PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Lavronenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Velazquez (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.

Lavronenko
vs
Velazquez

186 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Lavronenko!
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, Vitor Velazquez!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavronenko lands a jab-cross combination.
Velazquez is looking to clinch but Lavronenko is avoiding it.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velazquez just misses with a punch to the body.
Lavronenko misses the shot to the body.

Lavronenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lavronenko lands in his opponent's guard.
Lavronenko pushing down on Velazquez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Velazquez wants to control but Lavronenko is keeping busy.
Lavronenko trying to mount his opponent but Velazquez defends it.

Lavronenko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Velazquez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lavronenko.
Lavronenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lavronenko is working away from the top position though.
Velazquez is trying to get back to full guard.
Lavronenko tries to pass to full mount but Velazquez defends it.
Lavronenko thows a huge punch but Velazquez dodges it nicely.

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

and Lavronenko counters with a single leg into guard. Velazquez didn't expect that.
Lavronenko postures up.
Lavronenko postures up in Velazquez's guard and throws a big left but Velazquez blocks it.
Velazquez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lavronenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Velazquez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lavronenko has managed to get both his arms back between Velazquez's legs - danger averted.
Lavronenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Velazquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lavronenko trying to control but Velazquez is working from the bottom.
Velazquez controls Lavronenko momentarily but Lavronenko frees himself.
Velazquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velazquez, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Velazquez has his takedown stuffed

and Lavronenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Velazquez!
Velazquez looks gassed!
Lavronenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Lavronenko lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Lavronenko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lavronenko looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lavronenko lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Velazquez hang on?
Lavronenko scoring with strikes but Velazquez is staying in there.
Lavronenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lavronenko breaks from Velazquez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Lavronenko wants to control the pace but Velazquez is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by Lavronenko.
Lavronenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lavronenko trying to control but Velazquez is having none of it.
Lavronenko is really struggling to control Velazquez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko lands a nice shot to the head.
Velazquez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Lavronenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velazquez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lavronenko lands a nice shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lavronenko wants to control the pace but Velazquez is squirming around nicely.
Lavronenko working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Lavronenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lavronenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velazquez circles away quickly and effectively.
Lavronenko misses with a hook.
Ivan Lavronenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lavronenko tries for a takedown but Velazquez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Velazquez misses with a takedown attempt

and Lavronenko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lavronenko stopping the sweep attempt from Velazquez.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velazquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Velazquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lavronenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lavronenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Lavronenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavronenko wants to pass the guard but Velazquez is keeping the position.
Velazquez looking to control.
Velazquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lavronenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lavronenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Velazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Velazquez looking for a guillotine here but Lavronenko defends easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lavronenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lavronenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lavronenko lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Lavronenko.
Lavronenko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Velazquez?
Velazquez wants to hold on but Lavronenko pushes him away.
Lavronenko landing punches.
Lavronenko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ivan Lavronenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lavronenko landing strikes from the mount.
Velazquez tries to lock up and control but Lavronenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lavronenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velazquez is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez really wants to buck Lavronenko off and get back to his feet.
Lavronenko dominating with strikes here.
Lavronenko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Velazquez?
Lavronenko is landing with some decent strikes but Velazquez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Lavronenko looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lavronenko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Velazquez because Lavronenko loaded up on that one.

Lavronenko looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Lavronenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velazquez can do to turn this around?
Lavronenko blocks Velazquez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez wants to control but Lavronenko is having none of it.
Lavronenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velazquez is looking to escape.
Velazquez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Velazquez is bucking up trying to escape but Lavronenko cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
BOOM! Lavronenko connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Lavronenko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Velazquez?
Lavronenko avoids the attempt from Velazquez to control.
Lavronenko punching from mount but Velazquez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Lavronenko dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Velazquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lavronenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Lavronenko working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Lavronenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lavronenko working away.
Lavronenko landing strikes.
Lavronenko misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Lavronenko connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Velazquez some visible discomfort.
Velazquez is trying to buck Lavronenko off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavronenko moves into full mount!
Lavronenko unloading with bombs!
Velazquez tries to hold on but Lavronenko postures up.
Lavronenko lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Velazquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lavronenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Velazquez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Velazquez is looking to get to half guard.
Lavronenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko lands with some strikes.
Lavronenko with a couple of short strikes.
Lavronenko lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Velazquez is squirming around, avoiding Lavronenko's attempts to control the action.
Velazquez is desperately trying to improve his position but Lavronenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Lavronenko with a couple of short strikes.
Velazquez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lavronenko landing strikes from the mount.
Velazquez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lavronenko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lavronenko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lavronenko working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Velazquez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Lavronenko.
Lavronenko thowing shots but they're missing.
Lavronenko lands a heavy elbow.
Lavronenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velazquez is looking to escape.

Lavronenko is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Velazquez is surviving well by controlling Lavronenko's body position as best he can.

That's four 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.
Lavronenko lands a big elbow.
Lavronenko throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Lavronenko trying to control but Velazquez is having none of it.
Velazquez is trying desperately to improve position.
Ivan Lavronenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velazquez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Velazquez tries to buck Lavronenko off but he can't manage it.
Vitor Velazquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velazquez is desperately trying to improve his position but Lavronenko has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Lavronenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lavronenko 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:26

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