PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kelvin Handleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Handleman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pride FC Theme. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Armstrong
vs
Handleman

217 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Santiago Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kelvin Handleman!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handleman misses with a hook.

Handleman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Armstrong on his heels. He'll look to pass Armstrong's guard now, I'm sure.
Armstrong throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Armstrong manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Handleman manages to get himself to full guard.

Armstrong throws a big elbow that misses.
Armstrong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Armstrong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Handleman pushes Armstrong off and gets back to his feet.

Armstrong takes the fight into the clinch.
Handleman prevents Armstrong from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handleman stalls.
Armstrong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Handleman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Handleman is trying to trip Armstrong. He has hold of a leg but Armstrong is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Handleman persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Armstrong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Handleman's guard.

Armstrong lands a couple of digs.
Armstrong 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.
Handleman has momentary wrist control but Armstrong slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Handleman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Armstrong throws a big elbow that misses.
Armstrong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Armstrong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Armstrong postures up in Handleman's guard and throws a big left but Handleman blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handleman wants to stand and escape but Armstrong is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Handleman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Armstrong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Armstrong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Handleman is wriggling around but Armstrong manages to pass to half guard.
Armstrong lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Armstrong is looking for a kimura but Handleman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Armstrong to get the leverage.
Armstrong missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Handleman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Armstrong.
Armstrong scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Armstrong prevents Handleman from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Handleman as he works his way to full guard.
Armstrong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Handleman is looking to stand up but Armstrong isn't so interested in that idea.
Armstrong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Handleman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Armstrong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Handleman wants to stand and escape but Armstrong is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Handleman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armstrong is trying to defend but Handleman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Handleman lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Handleman lands a nice short elbow.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Handleman in particular looking to stall.
Handleman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Armstrong does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Handleman throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Armstrong to regain full guard.
Armstrong being controlled here, momentarily.
Armstrong is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Armstrong dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Handleman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Handleman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Handleman should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Armstrong manages to get back to half guard.
Handleman prevents Armstrong from standing back up.
Handleman trying to control the action but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Handleman thows a huge punch but Armstrong dodges it nicely.
Handleman lands a big elbow - Armstrong is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Handleman!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kelvin Handleman!
After winning the bout, Kelvin Handleman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.