PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Todd Wattler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Tr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Wattler
vs
Tr

168 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Todd Wattler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maxim Tr!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wattler.
Wattler looks for a takedown but Tr sprawls well.
Tr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tr looks to clinch

and Wattler counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wattler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tr keeps working.
Tr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wattler tries to free his leg and advance position but Tr is retaining full guard.
Wattler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wattler trying to control the position from guard on top but Tr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wattler throws an elbow that misses. Tr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wattler's guard. Nice move by Tr!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr preventing the sweep.
Wattler wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tr is now in half guard.
Tr is keen to just control but Wattler is a slippery customer.

Tr is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wattler has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wattler keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wattler wants to get back to full guard.
Wattler keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wattler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tr is working away from the top position though.
Tr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wattler keeps working.
Wattler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wattler trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maxim Tr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Wattler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tr is trying to defend but Wattler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wattler is trying to control the action in half guard but Tr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tr regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wattler with a flurry of punches that miss.

Tr is looking for a triangle but Wattler pushes his legs off easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wattler trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tr manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

This has been an exciting period of action!
Tr looking to sit in guard and control but Wattler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wattler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wattler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wattler postures up in Tr's guard and throws a big left but Tr blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wattler cracks Tr with a solid left hand.
Wattler wants to control from the top but Tr keeps moving.
Wattler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maxim Tr will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wattler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tr tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wattler is in Tr's guard.
Tr keeping moving, preventing Wattler from controlling successfully.
Wattler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wattler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wattler throwing strikes from guard but Tr blocks nicely.
Tr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wattler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wattler landing some decent shots from guard.
Wattler knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tr on the ground.
Wattler throws an elbow that misses. Tr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wattler's guard. Nice move by Tr!

Wattler keeping moving, preventing Tr from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr wants to stand but Wattler has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Tr drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tr jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wattler keeping full guard, as Tr tries to pass.
Wattler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wattler is working hard here to advance position.
Wattler looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tr puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tr is keen to just control but Wattler is a slippery customer.
Tr wants to stand up but Wattler has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Todd Wattler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tr thows a huge punch but Wattler dodges it nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wattler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wattler sets himself, and Tr steps forward looking for the clinch! Wattler avoids it this time.
Tr lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tr drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wattler wants to sweep but no luck.
Wattler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Tr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tr trying to control but Wattler is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tr stopping the sweep attempt from Wattler.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Wattler shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wattler showed some decent athleticism there.
Tr is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wattler lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wattler lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maxim Tr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Wattler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tr scores with a one two! Wattler had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wattler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tr as he jumps to the side.
Wattler goes for a double leg but Tr avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tr continues to drive forward.

Tr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wattler looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wattler is trying to get back to half guard.
Tr trying to control the action but Wattler is working from the bottom.
Tr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Wattler shoots in and bounces Tr off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wattler throwing strikes from guard but Tr blocks nicely.
Wattler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wattler distracts Tr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Wattler landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wattler looking to sit in guard and control but Tr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tr trying to control but Wattler is working from the bottom.
Tr stopping the sweep attempt from Wattler.

Tr gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Wattler is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tr's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wattler trying to control from half guard but Tr is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tr tries to kick Wattler off but Wattler keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maxim Tr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wattler drops an elbow to the side of Tr's head.
Wattler stalling.
Wattler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tr keeps working.
Wattler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wattler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tr is pressing down on Wattler's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wattler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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.

Tr is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Wattler has his hands clasped together but Tr extends and breaks Wattler's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Tr.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Maxim Tr!