PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abretof Casnowi (ranked 5897 p4p, 6595 weight class) and Chris Finch (ranked 636 p4p, 679 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Casnowi
vs
Finch

189 cm
24
190
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
190
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abretof Casnowi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Finch!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch cracks Casnowi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Casnowi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A punch combination from Casnowi misses.

Casnowi moves into the clinch successfully.
Finch stalling.

Finch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Finch scores with a head kick.
Casnowi shoots in but no luck this time.
Finch scores with a jab.
Casnowi shoots in and drives through. Finch sprawls well.
Finch throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from Casnowi does no damage.
Despite the aggression on Finch's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Finch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Casnowi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Finch listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Finch misses with a body shot.
Casnowi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casnowi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Finch tries a head kick but it misses.
Finch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Casnowi under the eye.
Finch scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Casnowi doesn't seem bothered though.
Casnowi blocks a head kick by Finch.
Finch bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Casnowi's head backwards.
Finch throws a right and a left that Casnowi avoids nicely.
Casnowi checks a low kick from Finch.
No luck for Casnowi with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abretof Casnowi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finch lands a head kick!
Nice sprawl there from Finch as Casnowi shoots in.
Casnowi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Finch does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Finch tries a head kick but it misses.
Casnowi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Casnowi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Finch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Chris Finch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Casnowi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
No luck for Casnowi with that takedown attempt.
Casnowi looks to land a combination but Finch avoids it well.
Finch looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A left and a right from Finch both land. Nice combination.
Finch looks to score with a jab to the body but Casnowi is just out of range.
Finch scores with a hook to the body. Casnowi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Chris Finch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch tries a head kick but it misses.
Finch throws a nice inside leg kick.
Casnowi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Finch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice takedown defense from Finch. No joy for Casnowi on that attempt.
Casnowi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Finch.
Casnowi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Finch.
Finch goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Casnowi doesn't manage to clinch there - Finch circles away.
Finch throws a head kick that misses.
Casnowi is looking for a counter combo.
Casnowi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Finch. Finch obviously looking to wear him down.
Finch avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Finch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch's corner calls for a 1-2. Finch obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Finch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Casnowi.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finch misses with a wild combination.
Finch has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Finch. That's going to slow Casnowi down.

Casnowi darts in and clinches Finch up against the cage.
Finch working aggressively here.
Finch struggles to land a body shot inside as Casnowi controls his hands.
Finch is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Casnowi tries to score a body lock takedown but Finch shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Finch dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Casnowi moves in looking to clinch but Finch pushes him off.
Casnowi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Casnowi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Finch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Casnowi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Finch manages to circle out of the way.
Finch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Casnowi. Casnowi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Casnowi doesn't manage to clinch there - Finch circles away.
Finch lands the left hand.
Finch misses with a few strikes there.
Abretof Casnowi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Casnowi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finch.
Casnowi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Finch slips a jab and a cross from Casnowi.
Finch is looking for the big counter here.
Finch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Casnowi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casnowi misses with a two punch combination.
Casnowi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Finch paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Casnowi avoids the head kick by Finch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Casnowi closes the distance and pushes Finch back into the cage.
Casnowi tries to circle away but Finch has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Finch lands an uppercut.
Finch stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Casnowi has Finch pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Finch manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Casnowi throws an elbow that misses.

Finch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Casnowi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Finch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casnowi moves away.
Casnowi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Finch. Those never looked like landing.
Finch throws a nice looking combination but Casnowi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Finch feints and then cracks Casnowi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Casnowi down.
Casnowi avoids the head kick by Finch.
Casnowi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Casnowi.
Finch lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Finch goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Casnowi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Finch pinned against the cage. Finch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abretof Casnowi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Finch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Casnowi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Finch throws a lazy head kick

and Casnowi counters with a shoot takedown. Finch fights it but they end up in guard.
Finch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Casnowi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Finch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Casnowi is aware though and is defending well.

Finch is working an open guard so Casnowi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Chris Finch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finch misses the shot to the body.
Jab from Finch.
A head kick by Finch misses

and Casnowi moves into the clinch.
Casnowi is trying to force a seperation but Finch has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Finch.
Finch struggles to land a body shot inside as Casnowi controls his hands.

Finch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Finch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Casnowi throws a right and a left that Finch avoids nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Casnowi scores with a four punch combination!
Casnowi takes one to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Finch. Those never looked like landing.
Finch tries a head kick but it misses.
Finch is breathing heavily.
Finch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A counter left hand to the body from Casnowi misses its target.
Finch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Casnowi was well out of range. Poor timing from Finch.
Casnowi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Casnowi tries to close the distance and clinch but Finch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finch throws a big counter head kick but Casnowi avoids it with no problem.
Casnowi tries to bum rush Finch with a series of wild strikes but Finch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Finch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Finch connects with a high kick.
Finch thuds his shin into the meat of Casnowi's side.
Casnowi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Finch circles away quickly and effectively.
A left lands for Finch.
Finch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finch throws a jab but it's blocked by Casnowi.
Finch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Casnowi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Finch misses with a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Casnowi or perhaps it was just good defense by Finch, which made it look bad.
Casnowi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Finch circles away.
Finch throws a leg kick that misses.
Casnowi avoids the head kick by Finch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casnowi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Finch as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abretof Casnowi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Casnowi.
Finch takes a swing at Casnowi's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Finch misses.
Finch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Finch lands a jab to Casnowi's midsection.
Casnowi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Casnowi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Finch shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Casnowi eats them both and turns towards Finch to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Casnowi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Finch but Finch pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Casnowi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Casnowi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Casnowi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Casnowi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Finch.
Casnowi misses with a right hand
and Finch counters with a nice low kick that buckles Casnowi's knee momentarily.
Finch throws a sloppy head kick and Casnowi moves out of range easily.
Finch bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Casnowi's head backwards.
Finch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Casnowi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Finch defends it nicely.
Finch lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casnowi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Finch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finch dodges the punch combination from Casnowi.
Casnowi misses with a looping left.
Finch connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Casnowi's hands.
Casnowi misses with a few strikes there.
Casnowi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Finch counters with a slapping leg kick.
Casnowi darts in trying to clinch
and Finch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chris Finch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Casnowi eats them both and turns towards Finch to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Finch's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Finch duly obliges.
Casnowi moves out of range of the body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finch keeps the fight on the outside.
Some wild striking there from Casnowi.
Finch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finch. Casnowi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Casnowi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jab, jab by Finch - just one landing.
Abretof Casnowi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finch lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Finch slips a jab and a cross from Casnowi.
As Casnowi backs off Finch throws a huge counter combo but Casnowi manages to avoid it all.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Finch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Finch winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Finch!
Chris Finch was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.