PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Islam Akhmedov (ranked 4582 p4p, 4803 weight class) and Ivan Pavlov (ranked 467 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Akhmedov
vs
Pavlov

179 cm
23
155
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Islam Akhmedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Pavlov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pavlov rushes Akhmedov and presses him up against the cage.
Akhmedov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pavlov is defending well for now.
Akhmedov blocks an elbow strike.

Pavlov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Akhmedov can't fight it off and eventually Pavlov manages to take the fight to the floor. Akhmedov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pavlov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pavlov wanted to stand there but Akhmedov had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pavlov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Pavlov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavlov content to stall in guard here.
Akhmedov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pavlov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akhmedov's guard.
Pavlov is pushing down on Akhmedov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Akhmedov is fighting to maintain full guard but Pavlov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pavlov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pavlov trying to control the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Akhmedov instigates a clinch.

Akhmedov is trying to trip Pavlov. He has hold of a leg but Pavlov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Akhmedov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Akhmedov stopping the sweep attempt from Pavlov.
Pavlov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pavlov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov tries to free his leg and advance position but Akhmedov is retaining full guard.
Pavlov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Akhmedov working for a triangle but Pavlov defends it easily.
Pavlov trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhmedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Akhmedov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Akhmedov has a closed guard, preventing Pavlov from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Akhmedov has his foot on Pavlov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pavlov works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Pavlov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Akhmedov shoots in but Pavlov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pavlov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Akhmedov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pavlov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pavlov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Akhmedov off and has taken his back!

Pavlov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Pavlov controlling the positon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akhmedov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Pavlov's arms.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akhmedov is trying to get back to his feet but Pavlov has full control of the position and if anything, Akhmedov has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I really don't envy Akhmedov right now.

Pavlov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Akhmedov manages to stand up with Pavlov still on his back. Eventually Pavlov drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pavlov takes the fight into the clinch.
Akhmedov tries to land knees in the clinch but Pavlov avoids the damage to the body.

Akhmedov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pavlov can't fight it off and eventually Akhmedov manages to take the fight to the floor. Pavlov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pavlov trying to control the position.

Pavlov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akhmedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Akhmedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov is trying to keep Akhmedov in close.

Akhmedov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pavlov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pavlov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pavlov!

Akhmedov trying to remain calm as Pavlov controls from the top position.
Akhmedov wants to get back to his feet but Pavlov is dominant here and he's now got Akhmedov's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pavlov working for the choke.
Pavlov loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Akhmedov hold on?

Pavlov looking for the choke but no joy.
Pavlov is breathing heavily.
Akhmedov is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pavlov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Pavlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pavlov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Akhmedov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pavlov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Akhmedov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Akhmedov working over Pavlov with some ground and pound. Pavlov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Akhmedov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Akhmedov wants to work for an arm triangle but Pavlov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Akhmedov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Akhmedov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pavlov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Akhmedov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pavlov manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavlov has Akhmedov pulled in close to control his posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pavlov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Akhmedov works over Pavlov with some ground and pound from guard.
Akhmedov stands up over Pavlov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Akhmedov advances position into side control!
Pavlov is trying to control Akhmedov's posture but Akhmedov avoids it.
Pavlov is looking for a sweep.

Akhmedov swings around for an armbar but Pavlov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Akhmedov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pavlov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pavlov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Akhmedov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pavlov defends it easily.
Pavlov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ivan Pavlov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pavlov is continuing to stall.

Pavlov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pavlov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhmedov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pavlov is controlling him.
Pavlov 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.
Pavlov advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pavlov lands a few punches from side control.

Pavlov stands up.
Pavlov throws a head kick that misses.
Pavlov shoots in for a takedown but Akhmedov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Akhmedov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pavlov avoids it really well and circles away.
Pavlov throws a counter combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pavlov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akhmedov but Akhmedov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Islam Akhmedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Pavlov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Islam Akhmedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Pavlov.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Islam Akhmedov.
I think Pavlov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Pavlov!