PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Handozhko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen 2 minutes to midnight as his entrance music. John Smith is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Handozhko
vs
Smith

186 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 New York, Sergey Handozhko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Handozhko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Handozhko is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smith asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Handozhko is not content to let Smith control the position.
Handozhko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Handozhko wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control from Handozhko's half guard. Handozhko has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Handozhko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Handozhko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Handozhko from standing up.
Handozhko won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith looks gassed!
Handozhko is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Handozhko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Handozhko is looking to reverse the position.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Handozhko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing strikes but Handozhko manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Smith is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Handozhko prevents Smith from escaping the position.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Handozhko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Handozhko stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Handozhko is looking to clinch.
Handozhko thows a body kick. Smith tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith walks into a stiff left hand from Handozhko.

Handozhko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
Smith trying to control but Handozhko postures up.
Smith is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Handozhko jumps into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Handozhko decides to stand back up. Handozhko steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.
A combination from Handozhko does no damage.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Handozhko counters with a two punch combo.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Handozhko counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handozhko tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.

Smith scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith avoids the attempt from Handozhko to control.
Handozhko is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Handozhko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergey Handozhko will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith pushes Handozhko up against the cage in a clinch.
Handozhko has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.

Handozhko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Handozhko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Handozhko trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Handozhko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Handozhko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Handozhko from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Handozhko trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Handozhko tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Handozhko.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Handozhko counters with a two punch combo.
Handozhko misses with a wild combination.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sergey Handozhko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Handozhko manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith is nestled in close to Handozhko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Handozhko manages to get to full guard.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith thows a huge punch but Handozhko dodges it nicely.
Handozhko is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Handozhko gets back to full guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Handozhko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith prevents Handozhko from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Handozhko thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Handozhko counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sergey Handozhko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Handozhko actively working from the bottom here.
Handozhko tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Handozhko trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Handozhko dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith dives in and grabs Handozhko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Handozhko pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Handozhko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Handozhko scores with a three punch combo!
Smith dodges the punch combination from Handozhko.

Handozhko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Handozhko decides to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Handozhko counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Sergey Handozhko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith is trying to keep Handozhko in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Handozhko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Handozhko.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is not content to let Handozhko control the position.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

Handozhko stands up and beckons Smith to his feet.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Handozhko!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Smith looking to control but Handozhko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Handozhko taking shots to the head.
Smith looking to control but Handozhko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Despite being in the dominant position, John Smith just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Handozhko was covering up waiting for the punch and Smith finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Handozhko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Handozhko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Handozhko decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
John Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sergey Handozhko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Handozhko misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Handozhko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Handozhko, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Handozhko!