PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Ivanov (ranked 4294 p4p, 4442 weight class) and Magomed Ismailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Ivanov
vs
Ismailov

186 cm
18
194
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
180
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Ismailov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ismailov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ismailov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ivanov is stalling in the full guard.

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

Ismailov is looking for a triangle but Ivanov pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ismailov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ivanov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov misses with a kick to the body.
Ismailov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ivanov.
Fedor Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ismailov shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ivanov.
Ivanov throws a front kick that sends Ismailov stumbling back into the cage.
Ismailov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ivanov is fending him off so far but Ismailov persists. Nope, Ivanov circles away and we're back to standing.
Ivanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ivanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Fedor Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Ismailov.
Ismailov looks winded!
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ismailov sprawls well. Ismailov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ivanov gets slowly back to his feet.

Ismailov has Ivanov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Ismailov.
Ismailov prevents a takedown attempt there.

Ismailov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ivanov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ismailov to the mat. Ismailov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ismailov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ivanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ismailov looking for a sweep. Not yet Ismailov, not yet.
Ivanov wants to stand but Ismailov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Ismailov keeps moving.

Ismailov looking for a guillotine here but Ivanov defends easily.

Ivanov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Ivanov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ismailov did well to prevent Ivanov getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Ismailov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ivanov is trying to work for a kimura but Ismailov is defending well.
Ivanov works his way into side control.

Ivanov decides to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov stuffs the takedown attempt from Ismailov. Ismailov gets slowly back to his feet.
Ivanov has his takedown stuffed
and Ismailov counters with a one-two to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fedor Ivanov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ivanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ismailov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ismailov dives in for a single leg takedown but Ivanov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown but Ismailov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ismailov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ismailov shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov shows good takedown defense.
Ismailov shoots for a takedown but Ivanov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fedor Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Ismailov.
Ivanov shoots for a double leg takedown but Ismailov sprawls well. He's pushed Ivanov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Ivanov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ismailov's guard.

Ismailov uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ivanov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ismailov wants to get back to his feet but Ivanov passes into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ivanov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov trying to control from half guard but Ismailov is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov trying to advance position but Ismailov counters by regaining guard.
Ismailov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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.
Ismailov trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.
Ivanov is trying to control the position but Ismailov postures up.

Ivanov is looking for a triangle but Ismailov pushes his legs off easily.

Ivanov is looking for a triangle but Ismailov pushes his legs off easily.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Ismailov from controlling successfully.

Ivanov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ismailov has passed into half guard!

Ivanov looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ivanov tries to get to full guard but Ismailov has control of the leg.

Ismailov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ivanov sees it coming and defends easily.

Ivanov kicks Ismailov off and gets back to his feet.
Ismailov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ismailov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov darts in looking for a takedown but Ismailov gets double underhooks and turns Ivanov into the cage.
Ismailov tries for a takedown but Ivanov manages to get underhooks.
Ismailov lands a right hand.

Ismailov jumps guard and drags Ivanov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ivanov preventing the sweep.
Ivanov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ivanov passes Ismailov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ivanov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ismailov!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ismailov can't escape the position.
Ismailov wants to hold on but Ivanov pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Ismailov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ivanov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ismailov defends it nicely.
Ismailov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ivanov sprawls well. Ivanov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ismailov gets slowly back to his feet.
Ismailov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ivanov pinned against the cage. Ivanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismailov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ivanov.
Ismailov looks to land a combination. Ivanov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismailov tries for a takedown but Ivanov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fedor Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Ismailov.

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ismailov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivanov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ivanov breaks from the clinch.

Ivanov drives through and clinches with Ismailov against the cage.
Ivanov is looking for a takedown.
Ivanov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ismailov is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ivanov goes for a takedown attempt but Ismailov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Ismailov clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ismailov taking a breather.
Ismailov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ivanov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ismailov is trying to maintain a safe position but Ivanov gets an underhook and turns Ismailov into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Ivanov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ismailov defends well.

Ismailov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ivanov shoots in but Ismailov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Ismailov drives through and clinches with Ivanov against the cage.
Ismailov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ivanov fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ismailov tries to get to full guard but Ivanov has control of the leg.
Ismailov trying to control from the bottom.
Ismailov is trying to stand back up but Ivanov is controlling him
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ivanov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ivanov or perhaps it was just good defense by Ismailov, which made it look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Ismailov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ismailov 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomed Ismailov!