PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Rodionov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Vodkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vodkov's choice of entrance music: Black Sabbath - Paranoid. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodionov
vs
Vodkov

205 cm
21
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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, Pavel Rodionov!
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 Vodkov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vodkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rodionov swivels and escapes.

Vodkov instigates a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Rodionov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vodkov uses from the top position.
Rodionov trying to control the position.
Vodkov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vodkov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rodionov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vodkov manages to get himself to full guard.
Rodionov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rodionov trying to control but Vodkov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vodkov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vodkov lands in his opponent's guard.
Vodkov throwing strikes but missing.
Vodkov postures up in Rodionov's guard and throws a big left but Rodionov blocks it.
Vodkov preventing the sweep.
Vodkov wants to pass the guard but Rodionov is keeping the position.
Rodionov trying to keep a closed guard but Vodkov is proving a slippery customer.
Vodkov lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodionov is trying to control the position but Vodkov postures up.
Vodkov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rodionov's guard.
Rodionov wants to improve his position but Vodkov is controlling well.
Vodkov stalling.
Vodkov wants to take a breather but Rodionov is having none of it.
Vodkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vodkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rodionov defending well though.
Rodionov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vodkov is keen to just control but Rodionov is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vodkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vodkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodionov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rodionov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Vodkov.
Vodkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Vodkov throws a strike but Rodionov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rodionov is breathing heavily.
Rodionov trying to control the position from guard on top but Vodkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vodkov is pulling down on Rodionov's head. It's preventing any offense from Rodionov, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vodkov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodionov.
Vodkov tries to bum rush Rodionov with a series of wild strikes but Rodionov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rodionov swats away the attempt to clinch by Vodkov.
Vodkov fails with the takedown

and Rodionov counters by clinching up.

Vodkov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Vodkov is looking to take a break and control but Rodionov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodionov fails with the takedown

and Vodkov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Vodkov pulls Rodionov into guard.
Vodkov is adopting a defensive guard.
Vodkov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Vodkov keeping moving, preventing Rodionov from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodionov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vodkov trying to control the position here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rodionov has managed to clinch.

Vodkov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rodionov is trying to keep an underhook but Vodkov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rodionov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vodkov.

Vodkov stands up and beckons Rodionov to join him on the feet.
Vodkov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodionov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vodkov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rodionov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Vodkov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pavel Rodionov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vodkov has his takedown stuffed
and Rodionov counters with a body kick that stops Vodkov in his tracks momentarily.
Vodkov is breathing heavily.
Vodkov misses with a takedown attempt
and Rodionov counters with a straight right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodionov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Vodkov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rodionov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Vodkov keeping full guard, as Rodionov tries to pass.
Rodionov trying to control the position from guard on top but Vodkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodionov is fighting to break Vodkov's control of his arms but Vodkov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vodkov keeping moving, preventing Rodionov from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Pavel Rodionov just wasn't active enough.

Vodkov darts in and clinches Rodionov up against the cage.
Vodkov is trying to break the clinch but Rodionov has him pressed against the cage.
Rodionov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Ivan Vodkov has been cut.
Rodionov can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Rodionov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.

Vodkov pulls guard.
Vodkov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodionov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodionov trying to control but Vodkov is working from the bottom.
Vodkov pulls Rodionov in close to his closed guard and prevents Rodionov from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rodionov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vodkov counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pavel Rodionov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ivan Vodkov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A left lands for Rodionov.
Vodkov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vodkov wants it to stay on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rodionov enables Vodkov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rodionov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ivan Vodkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vodkov lands a couple of elbows.
Vodkov wants to pass the guard but Rodionov is keeping the position.
Rodionov looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodionov, not yet.
Vodkov wants to control from the top but Rodionov keeps moving.
Vodkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodionov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodionov working a defensive guard but Vodkov passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Vodkov is working for a kimura but Rodionov is defending it quite comfortably.

Vodkov decides to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vodkov misses with a double jab
and Rodionov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Vodkov gets the takedown into side control.

Vodkov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vodkov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Vodkov cracks Rodionov with a big right hand but Rodionov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Vodkov working the ground and pound.
Vodkov working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vodkov working the ground and pound from side control.
Rodionov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vodkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vodkov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rodionov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rodionov is looking to regain half guard here but Vodkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Vodkov looks up at the clock and then as Rodionov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vodkov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Vodkov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rodionov down.
Vodkov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rodionov to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodionov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Vodkov scoring with punches from side control.
Vodkov landing strikes.
Vodkov blocks the strikes from Rodionov.
Vodkov working away.
Rodionov taking a bit of punishment here - Vodkov scoring with strikes.
Vodkov controls the position.
Check out the look on Vodkov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rodionov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Vodkov connects with a decent elbow.
Vodkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodionov keeps working.
Rodionov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodionov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
You can see the frustration on Rodionov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vodkov working the body and head with strikes.
Vodkov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Vodkov working the ground and pound.
Vodkov scoring with punches from side control.
Vodkov lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vodkov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Vodkov closes the distance and pushes Rodionov back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Vodkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vodkov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

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