PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Molotav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Dolbakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dolbakov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Radiohead-Creep. The key to victory for Vladimir Molotav has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Molotav
vs
Dolbakov

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
216 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

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, Vladimir Molotav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dolbakov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Molotav swats away the attempt to clinch by Dolbakov.
Dolbakov throws a leg kick but Molotav checks it.

Dolbakov has managed to clinch.

Molotav pulls Dolbakov into guard.
Molotav has his hands on Dolbakov's head, controlling the position.

Molotav uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Dolbakov rushes Molotav and presses him up against the cage.
Molotav has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dolbakov wants a takedown but no success here.
Dolbakov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Dolbakov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Molotav misses with a wild body shot.
Molotav tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolbakov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Molotav as he avoids it easily.
Vladimir Molotav has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Dolbakov.
Molotav misses with a leg kick
and Dolbakov counters with a head kick.
Molotav tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dolbakov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Molotav shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dolbakov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Molotav's guard.
Dolbakov wants to control from the top but Molotav keeps moving.
Molotav wants to get back to his feet but Dolbakov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Molotav pulls Dolbakov in close to prevent any damage.
Dolbakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Molotav is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotav tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Molotav looking to control.
Dolbakov throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Molotav gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dolbakov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Molotav pushes Dolbakov off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Molotav shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dolbakov counters with a good low kick that Molotav was not able to check.
Molotav is breathing heavily.
Molotav shoots and misses

and Dolbakov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Molotav is looking to improve his position.
Dolbakov trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotav is not content to let Dolbakov control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dolbakov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Molotav is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Molotav on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dolbakov trying to control from half guard but Molotav is working away.
Molotav tries to roll over but Dolbakov keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Molotav shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dolbakov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Dolbakov scores with a head kick.

Molotav clinches with his opponent.
Molotav tries to break free but Dolbakov pushes him back against the cage.
Molotav wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Dolbakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Molotav has his takedown stuffed

and Dolbakov moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molotav drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dolbakov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dolbakov is looking to slow Molotav down with leg kicks.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Molotav gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Dolbakov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Dolbakov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dolbakov lands in his opponent's guard.

Dolbakov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dolbakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Molotav is retaining full guard.

Molotav has his feet on Dolbakov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Molotav fails with the takedown
and Dolbakov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolbakov has managed to clinch.
Dolbakov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Molotav gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Molotav landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dolbakov tries to break free but Molotav pushes him back against the cage.

Molotav pulls guard.
Molotav looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dolbakov is one step ahead there.

Molotav has his foot on Dolbakov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dolbakov works his way back into a safe position though.
Molotav lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dolbakov!
Dolbakov tries to hold on but Molotav postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotav tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee warns Dolbakov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Dolbakov wants to hold on but Molotav pushes him away.
Molotav working the ground and pound effectively.
Molotav controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotav with a couple of short strikes.

Molotav is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dolbakov. That's going to slow Molotav down.
Molotav shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dolbakov counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Molotav. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Molotav fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dolbakov sprawls well initially but Molotav persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dolbakov is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotav tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Dolbakov.
Dolbakov trying to control from the bottom.

Molotav stands up out of the half guard.

Molotav closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Dolbakov pushes Molotav off and gets back to his feet.
Molotav fails with the takedown

and Dolbakov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dolbakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Molotav preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molotav keeping moving, preventing Dolbakov from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Molotav dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Molotav tries to clinch there but Dolbakov circles away.
A head kick by Molotav misses

and Dolbakov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Molotav!
Molotav is squirming around, avoiding Dolbakov's attempts to control the action.
Molotav regains half guard.
Molotav regains full guard. Nicely done.
Molotav looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dolbakov trying to control but Molotav is working from the bottom.
Molotav looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotav wants to stand but Dolbakov is controlling the position.
Molotav trying to control the position.
Dolbakov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Molotav seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Molotav wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Molotav fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dolbakov, pushing him back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Molotav.

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.
Dolbakov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Molotav.

Molotav gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Dolbakov has one foot on Molotav's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Molotav scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Dolbakov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Molotav manages to mount him!

Molotav looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Molotav cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Dolbakov has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Molotav lands a shot to the head.

Molotav is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dolbakov knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dolbakov for a finish.
Dolbakov wants to control his opponent's hands but Molotav gets his hands free.
Dolbakov wants to get back to his feet.
Molotav not allowing Dolbakov to control his hands.
Ivan Dolbakov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Molotav has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Dolbakov.
Molotav loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Dolbakov hold on?
Molotav is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Molotav lands shots from the back.
Molotav is trying to stick to Dolbakov's back but Dolbakov is turning into Molotav. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Molotav's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dolbakov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Molotav showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Molotav has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Molotav!