PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Swistopliasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Swistopliasov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Valuev
vs
Swistopliasov

218 cm
19
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

224 cm
18
295 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super 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, Ivan Valuev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Swistopliasov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valuev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Valuev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Swistopliasov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Valuev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Swistopliasov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valuev defends it easily.
Valuev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valuev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Valuev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev is stalling in the full guard.

Swistopliasov looking for a guillotine here but Valuev defends easily.
Valuev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Valuev with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Swistopliasov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Valuev is aware though and is defending well.
Valuev trying to control the position from guard on top but Swistopliasov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Swistopliasov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valuev defends well.

Swistopliasov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valuev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Swistopliasov looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swistopliasov looking for a guillotine here but Valuev defends easily.
Valuev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Swistopliasov can't keep his opponent in guard - Valuev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Valuev wants to free his trapped foot but Swistopliasov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Valuev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Valuev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Swistopliasov on the ground.
Valuev frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swistopliasov gets back to half guard.
Swistopliasov is looking to improve his position.

Swistopliasov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Valuev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Valuev wants to pass the guard but Swistopliasov is defending well.
Valuev is controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ivan Valuev just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valuev is trying to get an arm triangle but Swistopliasov is defending well.
Swistopliasov tries to bench press Valuev off him but Valuev keeps the position.

Valuev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Valuev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Valuev moves into full mount!
Valuev looking to control but Swistopliasov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Swistopliasov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Swistopliasov is pressing down on Valuev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Swistopliasov will probably get the nod.
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.

Swistopliasov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Valuev wants to control but Swistopliasov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Swistopliasov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valuev has managed to free his arm - good work.
Valuev is looking for a sweep. Swistopliasov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swistopliasov is thwarting Valuev's attempts to control the position.
Valuev is looking for a sweep. Swistopliasov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Swistopliasov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Valuev sees it coming and defends easily.

Swistopliasov is looking for a kimura but Valuev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Swistopliasov to get the leverage.
Valuev wants to control but Swistopliasov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Swistopliasov seems to be working for a kimura but Valuev defends the submission attempt.

Swistopliasov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev moves into full guard.

Swistopliasov drops back looking for a leg! Valuev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Valuev manages to kick Swistopliasov off! Swistopliasov jumps back into Valuev's guard.
Valuev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Valuev slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Swistopliasov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Swistopliasov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ivan Swistopliasov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valuev is nestled in close to Swistopliasov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Valuev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Swistopliasov looking for submissions off his back.
Valuev trying to mount his opponent but Swistopliasov defends it.
Valuev is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Valuev trying to control but Swistopliasov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swistopliasov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Valuev sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Swistopliasov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Valuev pulls his head out easily.
Valuev has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Swistopliasov is trying desperately to improve position.
Valuev controlling the position easily from mount.
Swistopliasov working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valuev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Swistopliasov is trying to escape the mount.
Valuev working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Valuev looking for a guillotine from mount but Swistopliasov is having none of it.
Valuev trying to control but Swistopliasov is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ivan Swistopliasov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Valuev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Swistopliasov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Valuev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Valuev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Swistopliasov is refusing to be controlled, as Valuev sits in half guard.
Valuev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Swistopliasov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Swistopliasov wants to get back to full guard.
Valuev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Swistopliasov's head.
Valuev not doing much here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ivan Valuev just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Swistopliasov gets a takedown into half guard.
Swistopliasov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Valuev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valuev is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev is trying to control but can't.

Swistopliasov is looking for a kimura but Valuev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Swistopliasov to get the leverage.
Valuev is looking for a sweep. Swistopliasov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valuev is looking to escape.

Swistopliasov is looking for a kimura but Valuev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Swistopliasov to get the leverage.
Valuev is controlling Swistopliasov's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Swistopliasov is looking for a kimura here.

Swistopliasov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Swistopliasov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valuev has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valuev is pressing down on Swistopliasov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Swistopliasov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Swistopliasov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Valuev wants to sweep but no luck.

Swistopliasov has gone for a leg lock! Valuev slips out almost immediately though and dives into Swistopliasov's guard.
Valuev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Swistopliasov keeping moving, preventing Valuev from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swistopliasov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valuev defends it easily.
Valuev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Swistopliasov has his foot on Valuev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valuev works his way back into a safe position though.
Swistopliasov keeping full guard, as Valuev tries to pass.

Swistopliasov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valuev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Swistopliasov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valuev defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swistopliasov keeping full guard, as Valuev tries to pass.

Swistopliasov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Valuev won't allow Swistopliasov to sweep him here.

Valuev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Valuev wants to pass the guard but Swistopliasov is keeping the position.
Valuev advances to half guard.
Ivan Valuev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Swistopliasov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Swistopliasov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Swistopliasov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Valuev pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Swistopliasov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Swistopliasov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

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