PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Smirnov (ranked 4672 p4p, 502 weight class) and Daniel Son Karate (ranked 25554 p4p, 693 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Smirnov
vs
Son Karate

175 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Son Karate!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karate moves away from the strike by Smirnov.
Karate pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Smirnov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Karate was covering up waiting for the punch and Smirnov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smirnov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smirnov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Karate for as long as he can get away with.
Karate wants to stand but Smirnov is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karate wants to get back to his feet but Smirnov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smirnov stays in close to Karate's body and controls the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Smirnov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smirnov won't allow Karate to get back to his feet.
Smirnov wants to pass the guard but Karate is keeping the position.
Karate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smirnov is controlling him.
Smirnov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karate swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smirnov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Smirnov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smirnov connects with a couple of short punches.
Smirnov controlling from the top position.
Smirnov won't allow Karate to get back to his feet.
Smirnov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Karate not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smirnov connects with a couple of short punches.
Smirnov postures up and lands a big shot to Karate's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Karate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smirnov is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smirnov continues to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Smirnov looking to score a takedown here. Karate is defending well but Smirnov drives through and ends up in Karate's guard.
Smirnov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is standing up over Karate. Karate looks to escape but Smirnov dives into side control.
Karate wants to control but Smirnov postures up.
Smirnov is working Karate over with some ground and pound from side control.
Smirnov controls the position.
Karate can't do much from the bottom here.
Smirnov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smirnov controlling from side mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smirnov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smirnov lands a nice forearm strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Smirnov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Karate jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little feinted left hand from Smirnov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smirnov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Smirnov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smirnov controlling the action here.
Further stalling from Smirnov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karate looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smirnov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karate is trying to get back to full guard.
Smirnov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Karate is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smirnov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smirnov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Smirnov trying to mount his opponent but Karate defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karate is looking to control Smirnov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Karate avoid being mounted?
Karate is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Smirnov is staying active.
Karate felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Karate looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smirnov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Karate gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smirnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karate can do to turn this around?
Smirnov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Karate controls Smirnov momentarily but Smirnov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smirnov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smirnov won't allow Karate to get back to his feet.
Smirnov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A lull in the action here.

Smirnov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karate is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Karate wants to control but Smirnov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is staying tight to Karate's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Karate wants to get back to his feet.
Karate is trying to get back to half guard.
Smirnov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Karate is trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smirnov just content to control the position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Smirnov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Smirnov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smirnov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Karate manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smirnov's best efforts.
Smirnov slips a nice elbow through Karate's hands, connecting with Karate's forehead.
Smirnov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smirnov is pressing down on Karate's thigh, looking to free his foot. Karate is holding on for now.
Smirnov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Karate wants to get back to his feet.
Karate is trying to maintain the position but Smirnov is very close to passing his half guard.
Ivan Smirnov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smirnov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Karate looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smirnov not doing much here.
Smirnov winds up and cracks Karate with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smirnov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Karate!
Smirnov controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smirnov controlling from mount.
Karate tries to lock up and control but Smirnov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smirnov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Karate can't escape the position.
Smirnov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smirnov controlling the position easily from mount.
Karate is bucking up trying to escape but Smirnov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Daniel Son Karate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karate tries to lock up and control but Smirnov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smirnov with shots to the head and body - Karate looks very uncomfortable down there.
Karate is in a horrible position here. Smirnov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smirnov controlling from mount.
Karate is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Smirnov controlling from mount.
Smirnov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Karate is rocked!
Smirnov cracks Karate with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Smirnov!