PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between steve sturg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Fedorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

sturg
vs
Fedorov

195 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, steve sturg!
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, Ivan Fedorov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fedorov tries to clinch but sturg moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for sturg.
Fedorov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

sturg clinches up against the cage.

sturg turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and sturg manages to end up in side control.
A lull in the action here as sturg stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sturg gets to mount! Fedorov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
sturg controlling from mount.
Fedorov is controlling an arm, preventing sturg from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's two 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.
Fedorov is working to get back to half guard.
sturg putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
sturg manages to capitalize on a mistake by Fedorov to take his back!
Fedorov breaks sturg's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fedorov trying to control the position from guard on top but sturg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
sturg is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

sturg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
sturg is breathing heavily.

sturg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fedorov trying to control but sturg is working from the bottom.
Fedorov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of sturg is proving hard to escape from.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Fedorov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts sturg as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fedorov with a jab.
Fedorov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? sturg is fending him off so far but Fedorov persists. Nope, sturg circles away and we're back to standing.
steve sturg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Fedorov.
Fedorov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says sturg as he avoids it easily.
Fedorov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? sturg is fending him off so far but Fedorov persists. Nope, sturg circles away and we're back to standing.
sturg lands a body shot.
Fedorov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with sturg but sturg pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horrible takedown by Fedorov or perhaps it was just good defense by sturg which made him look bad.
A right-left combo lands from Fedorov.

It looks like steve sturg has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fedorov looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fedorov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but sturg swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

steve sturg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on steve sturg's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fedorov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

sturg has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fedorov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. sturg gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fedorov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fedorov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. sturg just stands there and leans against the cage.
steve sturg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Fedorov.
Fedorov jumps guard but sturg stands there with Fedorov around his waist. Fedorov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fedorov tries for a takedown but sturg manages to get underhooks.
Fedorov tries to pull guard but sturg holds him up against the cage and eventually Fedorov drops back down to his feet.

sturg has clasped his hands together around Fedorov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fedorov is looking for a sweep.
Fedorov struggling a bit here.
A control attempt from Fedorov but he's now mounted!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fedorov is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sturg scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Fedorov?

sturg get's back to his feet.
Fedorov wants to clinch

and sturg counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fedorov keeping moving, preventing sturg from controlling successfully.
sturg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
sturg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fedorov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
sturg is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

sturg gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

sturg moves into the clinch successfully.
sturg could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
sturg using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

sturg breaks the clinch.
Fedorov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

sturg moves into range and clinches up with Fedorov.

sturg drags the fight down to the ground.
sturg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fedorov.
Fedorov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fedorov wants to control from the top but sturg keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fedorov wants to pass the guard but sturg is keeping the position.

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

sturg bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
sturg is looking to take a break and control but Fedorov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
sturg working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

sturg stands up and beckons Fedorov to his feet.
Fedorov scores with a one two! sturg had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fedorov throws a head kick that misses

and sturg counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fedorov!
Fedorov working to try and regain half guard.
sturg controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

steve sturg dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on steve sturg's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fedorov closes the distance and clinches up with sturg, looking for a takedown. Fedorov pushes sturg against the cage but sturg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ivan Fedorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

sturg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fedorov to the mat! Fedorov manages to get full guard.
sturg is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
sturg pushing down on Fedorov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
sturg trying to control the pace.
sturg prevents Fedorov from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sturg keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fedorov wants to get back to his feet.
sturg controlling the action here.
Fedorov is trying to control but can't.
Well, if sturg is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Fedorov strikes from the bottom but sturg passes into mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fedorov has given up his back here.
sturg controlling the position well here. Fedorov rolled but sturg kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

sturg is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Fedorov defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Fedorov is trying to break free.
sturg is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

sturg bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

sturg stands up.
Fedorov takes a kick to the side of the head.
sturg misses with a combination
letting Fedorov counter with a right hand.
Fedorov with a poor takedown

and sturg moves into the clinch.

sturg manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Fedorov trying to control the position from guard on top but sturg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fedorov wants to pass the guard but sturg is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
sturg keeping moving, preventing Fedorov from controlling successfully.
Fedorov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Fedorov wants to stand and escape but instead sturg has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Fedorov being controlled here, momentarily.
sturg preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
steve sturg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well sturg has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... steve sturg!