PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kusok Govna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stryfer Rox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Govna
vs
Rox

187 cm
21
211 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kusok Govna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stryfer Rox!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Govna closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Govna is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rox has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rox tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Govna wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rox struggling a bit here.

Govna has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Govna fails in his attempt to clinch.
Govna shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rox pinned against the cage. Rox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rox with a poor takedown

and Govna counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Govna throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Govna landing some decent shots from guard.
Govna keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rox's head.
Govna 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.
Govna trying to control but Rox is working from the bottom.
Rox is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Govna trying to control the position from guard on top but Rox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rox wants to stand and escape but Govna is having none of it.
Govna is breathing heavily.

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.
Govna trying to control but Rox is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Govna postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rox shoots in for a double leg but Govna sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rox.
Rox cracks Govna with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sloppy strikes there by Rox.
Govna is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Govna parries the strikes from Rox easily there. Rox is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Govna to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rox stands up.

Rox clinches.

Rox has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Govna uses from the top position.
Rox is trying to keep Govna in close.
Rox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Govna wants to control from the top but Rox keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rox looking to hit a scissor sweep but Govna is one step ahead there.
Govna prevents Rox from getting back to his feet.
Rox pulls Govna in close to prevent any damage.
Govna in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Govna has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rox with a lazy takedown attempt

and Govna counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kusok Govna has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stryfer Rox.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rox is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kusok Govna dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Govna circles away.
Govna tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rox swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Govna stuffs the takedown.
Govna fails with the takedown.

Govna looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rox!
Rox avoids a series of strikes thrown by Govna.
Rox wants to hold on but Govna pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rox is trying to stand.
Govna throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rox tries to reverse the position but Govna maintains control.
Kusok Govna overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rox is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Govna has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rox's face.
Govna throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rox tries to reverse the position but Govna maintains control.
Govna is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rox can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Govna is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rox has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Govna prevents Rox from getting the reversal.
Rox tries to lock up and control but Govna gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Govna unloads with some shots from mount but Rox bucks and avoids them well.
Rox is looking to get to half guard.
Govna tries to control but Rox wriggling away.
Rox blocking the ground and pound.
Rox is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Govna goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rox is on top in guard.

Rox stands and steps away. Govna gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rox gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Govna to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rox manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Govna manages to get himself to full guard.
Govna keeping moving, preventing Rox from controlling successfully.
Rox trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rox won't allow Govna to get back to his feet.
Rox wants to control from the top but Govna keeps moving.
Govna throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rox lands a couple of digs.

Rox gets to his feet - Govna follows without any prompting.
Rox takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Govna avoids a punch combination nicely.

Rox moves into the clinch.

Rox breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kusok Govna will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rox.
Govna fails to land the takedown.
Rox fails with the takedown

and Govna counters with a takedown into side control.
Rox tries to buck Govna off but Govna is having none of it.

Govna tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Govna is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rox has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The ground and pound from Govna seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Govna trying to control the action but Rox is working from the bottom.
Rox managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Govna.
Rox sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rox regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rox avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rox not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rox is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two 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.

Govna decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Govna scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rox flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rox wants to improve his position but Govna is controlling well.
Govna not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rox tries to get to full guard but Govna has control of the leg.

Rox looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Govna slips a nice elbow through Rox's hands, connecting with Rox's forehead.
Rox wants to control but Govna is keeping busy.

Govna seems to be working for a kimura but Rox defends the submission attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Govna fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rox shoots in but Govna avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kusok Govna has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stryfer Rox.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Govna on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rox. Rox obviously looking to wear him down.
Rox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kusok Govna is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rox has his takedown stuffed

and Govna counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rox's guard now.

Rox looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Govna is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Govna prevents Rox from getting back to his feet.
Stryfer Rox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Govna looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kusok Govna showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Govna, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kusok Govna!