PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ante Gotovina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Vodka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vodka is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Alcohol. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Vlad Vodka was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gotovina
vs
Vodka

192 cm
25
285 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
275 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ante Gotovina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Vodka!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gotovina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gotovina closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vodka's guard.
Vodka should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Vodka has his feet on Gotovina's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Vodka swats away the attempt to clinch by Gotovina.
Gotovina shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vodka pinned against the cage. Vodka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vodka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gotovina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotovina is looking to clinch.

Vodka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Vodka is looking to take a break and control but Gotovina is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gotovina is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Vodka is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gotovina doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vodka.
Vodka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vodka is working for a submission of some sort.

Vodka wants to work for an arm triangle but Gotovina is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vodka is nestled in close to Gotovina, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Vodka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gotovina is looking to improve his position.
Gotovina controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vodka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vodka throwing shots but Gotovina is blocking nicely.
Vodka throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gotovina is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vodka scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Vodka content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gotovina tries to roll over but Vodka keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vodka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gotovina on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gotovina tries to get out of the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vodka in particular looking to stall.
Vodka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vodka wants to control but Gotovina is keeping him busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vodka in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Vodka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gotovina ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vodka moves away.
Vodka shoots for a double leg takedown but Gotovina sprawls well. He's pushed Vodka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gotovina closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vodka circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vodka.
Gotovina tries to clinch there but Vodka circles away.
Vlad Vodka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gotovina shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Vodka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gotovina has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotovina throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gotovina in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gotovina with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gotovina is looking to work some ground and pound but Vodka has wrist control.
Gotovina throws a strike but Vodka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vodka stopping the sweep attempt from Gotovina.
Vodka with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotovina wants to sweep here but Vodka controlling him for the moment.
Vodka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vodka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vodka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gotovina can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vodka controls the pace.
Vodka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vodka wants to control from the top but Gotovina keeps moving.
Vodka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vodka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vodka distracts Gotovina with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vodka lands a couple of digs.
Vodka connects with a couple of short punches.
Gotovina has momentary wrist control but Vodka slips an elbow through the middle.
Vodka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gotovina preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vodka scoring with some ground and pound.
Vodka working some strikes from top position.
Vodka passes Gotovina's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Vodka is trying to work for a kimura but Gotovina is defending well.
Vodka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gotovina defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vodka scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vodka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gotovina's head.
Vodka slips a nice elbow through Gotovina's hands, connecting with Gotovina's forehead.
Vodka takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vodka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Vodka wants to take a breather but Gotovina is having none of it.
Vodka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vodka prevents Gotovina from improving his position.
Vodka drops an elbow to the side of Gotovina's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Vodka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gotovina wants to clinch up but Vodka keeps it at a distance.

Vodka darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gotovina is looking for a sweep. Vodka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vodka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Vodka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vodka trying to control from half guard but Gotovina is working away.
Vodka working Gotovina over with strikes.

Vodka is trying to work for a kimura but Gotovina is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vodka throwing shots but Gotovina is blocking nicely.
Vodka controlling the action here.
Vodka lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vodka connects with a nice short shot to Gotovina's temple.
Vodka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gotovina blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vodka.
Vlad Vodka has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vodka trying to control from half guard but Gotovina is working away.
Vodka is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Vodka there.
Still in half guard, Vodka seems content to control.
Vodka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gotovina keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gotovina has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vodka is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vodka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vodka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gotovina defends it well.
Vodka prevents Gotovina from improving his position.
Vodka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vodka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gotovina keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vodka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vodka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ground and pound from Vodka.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vodka connects with a nice short shot to Gotovina's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vodka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gotovina's head.
Gotovina knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vodka on the ground.
Gotovina blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vodka.
Gotovina has hold of Vodka's hands but Vodka slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gotovina avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vodka.
Gotovina wants to control but Vodka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vodka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ante Gotovina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vodka scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vodka throwing shots but Gotovina is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vodka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gotovina is staying active underneath Vodka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vlad Vodka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gotovina is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Vodka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vodka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vlad Vodka!