PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Smizhonich (ranked 3031 p4p, 5278 weight class) and Killian Andrew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Redcorn. On his way into the cage it seems that Igor Smizhonich has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Igor Smizhonich seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Smizhonich
vs
Andrew

195 cm
32
190
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
28
185
6 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Nutritional Shaved Ice

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Smizhonich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Killian Andrew!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Smizhonich shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Andrew napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Andrew is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smizhonich lands an elbow.

Smizhonich wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Andrew, who protects the arm well.
Smizhonich is chipping away with strikes.
Smizhonich creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smizhonich just content to control the position.
Smizhonich working the head with strikes.

Smizhonich is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Andrew is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Andrew tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrew gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Smizhonich can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Andrew is looking to escape.
Smizhonich controlling his opponent.

Smizhonich is working for a guillotine from mount but Andrew frees his head quite easily.
Andrew really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich lands a nice shot to the head.
Smizhonich controlling the position easily from mount.
Smizhonich trying to control but Andrew is having none of it.
Smizhonich fails to advance to Andrew's back.
Andrew is bucking up trying to escape but Smizhonich cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Andrew is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smizhonich takes Andrew's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich keeps control of the position easily here as Andrew tries to buck him off.
Andrew tries to escape but Smizhonich has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Smizhonich is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Smizhonich is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Andrew is in bad spot here.
Andrew has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Smizhonich looking to break Andrew's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Andrew remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Smizhonich will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
We've been hearing good reports from Smizhonich's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Smizhonich looking to break Andrew's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Andrew remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Smizhonich will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Andrew is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Andrew prevents Smizhonich from getting a body triangle.

Smizhonich looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smizhonich working for a choke but Andrew is defending well.
Smizhonich has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Andrew is taking damage to the body and head.

Andrew fending off the submission attempt from Smizhonich.

Andrew preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Smizhonich.
Smizhonich throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Andrew!
Smizhonich is trying to stick to Andrew's back but Andrew is turning into Smizhonich. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smizhonich's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Andrew.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Smizhonich dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smizhonich moves into range and connects with a jab.
Smizhonich's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smizhonich duly obliges.

Smizhonich closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Andrew did well to prevent Smizhonich getting side control.
Smizhonich is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Andrew!

Andrew is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Smizhonich locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Andrew is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Igor Smizhonich!
Killian Andrew spoke after the fight, saying 'Is what it is, get better get stronger.'.