PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Habakuk Tibatong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Finnigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tibatong kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is In Flames - Cloud Connected. This should be a great matchup!

Tibatong
vs
Finnigan

184 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Habakuk Tibatong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mickey Finnigan!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tibatong feints and as Finnigan raises his hands in defense, Tibatong changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tibatong postures up.
Tibatong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Finnigan looking for a sweep. Not yet Finnigan, not yet.
Tibatong 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.
Finnigan wants to stand up but Tibatong is controlling him.
Tibatong postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Finnigan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tibatong's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Finnigan working a defensive guard but Tibatong passes into half guard.
Tibatong controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finnigan is trying to control but can't.
Tibatong lands strikes from half guard.
Tibatong tries to stand but can't do so whilst Finnigan controls his leg.
Tibatong slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finnigan is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Tibatong trying to control but Finnigan is having none of it.
Tibatong with the ground and pound from mount.

It looks like Mickey Finnigan has been cut.
Finnigan tries to reverse the position but Tibatong maintains control.
Tibatong with shots to the head and body - Finnigan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Tibatong is landing with some decent strikes but Finnigan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tibatong landing strikes, looking to finish!
Finnigan is controlling an arm, preventing Tibatong from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan is squirming around, avoiding Tibatong's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Finnigan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Finnigan wants to control the action here but instead Tibatong manages to pass to full mount!
Finnigan can't escape the position.

Tibatong working for a guillotine from mount but Finnigan is in no mood to give up.
Finnigan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tibatong is breathing heavily.
Tibatong lands a nice shot to the head.
Finnigan tries to hold on but Tibatong pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tibatong lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Finnigan hang on?
Finnigan working to try and regain half guard.
Tibatong wants to control the pace but Finnigan is squirming around nicely.
Finnigan can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Tibatong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Finnigan swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Tibatong is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Finnigan has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Tibatong swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Finnigan is now in Tibatong's guard. A big mistake from Tibatong there, giving up the dominant position!
Finnigan lands a couple of digs.
Tibatong looking for a sweep. Not yet Tibatong, not yet.
Finnigan scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finnigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tibatong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Habakuk Tibatong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Finnigan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Finnigan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tibatong.
Tibatong lands a high kick!
Tibatong tries to clinch but Finnigan is having none of it.
Mickey Finnigan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finnigan shoots for a takedown but Tibatong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Finnigan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tibatong but Tibatong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A left and a right from Tibatong both land. Nice combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Tibatong scores with a four punch combination!

Finnigan is rocked!

That has opened up Mickey Finnigan's cut even more.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tibatong.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Finnigan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tibatong counters with a big head kick but Finnigan shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Finnigan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tibatong.
Tibatong throws a series of punches but Finnigan moves out of range.
Finnigan throws a sloppy head kick and Tibatong moves out of range easily.
Tibatong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Finnigan throws a sloppy head kick
and Tibatong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finnigan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tibatong circles away quickly and effectively.
Finnigan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Finnigan tries to land a front kick but Tibatong steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Finnigan stuffs the takedown.
Finnigan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tibatong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Finnigan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Habakuk Tibatong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Finnigan.
Finnigan misses with a two punch combination.
Finnigan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Finnigan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Finnigan stuffs the takedown.
Finnigan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tibatong circles away quickly and effectively.
Tibatong doesn't manage to clinch there - Finnigan circles away.
Tibatong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Finnigan closes the distance and clinches up with Tibatong, looking for a takedown. Finnigan pushes Tibatong against the cage but Tibatong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Finnigan stuffs the takedown attempt from Tibatong. Tibatong gets slowly back to his feet.
Finnigan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tibatong counters with a good low kick that Finnigan was not able to check.
Finnigan tries to close the distance and clinch but Tibatong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finnigan throws a combination that misses
enabling Tibatong to counter with a crisp jab.
Finnigan looks to clinch
and Tibatong counters with a nice low kick that buckles Finnigan's knee momentarily.
Habakuk Tibatong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tibatong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice defenses there by Finnigan.

