PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Radu Dracul (ranked 131 p4p, 230 weight class) and Arto Jarvinen (ranked 24 p4p, 34 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dracul
vs
Jarvinen

190 cm
34
202
30 - 10 - 0

185 cm
34
215
24 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Black Lab Clothing

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 30 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Radu Dracul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arto Jarvinen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jarvinen scores with a hook to the body. Dracul takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jarvinen cracks Dracul with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jarvinen.
Jarvinen throws a sloppy body shot

and Dracul counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dracul tries to pass to full mount but Jarvinen defends it.

Dracul is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dracul not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Dracul is trying to work for a kimura but Jarvinen is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dracul seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dracul works his foot free and advances to mount.
Dracul misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Dracul raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dracul goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Jarvinen is on top in guard.
Jarvinen advances to half guard.
Dracul slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dracul seems keen to control Jarvinen's posture.
Jarvinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dracul is keeping the position for now.
Dracul wants to sweep here but Jarvinen controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul is working hard here to advance position.
Jarvinen wants to control from the top but Dracul keeps moving.
Dracul has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jarvinen has passed into side control.
Dracul can't do much from the bottom here.
Dracul is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Dracul's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jarvinen passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Dracul!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dracul wants to hold on but Jarvinen pushes him away.
Jarvinen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dracul can't escape the position.
Dracul sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Dracul wants to improve his position but Jarvinen is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Radu Dracul will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dracul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jarvinen.
Jarvinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dracul moves away.
Dracul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jarvinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
A big left from Jarvinen misses.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
Dracul looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jarvinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dracul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jarvinen throws a looping overhand right but Dracul ducks down to avoid it.
Dracul ducks under a wild hook from Jarvinen.
A big left from Jarvinen misses.
Dracul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarvinen lands with a cross.
Jarvinen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jarvinen works the jab nicely.
Jarvinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dracul manages to avoid it.
Dracul avoids the body shot from Jarvinen.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jarvinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Dracul is just out of range.
Dracul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dracul has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Jarvinen finds it's way round the side to connect with Dracul's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Jarvinen misses.
Jarvinen throws a lazy uppercut

and Dracul counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dracul controlling from side mount.
Dracul works to advance to full mount. Jarvinen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dracul misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Dracul is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Jarvinen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Jarvinen!
Dracul has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul trying to keep a closed guard but Jarvinen is proving a slippery customer.
Dracul tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Dracul is looking for a triangle but Jarvinen pushes his legs off easily.
Jarvinen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dracul seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Jarvinen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dracul has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jarvinen has managed to get both his arms back between Dracul's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dracul 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.
Dracul working a defensive guard here.
Dracul wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jarvinen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dracul trying to keep a closed guard but Jarvinen is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arto Jarvinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jarvinen misses with a body shot.
Dracul moves away from the strike by Jarvinen.
Jarvinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Dracul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Arto Jarvinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dracul avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dracul drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jarvinen sprawls and moves away.
Dracul slips under a jab from Jarvinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jarvinen misses with a lunging right hand

and Dracul counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dracul trying to control the action but Jarvinen is working from the bottom.
Jarvinen is trying to maintain the position but Dracul is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dracul tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jarvinen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dracul slips a nice elbow through Jarvinen's hands, connecting with Jarvinen's forehead.
Still in half guard, Dracul seems content to control.
Dracul is thwarting Jarvinen's attempts to control the position.
Jarvinen controlling the position for now.

Dracul is working for a submission of some sort.
Dracul throws a strike but Jarvinen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dracul wants to control from the top but Jarvinen keeps moving.
Jarvinen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jarvinen keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Dracul works over Jarvinen with some ground and pound from guard.
Dracul wants to control from the top but Jarvinen keeps moving.
Dracul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jarvinen looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Dracul avoids the body shot from Jarvinen.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jarvinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dracul moves away.
Dracul drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jarvinen sprawls and moves away.
Jarvinen swings for the body but Dracul moves out of range.
Jarvinen misses the jab.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
Dracul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jarvinen.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
Jarvinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dracul.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

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.
Jarvinen throws an off balance right hand

and Dracul counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Dracul is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jarvinen defends it well.
Dracul wants to take a breather but Jarvinen is having none of it.
Dracul is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Dracul seems to be working for a kimura but Jarvinen defends the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Dracul seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Radu Dracul showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dracul has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Radu Dracul!
After winning the bout, Radu Dracul thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.