PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Ivanov (ranked 2699 p4p, 2221 weight class) and Quintet Tarantino (ranked 294 p4p, 243 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ivanov
vs
Tarantino

170 cm
28
155
10 - 11 - 0

173 cm
23
158
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Quintet Tarantino!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ivanov is looking to clinch but Tarantino is avoiding it.
Tarantino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tarantino looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivanov is just out of range.
Tarantino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ivanov rushes Tarantino and presses him up against the cage.

Tarantino pulls Ivanov into guard.
Tarantino keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.
Tarantino wants to control but Ivanov passes easily into half guard.
We've been hearing that Ivanov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Tarantino trying to control but Ivanov postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarantino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ivanov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tarantino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tarantino is pressing down on Ivanov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tarantino is on top in guard.

Tarantino trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ivanov kicks Tarantino off and gets to his feet.
Tarantino swings for the body but Ivanov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov shoots in looking for a takedown. Tarantino tries to sprawl out of it but Ivanov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tarantino manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Ivanov clinches with his opponent.

Tarantino jumps guard.

Tarantino working for a triangle but Ivanov defends it easily.
Tarantino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ivanov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tarantino trying to control the position here.
Ivanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Tarantino is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarantino keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.
Ivanov looking to sit in guard and control but Tarantino gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tarantino slips nicely into half guard.

Tarantino is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tarantino seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tarantino is thwarting Ivanov's attempts to control the position.
Tarantino scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarantino looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tarantino looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ivanov pushes Tarantino off looking to stand but Tarantino dives back in and keeps control.

Tarantino is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ivanov defends it well.
Ivanov lands with a few short shots to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov is trying to control but can't.
Ivanov has his hands clasped together around Tarantino's back. He's all about the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Quintet Tarantino dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ivanov has Tarantino up against the cage in a clinch.

Ivanov is trying to trip Tarantino. He has hold of a leg but Tarantino is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ivanov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Tarantino looking to control.

Tarantino is looking for a triangle but Ivanov pushes his legs off easily.
Quintet Tarantino has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tarantino wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.
Ivanov is pushing down on Tarantino's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tarantino is fighting to maintain full guard but Ivanov has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Ivanov there.
Tarantino trying to get back to full guard but Ivanov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Tarantino is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarantino manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ivanov connects with a nice short shot to Tarantino's temple.
Still in half guard, Ivanov seems content to control.
Tarantino is looking to improve his position.
Ivanov slips a nice elbow through Tarantino's hands, connecting with Tarantino's forehead.
Tarantino makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tarantino.
Ivanov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tarantino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tarantino looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Tarantino keeps moving.
Ivanov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ivanov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tarantino's head.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Tarantino keeps moving.

Tarantino throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tarantino looking for a sweep. Not yet Tarantino, not yet.
Ivanov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarantino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ivanov is one step ahead there.
Ivanov lands a couple of digs.
Ivanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tarantino bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.

Ivanov striking off his back but it's not causing Tarantino any problems.
Tarantino is in close to Ivanov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tarantino is fighting to break Ivanov's control of his arms but Ivanov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ivanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tarantino's guard.

Tarantino has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ivanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ivanov with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarantino wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.
Ivanov connects with a couple of short punches.
Tarantino trying to control the position.
Ivanov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ivanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tarantino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tarantino looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ivanov has picked Tarantino up and slammed him! Tarantino can't keep hold of the triangle and Ivanov manages to pass to side control!
Ivanov is looking to take a break and control but Tarantino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Ivanov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ivanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tarantino swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ivan Ivanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tarantino throws a body punch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ivanov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Tarantino closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ivanov quickly recovers to half guard.

Ivanov kicks off Tarantino and gets to his feet.

Ivanov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tarantino is looking for a sweep. Ivanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ivanov is keen to just control but Tarantino is a slippery customer.

Ivanov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tarantino has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tarantino wants to control but Ivanov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tarantino gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarantino has Ivanov pulled in close to control his posture.
Tarantino bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.

Ivanov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tarantino working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Ivanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tarantino lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tarantino looking to pass the guard.
Ivanov trying to keep a closed guard but Tarantino is proving a slippery customer.
Tarantino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ivanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivanov looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov seems keen to control Tarantino's posture.
Tarantino postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ivanov managing to control the position.
Ivanov is looking to stand up but Tarantino isn't so interested in that idea.
Ivanov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ivanov is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tarantino dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tarantino defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ivanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov shoots for a double leg takedown but Tarantino sprawls well. He's pushed Ivanov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tarantino misses with an uppercut. Ivanov saw that one coming.

Tarantino forces Ivanov back against the cage and clinches.
Ivanov scores with a hook to the body.
Tarantino tries to break the clinch but Ivanov is controlling the position.

Ivanov drags the fight down to the ground.
Ivanov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tarantino is now in half guard.
Tarantino is trying to control the action in half guard but Ivanov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Tarantino is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ivanov is pressing down on Tarantino's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ivanov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarantino is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tarantino won't allow Ivanov to sweep him here.
Ivanov is trying to keep Tarantino in close.
Ivanov is really struggling to control Tarantino but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Tarantino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ivanov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov trying to keep a closed guard but Tarantino is proving a slippery customer.
Tarantino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ivanov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Quintet Tarantino.
I think Tarantino 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quintet Tarantino!
A relieved looking Quintet Tarantino thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.