PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Moe Lester (ranked 2900 p4p, 23420 weight class) and Igor Smizhonich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lester
vs
Smizhonich

190 cm
34
195
13 - 9 - 0

195 cm
23
190
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Moe Lester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Smizhonich!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lester tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smizhonich was well out of range. Poor timing from Lester.
Smizhonich fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Smizhonich.
Lester misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smizhonich.
Lester connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Igor Smizhonich has been cut.
Lester fails to land with a series of punches.

Lester clinches up against the cage.
Lester tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lester misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lester creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Lester.
Smizhonich wants a takedown but no success here.
Smizhonich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lester lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smizhonich backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smizhonich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester cracks Smizhonich with a nice body shot.
Smizhonich stalling.
Smizhonich goes for a takedown attempt but Lester pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Moe Lester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Smizhonich.
Lester keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Lester gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Smizhonich gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Smizhonich preventing the sweep.
Smizhonich tries to free his leg and advance position but Lester is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich preventing the sweep.
Smizhonich content to stall in guard here.
Smizhonich with a nice head shot there.
Lester tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smizhonich controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

Smizhonich looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smizhonich in particular looking to stall.
Lester is looking for a sweep. Smizhonich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smizhonich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smizhonich content to control rather than advance.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Lester. No joy for Smizhonich on that attempt.
Smizhonich scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Moe Lester has been cut.

Smizhonich shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lester napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smizhonich happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Moe Lester will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smizhonich rushes Lester and presses him up against the cage.
Smizhonich fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Smizhonich has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Lester regains guard immediately.

Lester is working an open guard so Smizhonich takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smizhonich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lester.
Lester throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smizhonich closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smizhonich content to control rather than advance.
Lester avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smizhonich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smizhonich with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Smizhonich seems to be looking for submissions.
Lester wants to control but Smizhonich is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smizhonich controlling the action here.
Smizhonich is continuing to stall.
Lester is not content to let Smizhonich control the position.
Smizhonich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lester trying to hold on to Smizhonich's head to control him but Smizhonich postures up.
Smizhonich throwing shots but Lester is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smizhonich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smizhonich tries to counter by closing the distance.
Moe Lester seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch but Smizhonich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lester throws a hook to the side of Smizhonich's head but Smizhonich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smizhonich steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lester.
Smizhonich has his takedown stuffed
and Lester counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Smizhonich scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smizhonich throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smizhonich moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Smizhonich working the body and head with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lester dodges the ground and pound from Smizhonich.

Smizhonich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Smizhonich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lester misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smizhonich.
Smizhonich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lester tries to clinch but Smizhonich moves out of range.
Smizhonich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smizhonich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lester as he jumps to the side.

Smizhonich feints and as Lester raises his hands in defense, Smizhonich changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smizhonich sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smizhonich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lester working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smizhonich.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smizhonich not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Igor Smizhonich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lester trying to keep a closed guard but Smizhonich is proving a slippery customer.

Smizhonich gets to his feet. Lester looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nice sprawl there from Lester as Smizhonich shoots in.
Lester is looking to wear down Smizhonich with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smizhonich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smizhonich fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Lester misses the target.
Moe Lester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Smizhonich.
Lester lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lester sprawls well. Lester wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smizhonich gets slowly back to his feet.
Smizhonich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Smizhonich has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lester has a couple of punches blocked by Smizhonich.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lester can't find room to land a body shot as Smizhonich controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smizhonich.
Smizhonich blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester misses with a punch on the inside.

Smizhonich manages to pull guard.
Smizhonich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smizhonich is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Lester got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smizhonich has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lester has managed to get both his arms back between Smizhonich's legs - danger averted.
Smizhonich has his hands on Lester's head, controlling the position.
Smizhonich wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smizhonich looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lester looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lester forces Smizhonich back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Smizhonich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smizhonich has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Smizhonich!