Finnigan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Finnigan blocking some punches.
Finnigan is trying to break free.
Finnigan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Finnigan looking for a takedown.
Tibatong lands a nice uppercut.

Finnigan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Finnigan closes the distance and clinches up with Tibatong, looking for a takedown. Finnigan pushes Tibatong against the cage but Tibatong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tibatong lands a nice leg kick that just misses Finnigan's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tibatong counters with a nice body kick.
Finnigan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Tibatong tries to keep at a distance but Finnigan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tibatong stops a takedown attempt from Finnigan.
Tibatong wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tibatong breaks from the clinch.
Tibatong stuffs the takedown.
Finnigan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tibatong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tibatong dodges the punch combination from Finnigan.
Tibatong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Finnigan as he avoids it easily.
Finnigan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tibatong fails to land the takedown.
Finnigan shoots in and drives through. Tibatong sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Finnigan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tibatong makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Tibatong closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Who's going to make the next move?
Finnigan is trying to control Tibatong's posture but Tibatong avoids it.
Finnigan tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tibatong has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Finnigan rushes Tibatong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Habakuk Tibatong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Finnigan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Tibatong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tibatong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Finnigan as he avoids it easily.

Finnigan has managed to clinch.
Finnigan can't get the takedown.
Finnigan wants a takedown.
Tibatong lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Finnigan backwards.

Tibatong breaks from the clinch.
Finnigan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Finnigan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tibatong counters with a head kick.
Finnigan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tibatong swivels and escapes.
Habakuk Tibatong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Finnigan.
Finnigan closes the distance but Tibatong moves to the side
and Tibatong counters with a left and a right that stings Finnigan.

The cut above Mickey Finnigan's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Finnigan misses with a few strikes there.

Finnigan drives through and clinches with Tibatong against the cage.
Finnigan can't get the takedown.

Tibatong breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Finnigan throws a combination that misses
and Tibatong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tibatong fails to land with a series of punches.
Finnigan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tibatong counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Finnigan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Tibatong shoots in looking for a takedown. Finnigan tries to sprawl out of it but Tibatong keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Finnigan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Finnigan throws a head kick that misses

and Tibatong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Finnigan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tibatong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tibatong slips nicely into half guard.

Tibatong gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Finnigan moves in looking to clinch but Tibatong pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan fails with a takedown attempt.
Finnigan throws a lazy head kick
and Tibatong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tibatong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tibatong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Finnigan's waist but Finnigan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tibatong off to one side.
Finnigan closes the distance but Tibatong moves to the side
and Tibatong counters with a stiff right hand.
Finnigan wants to clinch but Tibatong slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Finnigan lands a body shot.
Finnigan misses with a takedown attempt - Tibatong sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tibatong throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A shot to de liver by Finnigan. Beautiful body shot.
Tibatong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finnigan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Finnigan has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tibatong tries to close the distance and clinch but Finnigan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Finnigan instigates a clinch.
Finnigan fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Tibatong breaks from the clinch.
Finnigan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Finnigan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tibatong swivels and escapes.
Finnigan throws a head kick that misses
and Tibatong counters with a solid body kick.
Finnigan is trying desperately to land a takedown but Tibatong is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Finnigan.
Tibatong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Finnigan tries to clinch up
and Tibatong counters with a good low kick that Finnigan was not able to check.
Tibatong throws a series of punches but Finnigan avoids them all with ease.
Tibatong circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Tibatong misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tibatong counters with a low kick, right behind Finnigan 's knee.
Tibatong throws a head kick that misses.
Finnigan misses with a few strikes there.
Tibatong wants to clinch.
Finnigan avoids the head kick by Tibatong.
Tibatong looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Finnigan throws a lazy head kick
and Tibatong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tibatong pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tibatong closes the distance and clinches.

Finnigan decides to pull guard.
Finnigan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tibatong tries to roll over but Finnigan keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Habakuk Tibatong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tibatong, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Habakuk Tibatong!