PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Ovechkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Dolbakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dolbakov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Radiohead-Creep. The key to victory for Alexander Ovechkin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ovechkin
vs
Dolbakov

188 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Alexander Ovechkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dolbakov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Ovechkin or perhaps it was just good defense by Dolbakov which made him look bad.
Ovechkin scores with a hook.
Ovechkin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dolbakov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ovechkin to score with a decent uppercut.
Ovechkin misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Ovechkin misses.
Ovechkin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for Ovechkin with that takedown attempt.
Ovechkin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ovechkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dolbakov manages to avoid it.
Dolbakov keeps the fight on the outside.
Ovechkin swinging wilding here.
Ovechkin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dolbakov thows a body shot but no joy.
Dolbakov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ovechkin misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolbakov tries to move into range but Ovechkin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Dolbakov. No joy for Ovechkin on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Ovechkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ovechkin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dolbakov circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch lands to the side of Dolbakov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dolbakov misses with the combination.
Ovechkin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dolbakov moves into the clinch.
Ovechkin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ovechkin can't break the clinch.
Ovechkin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Dolbakov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ovechkin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dolbakov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ovechkin's guard.
Ovechkin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dolbakov controls the pace.
Dolbakov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dolbakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ovechkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dolbakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dolbakov is looking to stand up but Ovechkin won't let him.

Dolbakov stands up and waves to Ovechkin to follow him.
Ovechkin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dolbakov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ovechkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ovechkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Dolbakov has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dolbakov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ovechkin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ovechkin is breathing heavily.
Ovechkin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dolbakov. Dolbakov obviously looking to wear him down.
Ovechkin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Dolbakov counters with a leg kick.
Ovechkin misses with a combination

and Dolbakov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ovechkin!
Ovechkin squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Dolbakov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ovechkin looks a forlorn figure.
Ovechkin wants to control but Dolbakov is having none of it.
Dolbakov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dolbakov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dolbakov trying to control but Ovechkin is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov controlling from the full mount.
Dolbakov landing strikes from the mount and Ovechkin is in trouble!
Ovechkin is squirming around, avoiding Dolbakov's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ivan Dolbakov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dolbakov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ovechkin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ovechkin misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dolbakov 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.

Ovechkin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dolbakov counters with a nice leg kick.
Ovechkin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dolbakov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ovechkin throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dolbakov.
Ovechkin misses with a double jab

and Dolbakov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ovechkin won't be happy with that.
Dolbakov controlling from side mount.
Dolbakov is looking to take a break and control but Ovechkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A lull in the action here.
Dolbakov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolbakov prevents Ovechkin from escaping the position.

Dolbakov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ovechkin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Dolbakov but great work by Ovechkin.

Ovechkin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ovechkin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dolbakov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dolbakov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dolbakov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ovechkin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Alexander Ovechkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ovechkin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ovechkin throws a right and a left that Dolbakov avoids nicely.
Some wild striking there from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin connects with a body shot.

Ovechkin moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ovechkin lands with a light punch inside.
Dolbakov prevents Ovechkin from breaking the clinch.
Dolbakov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ovechkin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ovechkin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ovechkin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Dolbakov gets caught flat footed, as Ovechkin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ovechkin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ovechkin stops Dolbakov from standing up.
Dolbakov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ovechkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dolbakov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ovechkin is looking to control Dolbakov's arms but Dolbakov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ovechkin has his back to the cage.
Ovechkin is working for takedown but Dolbakov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ovechkin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dolbakov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Ovechkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolbakov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ovechkin clobbers Dolbakov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ovechkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dolbakov slips a jab and a cross from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin swinging wilding here.

Dolbakov has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ovechkin breaks the clinch.
Ovechkin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Donk. Ovechkin catches Dolbakov right on the button with a cross.
Dolbakov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dolbakov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ovechkin.
Ovechkin misses with a hook.
Dolbakov misses with a takedown attempt - Ovechkin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dolbakov fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Ovechkin does no damage.
No joy there for Ovechkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ovechkin tries to bum rush Dolbakov with a series of wild strikes but Dolbakov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ovechkin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Dolbakov counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dolbakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dolbakov.
Ovechkin tries to escape but Dolbakov is in control.

Dolbakov decides to stand back up. Dolbakov steps back and let's Ovechkin get back to his feet.

Dolbakov clinches up against the cage.
Dolbakov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ovechkin can't get the takedown.
Ovechkin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dolbakov is keeping busy.
Ovechkin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dolbakov prevents it.

Dolbakov breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Ovechkin.
Dolbakov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ovechkin.
Ovechkin throws a combination that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolbakov looks for a takedown but Ovechkin sprawls well.
Ovechkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Dolbakov scores with a takedown into Ovechkin's guard.
Ovechkin looking to control.

Dolbakov gets to his feet - Ovechkin follows without any prompting.
Ovechkin tries to clinch up

and Dolbakov counters by moving into the clinch.
Ovechkin looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Ovechkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dolbakov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dolbakov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ovechkin's guard.
Dolbakov won't allow Ovechkin to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dolbakov gets to his feet - Ovechkin follows without any prompting.
A nice combination there by Ovechkin.
Alexander Ovechkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Ovechkin misses.
Ovechkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ovechkin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dolbakov.
Dolbakov throws a head kick that misses.
Ovechkin throws a series of strikes that have Dolbakov backpedaling.
Ovechkin lands a with a good body shot.
Ovechkin tries for a takedown but Dolbakov circles away easily
and Dolbakov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ovechkin really felt that one!
Dolbakov shoots in and drives through. Ovechkin sprawls well.

Ovechkin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Dolbakov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ovechkin regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ovechkin is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Dolbakov kicks Ovechkin off and gets to his feet.
Ovechkin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dolbakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Ovechkin.
Ovechkin misses with a jab, cross combination.

Dolbakov scores a takedown into full mount!
You get the feeling that Ovechkin really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Dolbakov content just to control the position here.
Dolbakov wants to control the pace but Ovechkin is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Dolbakov cracks Ovechkin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ovechkin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ovechkin is working to get back to half guard.
Dolbakov tries to control but Ovechkin wriggling away.
Ovechkin is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dolbakov looking to control but Ovechkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ovechkin squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Dolbakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dolbakov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

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