PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Heinz Medvedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haile Selassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Selassie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: .... Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Medvedev
vs
Selassie

175 cm
26
151 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

172 cm
21
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Pegasus Nutrition
L.A. Elite Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Heinz Medvedev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Haile Selassie!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Medvedev drops Selassie with a nice combination! Medvedev dives into Selassie's guard, looking to finish!

Selassie is rocked!

It looks like Haile Selassie has been cut.
Medvedev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Selassie is still in real trouble! Can Medvedev finish him?
Selassie is looking to sweep but instead, Medvedev has passed into half guard.
Medvedev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Selassie seems to have recovered his senses.
Selassie is holding on to half guard well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Medvedev misses with a jab to the body
and Selassie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Medvedev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Selassie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie misses with a takedown attempt - Medvedev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Medvedev throws a lazy uppercut

and Selassie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Medvedev's guard.
Medvedev being controlled here, momentarily.
Selassie trying to control but Medvedev is working from the bottom.
Selassie postures up in Medvedev's guard and throws a big left but Medvedev blocks it.
Selassie controlling from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Selassie passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selassie tries to score with some ground and pound. Medvedev controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Medvedev is looking to regain half guard here but Selassie keeps moving and retains side control.
Selassie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Medvedev's shoulder. That is not cool.
Medvedev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Medvedev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Selassie off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Medvedev controlling the positon.
Medvedev wants to control but Selassie is keeping busy.
Selassie tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Selassie doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Medvedev tries to control but Selassie wriggling away.
Medvedev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Selassie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Selassie holds on to Medvedev around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.

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.
Selassie is trying desperately to improve position.
Medvedev wants to control the pace but Selassie is squirming around nicely.
Medvedev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Medvedev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Selassie is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Selassie tries to reverse the position but Medvedev maintains control.
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 Heinz Medvedev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Haile Selassie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Medvedev misses with a two punch combination.
Medvedev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Selassie.

Selassie shoots in and bounces Medvedev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Medvedev keeping full guard, as Selassie tries to pass.
Selassie preventing the sweep.
Selassie landing some decent shots from guard.
Medvedev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Selassie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Medvedev's head.
Selassie tries to free his leg and advance position but Medvedev is retaining full guard.

Medvedev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Selassie escapes and throws Medvedev's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie controlling the position.
Medvedev is looking to regain half guard here but Selassie keeps moving and retains side control.
Medvedev wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Medvedev is looking for a sweep.
Selassie working the ground and pound.

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.
Selassie is putting a hurting on Medvedev here, landing some big shots from side control.
Selassie connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Medvedev some visible discomfort.
Selassie takes a little break here. Medvedev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev tries to escape but Selassie is in control.
Selassie happy to just control the position for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Haile Selassie.
Medvedev misses with a few strikes there.
Heinz Medvedev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Medvedev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Selassie counters with a takedown into side control.
Selassie is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Medvedev will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Selassie scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Medvedev to see if he's OK.
Selassie working the body and head with strikes.
Selassie landing a few strikes.
A lull in the action here as Selassie stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev manages to get back to half guard.
Medvedev tries to roll over but Selassie keeps him under control.
Medvedev is working hard here to advance position.
Selassie stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haile Selassie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Haile Selassie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Selassie 's head but he takes it in his stride.

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

Medvedev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Selassie defends it easily.
Selassie is in close to Medvedev's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie is pushing down on Medvedev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Medvedev is fighting to maintain full guard but Selassie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Selassie controlling the action here.
Selassie is nestled in close to Medvedev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Medvedev wants to improve his position but Selassie is controlling well.
Selassie stops Medvedev from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Selassie takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Selassie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Medvedev wants to improve his position but Selassie is controlling well.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Selassie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Medvedev's head.
Selassie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Medvedev wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie moves nicely into side control.
Medvedev is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Selassie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Medvedev takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Selassie takes a little break here. Medvedev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Medvedev taking punishment in the form of punches.
Medvedev takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Medvedev tries to bench press Selassie off him but Selassie keeps the position.
Medvedev is trying to escape the position but Selassie is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Selassie content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Medvedev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Selassie off and has taken his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Medvedev's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Selassie manages to reverse the position and now he's in Medvedev's guard. Nice work there by Selassie.
Selassie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haile Selassie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Selassie 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haile Selassie!