|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zahbit Lovanov (ranked 417 p4p, 494 weight class) and Tali Ihantala (ranked 55 p4p, 63 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
 |
|
 |
| 199 cm
33
265
30 - 16 - 1 |
|
203 cm
38
253
38 - 19 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zahbit Lovanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tali Ihantala!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lovanov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lovanov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lovanov ducks under a wild hook from Ihantala.
Lovanov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Ihantala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lovanov throws out the jab.
Ihantala misses with a wild combination.
Lovanov lands a jab to Ihantala's midsection.
Lovanov misses the jab.
Ihantala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lovanov throws out the jab.
Lovanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ihantala manages to avoid it.
Ihantala throws a counter combo.
Good shot there by Ihantala.
Ihantala throws a shot from downtown. Lovanov moves away and avoids it.
Ihantala misses with a right hand
and Lovanov counters with a nice leg kick.
Ihantala throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lovanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ihantala thumps Lovanov with a low kick.
Tali Ihantala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ihantala.
Ihantala walks into a straight right hand from Lovanov.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovanov scores with a takedown into Ihantala's guard.
Ihantala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lovanov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lovanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lovanov stopping the sweep attempt from Ihantala.
Lovanov 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.
Ihantala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lovanov controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lovanov is pushing down on Ihantala's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ihantala is fighting to maintain full guard but Lovanov has managed to sneak the leg through.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala is staying active underneath Lovanov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ihantala on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lovanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ihantala keeps working.
Ihantala slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lovanov landing with the ground and pound.
Lovanov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lovanov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ihantala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lovanov.
Ihantala wants to get back to his feet but Lovanov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lovanov stands and throws Ihantala's legs to the side, diving into side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ihantala tries to bench press Lovanov off him but Lovanov keeps the position.
Ihantala is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lovanov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ihantala takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Lovanov trying to control the position but Ihantala is working away.
Lovanov is chipping away with strikes.
Ihantala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ihantala is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Zahbit Lovanov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Lovanov slips a straight right by Ihantala.
Lovanov throws a lazy right hand but Ihantala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ihantala looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lovanov scores with a jab to the body.
Lovanov misses with a straight right.
Lovanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ihantala.
Ihantala swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ihantala throws a combination. Lovanov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lovanov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ihantala was well out of range. Poor timing from Lovanov.
Lovanov loads up on a big right hand but Ihantala slips the punch.
Ihantala misses with a two punch combination.
Lovanov feinted with a counter takedown.
Ihantala throws a body kick that misses
so Lovanov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lovanov stopping the sweep attempt from Ihantala.
Lovanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ihantala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ihantala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ihantala's head.
Lovanov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lovanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ihantala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ihantala is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lovanov lands a couple of elbows.
Lovanov scoring with some ground and pound.
Lovanov landing with the ground and pound.
Lovanov landing some decent shots from guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov stays in close to Ihantala's body and controls the position.
Ihantala is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ihantala looking for a sweep. Not yet Ihantala, not yet.
Lovanov controlling from the top position.
Ihantala controlling the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lovanov lands a couple of elbows.
Lovanov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lovanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lovanov is pushing down on Ihantala's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ihantala is fighting to maintain full guard but Lovanov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lovanov is pressing down on Ihantala's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ihantala is holding on for now.
Lovanov trying to control the action but Ihantala is working from the bottom.
Lovanov controlling the action here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala has hold of Lovanov's hands but Lovanov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lovanov wants to control but Ihantala is keeping him busy.
Lovanov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ihantala is trying to get back to full guard.
Lovanov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lovanov misses with a takedown attempt - Ihantala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tali Ihantala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ihantala throws a series of punches but Lovanov moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Zahbit Lovanov dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.
Lovanov has managed to clinch.
Ihantala tries a body shot but Lovanov blocks it.
Ihantala manages to break the clinch.
Ihantala connects with the punch.
Lovanov swings for the body but Ihantala moves out of range.
Ihantala lands with a nice combination. Lovanov backs away looking to recover.
It looks like Zahbit Lovanov has been cut.
Lovanov drives through with a takedown into Ihantala's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lovanov won't allow Ihantala to sweep him here.
Ihantala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lovanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ihantala can do to turn this around?
Lovanov won't allow Ihantala to sweep him here.
Ihantala keeping moving, preventing Lovanov from controlling successfully.
Ihantala controls Lovanov momentarily but Lovanov frees himself.
Ihantala lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ihantala being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lovanov controls Ihantala momentarily but Ihantala frees himself.
Ihantala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ihantala throws a big elbow that misses.
Lovanov wants to sweep here but Ihantala controlling him for the moment.
Ihantala wants to get up but he can't break Lovanov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tali Ihantala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ihantala engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ihantala postures up.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tali Ihantala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lovanov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looked like Lovanov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ihantala throws a right hand that Lovanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Lovanov also avoids with ease.
Ihantala ducks under a wild hook from Lovanov.
Lovanov connects with a jab.
Ihantala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ihantala finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lovanov works Ihantala's body with a nice hook.
Ihantala throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lovanov counters with a shoot takedown. Ihantala fights it but they end up in guard.
Lovanov is standing up over Ihantala. Ihantala looks to escape but Lovanov dives into side control.
Ihantala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lovanov grinds an elbow into Ihantala's temple.
Zahbit Lovanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Lovanov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Lovanov controlling the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lovanov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ihantala to see if he's OK.
Lovanov takes a little break here. Ihantala wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lovanov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Lovanov is looking to take a break and control but Ihantala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ihantala is looking for a sweep.
And that's the end of the fight!
Zahbit Lovanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lovanov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zahbit Lovanov!
Zahbit Lovanov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
38% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
