PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dusan Smirnov (ranked 1632 p4p, 1183 weight class) and Nils Hoglander (ranked 215 p4p, 159 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smirnov
vs
Hoglander

178 cm
24
154
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
157
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dusan Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nils Hoglander!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov throws a nice looking combination but Hoglander bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hoglander thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've been hearing reports that Smirnov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A head kick misses from Smirnov.
A right-left combo lands from Smirnov.
Hoglander connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Smirnov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Hoglander.
Smirnov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hoglander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hoglander showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smirnov.
Smirnov closes the distance and clinches up with Hoglander, looking for a takedown. Smirnov pushes Hoglander against the cage but Hoglander circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hoglander appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Good work by Hoglander as he checks the leg kick.
Smirnov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smirnov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Smirnov is rocked!
Dusan Smirnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hoglander circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dusan Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoglander lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Oh Smirnov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A big right from Hoglander misses.
Smirnov seems to have got his legs back now.
Smirnov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoglander manages to avoid it.
Smirnov with a poor takedown
and Hoglander counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hoglander looks to land a left hand but Smirnov moved out of range nicely.
Smirnov slips a straight right by Hoglander.

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

Smirnov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smirnov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Smirnov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hoglander is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hoglander is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smirnov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hoglander struggling a bit here.
Smirnov looking to control but instead Hoglander has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hoglander is looking for a sweep. Smirnov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Smirnov is looking for a kimura but Hoglander is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smirnov to get the leverage.
Hoglander avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smirnov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is looking to advance position but Hoglander won't allow it.
Smirnov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hoglander keeps working.
Hoglander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smirnov.

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

Smirnov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hoglander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smirnov.
Hoglander wants to get back to full guard.
Smirnov is trying to control the action in half guard but Hoglander is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four 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.
Smirnov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hoglander misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smirnov.
Smirnov misses with a body shot.
Smirnov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hoglander throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good exchange - Hoglander coming out on top.
Hoglander takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hoglander throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smirnov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smirnov dives in for a single leg takedown but Hoglander sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Hoglander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smirnov scores with a hook to the body. Hoglander takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smirnov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hoglander circles away quickly and effectively.
Smirnov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nils Hoglander will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hoglander ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smirnov moves away.
Smirnov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hoglander sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smirnov ducks under a wild hook from Hoglander.
Hoglander slips a jab and a cross from Smirnov.
Hoglander throws out a counter right but Smirnov avoids it with no problem.
A swing and a miss from Hoglander.

Smirnov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hoglander's half guard.
Hoglander keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Dusan Smirnov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hoglander is defending against the submission attempts here by Smirnov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov trying to control the action but Hoglander is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoglander is looking to control Smirnov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hoglander avoid being mounted?
Smirnov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hoglander keeps working.
Hoglander controlling the position well.
Smirnov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hoglander's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smirnov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hoglander does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hoglander avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoglander slips under a jab.
Hoglander fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smirnov manages to avoid it.
Smirnov misses with a double jab.
Hoglander throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smirnov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hoglander counters with a straight right hand.
Smirnov misses with a double jab.
Smirnov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hoglander misses with an uppercut. Smirnov saw that one coming.
Nils Hoglander seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hoglander displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smirnov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dusan Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov ducks under a wild hook from Hoglander.
Smirnov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hoglander jabs Smirnov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dusan Smirnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smirnov!
Hoglander's corner calls for a 1-2. Hoglander obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hoglander slips under a jab from Smirnov.
Smirnov fails with the takedown.
Smirnov fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hoglander lands a body shot.
Smirnov throws an overhand right that lands on Hoglander's shoulder, as Hoglander tries to avoid the shot.
Hoglander jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smirnov.
Hoglander misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smirnov.
Hoglander uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smirnov.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hoglander cracks Smirnov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A low kick from Smirnov misses

and Hoglander counters with a left hand that sends Smirnov to the canvas!
Smirnov working a defensive guard here.
Hoglander advances to half guard.
Hoglander seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nils Hoglander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smirnov misses with a combination
and Hoglander counters with a big right hand! Oh Smirnov is in trouble here! Hoglander follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nils Hoglander!
Nils Hoglander tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.