PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeffrey Sarpong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sarpong
vs
Finkle

187 cm
31
187 lbs
28 - 9 - 2

193 cm
34
203 lbs
29 - 15 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

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 28 - 9 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jeffrey Sarpong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Ray Finkle!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finkle throws a jab when Sarpong was well out of range.
Finkle throws the left hand but Sarpong avoids the punch easily.
Sarpong fires out a quick counter leg kick but Finkle just manages to avoid it.
A jab from Sarpong does it's job there.
Finkle takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Finkle throws out a counter right but Sarpong avoids it with no problem.
Sarpong throws a leg kick which misses Finkle's front leg but catches the back leg as Finkle tries to avoid it.

Finkle instigates a clinch.
Sarpong blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sarpong throws an elbow but it misses.
Finkle comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sarpong taking a breather.
Finkle managing to block the knees to the body from Sarpong.
Sarpong takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Jeffrey Sarpong has been cut.
Sarpong landing knees to the head.
Sarpong tries to break the clinch but Finkle is controlling the position.
Finkle pushes off an throws an elbow but Sarpong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Finkle breaks from the clinch.
Finkle looks to score with a jab to the body but Sarpong is just out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finkle throws a lazy right hand but Sarpong sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Finkle throws a hook but Sarpong avoids it easily.
Sarpong scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Finkle instigates a clinch.
Sarpong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sarpong can't break the clinch.

