champ wants to get back to his feet.
Rang sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Champ is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Champ actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Rang dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Champ misses with a takedown attempt

and Rang counters by clinching up.
Champ blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Champ is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rang is defending well.
Champ tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Filipino Champ. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Champ jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rang walks away with a smile on his face. Champ gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rang displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Champ.
Champ goes for a double leg but Rang avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rang continues to drive forward.
Champ tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rang defends well and Champ ends up having to push Rang into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rang throws a counter combo.
Champ misses with a takedown attempt - Rang sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Champ dives in and grabs Rang's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rang pushes down on Champ's head and hops out.
Champ shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rang counters with a shoot takedown. Champ fights it but they end up in guard.
Champ is looking to stand back up but Rang counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Champ.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Champ tries to roll over but Rang keeps him under control.
Champ is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rang scores with a couple of nice shots.
Still in half guard, Rang seems content to control.
Champ has hold of Rang's hands but Rang slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Champ is looking to improve his position.
Rang perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Champ is looking for a sweep. Rang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van Rang has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Champ slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Champ throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Champ looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rang passes into side control.
Rang staying calm.
Rang wants to stand but Champ has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rang thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Champ tries to improve position but can't.
Rang is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Champ's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rang is continuing to stall.
Rang working the ground and pound.
Champ is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Champ manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rang preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Champ lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Champ missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rang keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Champ is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Champ seems to be looking for submissions.
Champ drops an elbow to the side of Rang's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Rang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Champ shoots in but Rang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Champ tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rang swivels and escapes.
Champ tries for a takedown but Rang circles away easily

and Rang counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rang.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Filipino Champ. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Champ wants a takedown.
Champ has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rang after a bit of a struggle.

Rang gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rang is nestled in close to Champ, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rang prevents Champ from improving his position.
Rang stalling.
Rang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Let's hope that Rang has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champ works his way to full guard. Good work.

Champ isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rang stacks Champ on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rang!
Rang is chipping away with strikes.
Champ takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Van Rang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Champ is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rang gets to mount! Champ was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Champ is working to get back to half guard.
Rang looking to control and managing it successfully.
The adventures of Rang the control monster continue. Boring.
Champ regains half guard.
Champ moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rang controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The Filipino Champ has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rang got a little sloppy there for a moment and Champ has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rang has managed to get both his arms back between Champ's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rang tries to free his leg and advance position but Champ is retaining full guard.
Rang works over Champ with some ground and pound from guard.

Champ is looking for a triangle but Rang pushes his legs off easily.
Champ throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rang passes Champ's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Champ has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Rang escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Rang!

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Rang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rang has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Van Rang!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Van Rang!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Van Rang!

Van Rang wins by unanimous decision!
A less than humble Van Rang misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.