PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darrell Fernandez (ranked 24931 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilja Kaspar (ranked 6024 p4p, 0 weight class). Ilja Kaspar told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Fernandez
vs
Kaspar

167 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

181 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrell Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilja Kaspar!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Fernandez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kaspar - the referee stops the clock and Fernandez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kaspar. Fernandez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ilja Kaspar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kaspar manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fernandez on his heels. He'll look to pass Fernandez's guard now, I'm sure.
Kaspar wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.
Fernandez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fernandez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaspar stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kaspar gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Fernandez counters with a takedown into side control.
Kaspar is trying to control Fernandez's posture but Fernandez avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez grinds an elbow into Kaspar's temple.
Kaspar trying his best to control but Fernandez has mounted him.
Kaspar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fernandez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fernandez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kaspar is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaspar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Fernandez unloading with bombs!

Fernandez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kaspar has worked his arm free - good work by Kaspar!
Kaspar taking a bit of punishment here - Fernandez scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez controlling from side mount.
Kaspar is trying to improve his position.

Fernandez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fernandez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kaspar is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fernandez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fernandez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fernandez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kaspar some visible discomfort.
Kaspar is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernandez controls the position.
Kaspar takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Fernandez stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kaspar looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fernandez!
Kaspar looking to control but instead Fernandez has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Kaspar trying to control the action but Fernandez is working from the bottom.
Fernandez is concentrating on defense, preventing Kaspar from advancing position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fernandez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kaspar is looking to take a break and control but Fernandez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fernandez is pressing down on Kaspar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrell Fernandez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernandez gets caught napping as Kaspar dives in and scores a takedown. Fernandez manages to retain guard.
Kaspar with a flurry of punches that miss.

Fernandez is working an open guard so Kaspar takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Fernandez gets caught flat footed, as Kaspar shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Fernandez has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kaspar is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Fernandez jumps guard and drags Kaspar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaspar throws an elbow that misses. Fernandez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kaspar's guard. Nice move by Fernandez!

Darrell Fernandez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kaspar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kaspar has his foot on Fernandez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fernandez works his way back into a safe position though.

Kaspar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kaspar is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandez stands up from Kaspar's guard - Fernandez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Fernandez shoots in and bounces Kaspar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fernandez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fernandez 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.
Fernandez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kaspar for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kaspar moves into the clinch.

Fernandez jumps into guard, dragging Kaspar to the mat.
Kaspar postures up and lands a big shot to Fernandez's brow.
Fernandez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kaspar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaspar trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaspar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fernandez is trying to keep Kaspar in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Fernandez tries to sprawl but Kaspar drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Fernandez has one foot on Kaspar's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kaspar tries to sprawl but Fernandez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrell Fernandez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kaspar scoring well with a low kick there.

Kaspar moves into range and clinches up with Fernandez.
Fernandez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kaspar.
Fernandez tries to pull guard but Kaspar forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Kaspar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fernandez uses from the top position.
Kaspar trying to control the position.
Kaspar wants to control but Fernandez passes easily into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaspar trying to control but Fernandez postures up.
Fernandez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fernandez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fernandez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kaspar can do to turn this around?
Kaspar wants to get back to full guard but Fernandez has passed into side control.
Fernandez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kaspar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fernandez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kaspar has escaped the position, nice work there.

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.
You can see the frustration on Kaspar's face as Fernandez controls the position.
Fernandez cracks Kaspar with a big right hand but Kaspar just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kaspar is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fernandez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Fernandez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kaspar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Kaspar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fernandez sprawls well initially but Kaspar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fernandez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fernandez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaspar preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez has Kaspar pulled in close to control his posture.
Kaspar looking to sit in guard and control but Fernandez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fernandez stands up from Kaspar's guard - Fernandez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fernandez looking to score a takedown here. Kaspar is defending well but Fernandez drives through and ends up in Kaspar's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darrell Fernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fernandez, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darrell Fernandez!
The defeated Ilja Kaspar had this to say: 'I lose, but it's a lesson'.