Sarpong breaks from the clinch.
Sarpong throws a hook to the side of Finkle's head but Finkle sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Finkle misses with a hook. Sarpong ducked under it nicely.
A solid body kick from Finkle.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sarpong.
Finkle with a nice cross.
Sarpong lands a nice looking body kick.
We've been informed that Finkle has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Finkle tries to land a front kick but Sarpong steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A jab from Finkle finds it's way through Sarpong's defenses.
Finkle is looking to land body kicks.
Sarpong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarpong avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sarpong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jeffrey Sarpong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finkle moves out of range of the body kick from Sarpong.
Finkle will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Sarpong drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarpong misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Finkle taking a bit of punishment here - Sarpong scoring with strikes.
Sarpong tries to move into full mount but can't pass Finkle's legs.
Finkle gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sarpong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Finkle wants to improve his position but Sarpong is controlling well.
Finkle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarpong frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sarpong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Finkle is looking to escape.
Sarpong sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sarpong sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sarpong tries to control but Finkle wriggling away.
Finkle holds on, trying desperately to control.
Finkle is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sarpong is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Finkle has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sarpong punching from mount but Finkle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Finkle tries to lock up and control but Sarpong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sarpong with shots to the head and body - Finkle looks very uncomfortable down there.
Finkle is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sarpong is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finkle wants to control but Sarpong is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Sarpong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jeffrey Sarpong's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Finkle jabs at Sarpong's body.
Finkle throws a nice looking combination but Sarpong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Finkle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sarpong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finkle.
Ray Finkle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sarpong thumps Finkle with a low kick.
Sarpong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Finkle, as that shot connected.
Sarpong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finkle looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Finkle takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sarpong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Finkle counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sarpong throws a front kick aimed at Finkle's knee but Finkle avoids it well.
Sarpong throws a lazy right hand but Finkle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Finkle misses the shot to the body.
Finkle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sarpong has his takedown stuffed
and Finkle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sarpong checks a leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sarpong darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sarpong scores with a nice body kick.
Sarpong throws a body shot but no joy.
Sarpong throws a lazy uppercut
and Finkle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Finkle misses with a hook. Sarpong ducked under it nicely.
Sarpong misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sarpong. Finkle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sarpong throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sarpong thows a leg kick but Finkle checks it
and Finkle counters with a straight right hand.
Sarpong throws a leg kick but Finkle sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sarpong has a takedown stuffed.
The fighters circling - Sarpong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sarpong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bone on bone clash there as Finkle blocks the leg kick.
Sarpong throws out a loose jab but Finkle uses good head movement to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Finkle! But no joy.
Ray Finkle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Finkle just misses with a punch to the body.
Sarpong looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Finkle misses with a body shot
and Sarpong counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sarpong misses with a right hand
and Finkle counters with an outside leg kick.
Finkle just misses with a punch to the body.
Sarpong swings widly with a right hand
enabling Finkle to counter with a crisp jab.
Sarpong uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Finkle.
Finkle throws a leg kick but Sarpong moved away.
Finkle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sarpong.
Finkle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sarpong circles away quickly and effectively.
Finkle takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Finkle takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A shot to the liver by Sarpong. Beautiful body shot.
Sarpong sizes up Finkle with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarpong fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffrey Sarpong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sarpong fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sarpong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Finkle is out of range.
Sarpong throws a jab when Finkle was well out of range.
Sarpong lands a jab to the nose.
Sarpong throws a body kick that misses.
Sarpong throws a wild body kick that Finkle sees coming a mile off.
Finkle swinging wildly here.
That kick from Finkle tenderised Sarpong's leg. Sarpong is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sarpong throws a quick inside leg kick.
Finkle throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sarpong stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sarpong connects with a leg kick. Finkle looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Finkle blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sarpong lands a nice shot that snaps Finkle's head back.
Sarpong shoots in for a takedown but Finkle shows good takedown defense.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarpong throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Finkle throws out a counter right but Sarpong avoids it with no problem.
Finkle throws a series of punches but Sarpong moves out of range.
Finkle throws an overhand right that lands on Sarpong's shoulder, as Sarpong tries to avoid the shot.
Sarpong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finkle.
Sarpong throws a hook but Finkle blocks it.
Sarpong connects with an inside leg kick.
Sarpong throws a leg kick but Finkle sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sarpong connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Finkle on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sarpong. Sarpong obviously looking to wear him down.
Sarpong takes a swing at Finkle's ribcage but misses.
Finkle looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Finkle's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sarpong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Finkle is out of range.
Finkle throws a looping overhand right but Sarpong ducks down to avoid it.
Sarpong is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sarpong throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Finkle's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jeffrey Sarpong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jeffrey Sarpong's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sarpong motions for Finkle to come forward. Sarpong throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Finkle is looking for the big counter here.
Sarpong takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Finkle misses with a two punch combination.
Sarpong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sarpong misses with a kick to the body.
Sarpong thumps Finkle with a low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sarpong, right into the meat.
Sarpong throws a head kick that misses.
Sarpong lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sarpong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Finkle can do to turn this around?
Sarpong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finkle.
Finkle with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sarpong to score with a decent uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarpong misses with a hook.
Finkle misses with a low kick.
Finkle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finkle throws a lazy right hand but Sarpong sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Finkle avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sarpong is looking to slow Finkle down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sarpong on the side of the head.
Sarpong comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sarpong tries a head kick but it misses.
Sarpong misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sarpong wants to land a leg kick but Finkle is out of range.
Finkle misses with a head kick.
Sarpong wants to land a leg kick but Finkle is out of range.
Sarpong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sarpong tries to work over Finkle's front leg with a kick but Finkle checks it.
Sarpong throws an off balance right hand
and Finkle makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sarpong really felt that one!
Sarpong throws a body shot but no joy.
Good work by Finkle as he checks the leg kick.
Sarpong on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Finkle. Finkle obviously looking to wear him down.
Finkle takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Finkle walks into a left hand.
Finkle checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle digs a good body shot into Sarpong's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finkle scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sarpong swats away the attempt to clinch by Finkle.
A telegraphed right hand from Finkle misses the target.
Sarpong throws the left hand but Finkle avoids the punch easily.
Finkle looks for the body kick but Sarpong saw that one coming.
Sarpong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sarpong lands with a straight right. Finkle didn't see that one coming.
Finkle scores with a leg kick.
Finkle looks to land a body kick but Sarpong moved away.
Sarpong scores with a jab to the head.
Finkle has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Finkle there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sarpong, right into the meat.
Sarpong dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Finkle. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkle throws the left hand but Sarpong avoids the punch easily.
Finkle throws a head kick but Sarpong moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Finkle blocks the low kick.
Sarpong throws a low kick but it's checked well by Finkle.
Finkle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finkle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sarpong moves away.
Sarpong lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sarpong throws a body kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sarpong, right into the meat.
Sarpong avoids the head kick by Finkle.
Sarpong lands a nice leg kick that just misses Finkle's sensitive parts.
A jab from Sarpong misses.
Finkle was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Good exchange - Sarpong coming out on top.
Finkle blocks a head kick by Sarpong.
Finkle flicks out a counter leg kick but Sarpong steps away.
Finkle misses with a body kick.
Finkle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sarpong moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sarpong throws a front kick that sends Finkle stumbling back into the cage.
A leg kick checked by Finkle.
Sarpong connects with a solid leg kick.
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!
Sarpong throws a leg kick that misses.
Finkle now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Jeffrey Sarpong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Finkle misses with a kick to the body.
Sarpong moves out of range of the body kick.
Sarpong throws a body punch but Finkle moves out of range.
Finkle ducks right into an uppercut from Sarpong.
Good work by Finkle as he checks the leg kick.
Ray Finkle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
An inside leg kick lands from Sarpong.
Finkle misses the jab.
Sarpong pushes Finkle away with a front kick.
Sarpong lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sarpong stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeffrey Sarpong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sarpong, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffrey Sarpong!