PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Iranovichk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Mardegan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iranovichk comes into the arena with Spit It Out blaring out of the sound system. Mardegan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sad But True. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Iranovichk
vs
Mardegan

195 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 Rio de Janeiro, Viktor Iranovichk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Mardegan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Iranovichk has managed to clinch.
Iranovichk gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Iranovichk lands a nice knee to the body.
Mardegan wants a takedown but no success here.
Mardegan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mardegan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Iranovichk has him pressed against the cage.

Iranovichk pulls guard effortlessly.
Iranovichk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Iranovichk is working hard here to advance position.
Iranovichk keeping moving, preventing Mardegan from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Iranovichk has his foot on Mardegan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mardegan works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iranovichk is pulling down on Mardegan's head to control his posture.
Mardegan wanted to stand there but Iranovichk had control of the position.
Iranovichk wants to stand and escape but Mardegan is having none of it.
Mardegan wants to control from the top but Iranovichk keeps moving.
Iranovichk controls Mardegan momentarily but Mardegan frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Iranovichk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mardegan dives in and grabs Iranovichk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Iranovichk pushes down on Mardegan's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iranovichk avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mardegan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Iranovichk counters with a big head kick but Mardegan shrugs it off.
Iranovichk tries a head kick but it misses.
Mardegan avoids a kick to the body.

Iranovichk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iranovichk thows a huge punch but Mardegan dodges it nicely.

Iranovichk is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iranovichk is keen to just control but Mardegan is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iranovichk tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mardegan.
Iranovichk is thwarting Mardegan's attempts to control the position.
Mardegan is looking for a sweep. Iranovichk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Iranovichk stands up out of the half guard.

Iranovichk manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mardegan on his heels. He'll look to pass Mardegan's guard now, I'm sure.
Iranovichk is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iranovichk controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Iranovichk has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mardegan is proving hard to escape from.
Mardegan wants to get back to his feet but Iranovichk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mardegan keeping moving, preventing Iranovichk from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mardegan is trying to keep Iranovichk in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Viktor Iranovichk has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Iranovichk has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mardegan tries to break free but Iranovichk pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Iranovichk dominated that round.
That's time! Iranovichk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Iranovichk ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Iranovichk throws a shot to the body.
Mardegan shoots in for a takedown but Iranovichk shows good takedown defense.
Iranovichk throws a right hand that Mardegan ducks under and follows up with a left that Mardegan also avoids with ease.
Iranovichk fails with a takedown attempt.
Mardegan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Iranovichk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Iranovichk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Iranovichk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mardegan.
Iranovichk throws a head kick but Mardegan moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iranovichk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mardegan circles away quickly and effectively.
Iranovichk throws a nice head kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mardegan doesn't manage to clinch there - Iranovichk circles away.
Iranovichk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mardegan's waist but Mardegan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Iranovichk off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Iranovichk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mardegan has a takedown stuffed.
Iranovichk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Mardegan.
Iranovichk swats away the attempt to clinch by Mardegan.
Mardegan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mardegan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Iranovichk avoids it really well and circles away.
Mardegan fails with the takedown

and Iranovichk counters with a single leg into guard. Mardegan didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mardegan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Iranovichk 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.
Iranovichk landing some decent shots from guard.
Mardegan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iranovichk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mardegan's guard.
Iranovichk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mardegan is looking for a triangle but Iranovichk pushes his legs off easily.
Mardegan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Iranovichk controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mardegan is trying to hold Iranovichk in close to prevent damage but Iranovichk has managed to pass into half guard.
Mardegan manages to get to full guard.
Iranovichk trying to control the position from guard on top but Mardegan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Iranovichk tries to free his leg and advance position but Mardegan is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mardegan is trying to control the position but Iranovichk postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Iranovichk dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mardegan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Iranovichk ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Iranovichk shoots in looking for a takedown. Mardegan tries to sprawl out of it but Iranovichk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mardegan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mardegan misses with a kick to the body.

Iranovichk rushes Mardegan and presses him up against the cage.

Iranovichk gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Iranovichk postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mardegan to stand up.
Iranovichk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mardegan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Iranovichk.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Iranovichk fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mardegan fails with the takedown
and Iranovichk counters with a right hand to the body.
Viktor Iranovichk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mardegan fails to land the takedown.
Viktor Iranovichk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Mardegan.
Mardegan closes the distance but Iranovichk moves to the side

and Iranovichk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mardegan!

Iranovichk stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Iranovichk. That's going to slow Mardegan down.

Iranovichk clinches up with Mardegan and pushes him back against the cage.

Iranovichk manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mardegan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iranovichk looking to score a takedown here. Mardegan is defending well but Iranovichk drives through and ends up in Mardegan's guard.
Iranovichk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Iranovichk wants to control from the top but Mardegan keeps moving.
Mardegan keeping full guard, as Iranovichk tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mardegan is on top in guard.
Mardegan trying to control but Iranovichk is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mardegan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Iranovichk counters with a takedown into side control.

Iranovichk is trying to get an arm triangle but Mardegan is defending well.

Iranovichk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mardegan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Iranovichk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Iranovichk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mardegan can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iranovichk wants to control for a moment but Mardegan uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Mardegan is looking to control Iranovichk's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mardegan avoid being mounted?

Iranovichk is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mardegan is just riding it out for now. Iranovichk eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Iranovichk trying to mount his opponent but Mardegan defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Iranovichk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Iranovichk 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Iranovichk!