PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terlajak Laris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Terlajak Laris will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Butler
vs
Laris

155 cm
21
151 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

181 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dirk Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Terlajak Laris!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laris tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Butler counters with a solid body kick.
Butler could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Laris closes the distance but Butler moves to the side

and Butler counters by moving into the clinch.
Butler is trying to break the clinch but Laris is controlling him.
A short right from Butler.
Laris is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Laris just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Laris to keep the fight standing.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Laris just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Butler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butler tries to pull guard but Laris won't allow it.

Butler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laris wants to clinch but Butler slips to the side
and Butler counters with an inside leg kick.
Laris tries to clinch but Butler moves away
and Butler counters with a head kick. That will keep Laris thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Laris moves to clinch but Butler breaks away
and Butler counters with a body kick.
Laris tries to clinch
and Butler counters with a low kick, right behind Laris 's knee.
Laris tries to clinch
and Butler counters with a solid body kick.
Laris lands a nice shot that snaps Butler's head back.
Butler tries to move into range but Laris moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Laris tries to clinch up

and Butler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Butler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laris's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler wants to get back to striking at distance but Laris won't allow it.

Butler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laris has his takedown stuffed

and Butler holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Butler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Butler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Laris tries to clinch but Butler moves away
and Butler counters with a good low kick that Laris was not able to check.
Laris closes the distance but Butler moves to the side
and Butler counters with a left and a right that stings Laris.
Laris tries to clinch but Butler moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laris closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Butler regains half guard.
Butler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Laris missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Butler wants to improve his position but Laris is controlling well.
Laris not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Butler flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Laris landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Laris thows a huge punch but Butler dodges it nicely.
Laris thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Laris wants to work for an arm triangle but Butler is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Butler flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Laris throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Laris wants to take a breather but Butler is having none of it.
Butler slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Laris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Butler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laris can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Butler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Laris doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Laris manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Laris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laris postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Laris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Laris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Butler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laris.
Laris missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Laris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Laris looks winded!
Butler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laris as he avoids it easily.
Laris looks to clinch
and Butler counters with a three punch combo that has Laris backing up. Laris nods at Butler to acknowledge the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice shot lands for Laris.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Butler dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Laris closes the distance looking to clinch
and Butler counters with a nice body kick.
Laris tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Butler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Butler.
Laris is trying to pull guard but Butler has him pressed against the cage.
Laris lands with a right to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler is trying to push Laris away but Laris has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Butler leaning against his opponent.
Butler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laris's efforts to push away.
Butler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laris tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Butler just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Laris fails to land.
Butler tries to pull guard but Laris forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Butler is looking to break free of the clinch but Laris has double underhooks.
Butler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Laris walks away with a smile on his face. Butler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Laris tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Butler counters with a series of strikes. Laris will be more careful next time no doubt.
Laris wants to clinch but Butler slips to the side
and Butler counters with a thumping low kick.
Dirk Butler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laris misses with a takedown attempt
and Butler counters with a left and a right that stings Laris.
Dirk Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terlajak Laris.
Laris is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laris can do to turn this around?
Laris tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Butler counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laris closes the distance but Butler moves to the side

and Butler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Butler.
Laris being controlled against the cage.
Butler tries to pull guard but Laris holds him up against the cage and eventually Butler drops back down to his feet.
Laris is trying to break the clinch but Butler is controlling him.
Butler throws a punch but it's blocked by Laris.
Butler wants to break the clinch but can't.

Butler breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laris moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Laris looks to clinch

and Butler counters by moving into the clinch.
Butler can't break the clinch.
Laris letting Butler take a breather here.
Butler jumps guard but Laris stands there with Butler around his waist. Butler gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Laris is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Butler pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Butler tries to land knees in the clinch but Laris avoids the damage to the body.

Butler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laris closes the distance but Butler moves to the side

and Butler moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler stops a takedown attempt from Laris.
Butler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Butler is stalling here.
Laris is trying to force a seperation but Butler has the dominant position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Laris lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laris is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Butler avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Butler dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Laris looks to clinch
and Butler counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Laris moves to clinch but Butler breaks away
and Butler counters with a two punch combo.
Laris wants to clinch up but Butler keeps it at a distance.
Laris shoots for a takedown but Butler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Butler stuffs the takedown attempt from Laris. Laris gets slowly back to his feet.
Butler gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Laris.

It looks like Dirk Butler has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laris tries to clinch up
and Butler counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laris darts in trying to clinch

and Butler holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The referee calls for Butler to work.

Butler breaks from the clinch.

Butler instigates a clinch.
Butler jumps guard but Laris stands there with Butler around his waist. Butler gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Butler has had enough of the clinch but Laris keeps him there for the moment.

Laris decides to pull guard.
Laris is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Laris is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Laris trying to keep a closed guard but Butler is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler stops Laris from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Butler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Butler circles away from the clinch attempt

and Butler holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Laris misses with a punch on the inside.
Butler is trying to pull guard but Laris turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Butler tries to circle away but Laris has him pinned against the cage.
Laris tries to break the clinch but Butler is controlling the position.
Terlajak Laris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Laris goes for a takedown attempt but Butler pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dirk Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terlajak Laris.
Laris throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Butler's waist but Butler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laris off to one side.
Laris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laris tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Butler counters with a two punch combo.
Laris shoots for a takedown but Butler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laris shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Butler counters by moving into the clinch.
Dirk Butler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Butler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Butler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Butler, 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Butler!