PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andriy Molotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Maynard (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.

Molotov
vs
Maynard

175 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andriy Molotov!
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, Josh Maynard!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maynard stuffs the takedown attempt from Molotov. Molotov gets slowly back to his feet.
Maynard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maynard dives in and grabs Molotov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Molotov pushes down on Maynard's head and hops out.
Maynard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maynard shoots in for a takedown but Molotov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Andriy Molotov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Maynard.
Maynard shoots in looking for a takedown but Molotov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maynard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Molotov avoids the head kick by Maynard.
Molotov shoots in but Maynard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Molotov wants to clinch.
Maynard shoots for a takedown but Molotov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Molotov is defended easily by Maynard.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Molotov jumps guard but Maynard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Maynard is trying to break free.
Molotov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Maynard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Molotov breaks from the clinch.
Molotov tries to clinch but Maynard moves away
and Maynard counters with a one-two to the body.
Molotov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Maynard instigates a clinch.
Molotov wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maynard manages to pull guard.
Molotov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
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!
Molotov wants to control from the top but Maynard keeps moving.
Molotov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Molotov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Molotov wants to control from the top but Maynard keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andriy Molotov.
Maynard closes the distance but Molotov moves to the side
and Molotov counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maynard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Maynard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maynard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Molotov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Maynard looks gassed!

Molotov moves into the clinch.
Maynard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maynard taking a breather.

Molotov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maynard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maynard.

Molotov has managed to clinch.
Maynard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maynard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Molotov.
Maynard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Molotov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Molotov drags the fight down to the ground.
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 Andriy Molotov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maynard shoots in but no luck this time.
Maynard wants to clinch.
Molotov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maynard leaves Molotov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maynard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Molotov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maynard was well out of range. Poor timing from Molotov.
Molotov shoots in looking for a takedown but Maynard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Molotov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Molotov throws a right hand that Maynard ducks under and follows up with a left that Maynard also avoids with ease.

Molotov forces Maynard back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov dodges an elbow strike from Maynard.
Maynard is trying to break the clinch but Molotov is controlling him.
Maynard is trying to pull guard but Molotov has him pressed against the cage.
Andriy Molotov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Maynard.
Maynard is breathing heavily.
Maynard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maynard looking to slow down the pace here.
Molotov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Maynard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Molotov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Maynard or perhaps it was just good defense by Molotov which made him look bad.
Maynard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Molotov defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Maynard gets tackled into the cage by Molotov. Molotov maintains the clinch.
Molotov prevents Maynard from breaking the clinch.
Molotov avoiding damage.
Maynard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Molotov has Maynard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maynard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Maynard being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to take this one to the mat.

Molotov pulls guard successfully.
Molotov wants to stand and escape but Maynard is having none of it.

Molotov working for a triangle but Maynard defends it easily.
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.
Maynard works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard prevents Molotov from improving his position.
Molotov is trying to control but can't.
Maynard is controlling the pace.
Molotov is staying active underneath Maynard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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 Andriy Molotov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Maynard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maynard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Molotov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Molotov fails to land the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maynard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Molotov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Molotov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maynard but Maynard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Molotov fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andriy Molotov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Molotov leaves Maynard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maynard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A big right from Maynard misses.
Molotov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Molotov.
Molotov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Molotov fails to land the takedown.
Molotov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maynard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maynard clinches up against the cage.
Molotov is trying to drag Maynard to the mat but Maynard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maynard stalls.

Maynard is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Molotov can't fight it off and eventually Maynard manages to take the fight to the floor. Molotov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Molotov has a closed guard, preventing Maynard from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Molotov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maynard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Molotov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Molotov wants to sweep but no luck.
Maynard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Molotov is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Maynard is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard controlling the pace for now.

Maynard working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Maynard has hold of Molotov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Molotov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Molotov is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Maynard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Molotov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Andriy Molotov!