PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Jankovic (ranked 3577 p4p, 3272 weight class) and Ivan Raikov (ranked 415 p4p, 395 weight class). Raikov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Back in the USSR. Ivan Jankovic has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Jankovic
vs
Raikov

192 cm
21
188
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
195
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Fast

Conviction

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivan Jankovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Raikov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jankovic lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Raikov gets a takedown into half guard.
Raikov wants to pass to mount but Jankovic is defending the position.
Raikov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jankovic moves into full guard.
Jankovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jankovic tries to get out of the position.
Raikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikov stands and throws Jankovic's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Raikov tries to advance to mount but can't.

Raikov is trying to get an arm triangle but Jankovic is defending well.
Raikov advances to mount.

Raikov looking to secure an arm triangle but Jankovic defends it well.
Jankovic tries to reverse the position but Raikov maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikov fails to advance to Jankovic's back.
Jankovic suckers Raikov into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Jankovic is now in Raikov's guard!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jankovic stopping the sweep attempt from Raikov.
Raikov is still trying to improve position.

Raikov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jankovic defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raikov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Raikov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jankovic trying to control but Raikov is working from the bottom.

Raikov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jankovic defends it easily.
Raikov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jankovic manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Jankovic is retaining full guard.
Jankovic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Raikov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raikov works to advance to full mount. Jankovic defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Raikov looking for a guillotine from mount but Jankovic is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raikov fails to advance to Jankovic's back.
Jankovic is trying to escape the mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Raikov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jankovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Raikov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Jankovic lands with a kick to the ribs.
Jankovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jankovic enables Raikov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jankovic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Raikov looking to pass the guard.
Raikov pushing down on Jankovic's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Raikov moves nicely into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raikov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jankovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raikov on the ground.

Raikov has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Jankovic is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Raikov yanks on the arm and Jankovic is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Raikov.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ivan Raikov!
Ivan Raikov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, BE Younick , into his post fight interview.