PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Potempkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristoffer Rangel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Igor Potempkin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Potempkin
vs
Rangel

189 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Potempkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cristoffer Rangel!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Rangel.
Rangel misses with a two punch combination.
Potempkin throws a nice outside leg kick.

Potempkin scores a takedown into full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rangel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rangel working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rangel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rangel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rangel blocking the ground and pound.
Rangel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Potempkin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Potempkin wants to control the pace but Rangel is squirming around nicely.

Potempkin is going olschool here, as he tries to force Rangel to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rangel shrugs it off.
Potempkin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rangel is trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potempkin unloading with bombs!
Rangel working to try and regain half guard.
Potempkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rangel wants to get back to his feet.
Potempkin throwing strikes here but Rangel is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rangel wants to hold on but Potempkin pushes him away.
Potempkin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Potempkin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Potempkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rangel is looking to escape.
Potempkin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Potempkin thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rangel wants to hold on but Potempkin pushes him away.
BOOM! Potempkin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Potempkin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rangel is looking to improve his position but Potempkin isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Potempkin content just to control the position here.
Potempkin is breathing heavily.
Rangel tries to hold on but Potempkin postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potempkin 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.
Potempkin throwing strikes here but Rangel is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Potempkin is landing with some decent strikes but Rangel is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Potempkin with shots to the head and body - Rangel looks very uncomfortable down there.
Potempkin lands with some strikes.
Potempkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Potempkin won't let Rangel get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rangel is desperately trying to improve his position but Potempkin has a good base and remains in mount.
Rangel wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Potempkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Potempkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rangel manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rangel is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potempkin prevents Rangel from standing back up.
Potempkin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rangel trying to control but Potempkin postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rangel tries to get to full guard but Potempkin has control of the leg.
Potempkin is trying to control. Rangel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Potempkin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rangel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Potempkin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rangel misses with a few strikes there.
Rangel looks to land a combination but Potempkin avoids it well.
Potempkin avoids the head kick by Rangel.

Potempkin gets the takedown into side control.
Rangel is looking for a sweep.
Potempkin landing a few strikes.
Potempkin working the head and body with strikes.
Rangel is pushing Potempkin's head away, looking to escape. Potempkin manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Potempkin trying to control the position but Rangel is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potempkin tries to score with some ground and pound. Rangel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rangel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Potempkin.
Rangel throws a head kick that misses.
Potempkin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rangel circles away.
Cristoffer Rangel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rangel misses with a two punch combination.
Rangel throws a sloppy head kick and Potempkin moves out of range easily.
Potempkin shoots in for a takedown but Rangel shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Rangel misses.
Rangel tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rangel misses with a few strikes there.
Rangel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rangel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Potempkin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rangel.
Rangel throws a head kick but Potempkin moves out of range.
Rangel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rangel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Potempkin.
Rangel walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rangel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Potempkin's head.
Rangel misses with a head kick.
Rangel throws a push kick but Potempkin slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rangel throws a head kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Rangel.
Rangel throws a chopping leg kick but Potempkin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Potempkin fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Potempkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rangel throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Rangel.
Rangel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Potempkin connects with a solid leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rangel!
Rangel throws a sloppy head kick
and Potempkin finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rangel falls off balance throwing a combination

and Potempkin counters with a takedown into side control.

Potempkin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rangel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rangel wants to control but Potempkin postures up.
Rangel tries to buck Potempkin off but Potempkin is having none of it.
Potempkin lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Potempkin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Potempkin lands a few punches from side control.
Potempkin in side control, throwing shots but Rangel defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Potempkin dominated that second round.
That's time! Potempkin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rangel misses with a combination

and Potempkin counters with a takedown into side control.
Rangel wants to get back to his feet but Potempkin drags him back down.
Potempkin misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Potempkin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rangel avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Potempkin.
Potempkin working the ground and pound from side control.
Potempkin in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rangel defending against the ground and pound.
A control attempt from Rangel but he's now mounted!
Potempkin won't let Rangel get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potempkin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rangel hang on?
Potempkin unloads with some shots from mount but Rangel bucks and avoids them well.
Rangel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Potempkin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rangel wants to hold on but Potempkin pushes him away.
Potempkin looking to finish with strikes here!
Rangel is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Potempkin landing strikes from the mount.
Rangel taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rangel wants to control but Potempkin is having none of it.
Igor Potempkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Potempkin looking to finish Rangel with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rangel!
Potempkin thowing shots but they're missing.
Rangel is desperately trying to improve his position but Potempkin has a good base and remains in mount.
Rangel wants to hold on but Potempkin pushes him away.
Potempkin breaks from Rangel's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Potempkin lands a big shot there that rocks Rangel but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Potempkin avoids the attempt from Rangel to control.
Potempkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rangel is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potempkin punching from mount but Rangel doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Potempkin misses with a head shot.
Rangel tries to reverse the position but Potempkin maintains control.
Potempkin lands with some strikes.
Rangel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Potempkin.
Rangel tries to lock up and control but Potempkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Potempkin controlling the pace for now.
Potempkin misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Potempkin lands a nice shot to the head.
Rangel blocking the ground and pound.
Potempkin throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Potempkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rangel is looking to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Potempkin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Potempkin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Potempkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cristoffer Rangel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Igor Potempkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rangel holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Potempkin tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Potempkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Potempkin, 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Potempkin!