PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mandingo Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leva Gigant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fernandez
vs
Gigant

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super 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, Mandingo Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leva Gigant !
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gigant swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandez.
Gigant closes the distance looking to clinch

and Fernandez counters by moving into the clinch.

Fernandez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gigant uses from the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fernandez wants to sweep but no luck.

Fernandez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fernandez pulls Gigant in close to his closed guard and prevents Gigant from doing any damage or advancing position.
Fernandez wants to sweep but no luck.
Fernandez has his hands on Gigant 's head, controlling the position.
Fernandez has a closed guard, preventing Gigant from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Fernandez has control of Gigant 's left arm, preventing Gigant from doing any damage.

Mandingo Fernandez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Fernandez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gigant missing with punches from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fernandez in particular looking to stall.
Gigant is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gigant wants to improve his position but Fernandez is controlling well.
Fernandez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fernandez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gigant keeps working.
Fernandez drops an elbow to the side of Gigant 's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mandingo Fernandez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Fernandez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fernandez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fernandez stops Gigant from standing up.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Gigant keeps moving.
Fernandez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Mandingo Fernandez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gigant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gigant looks for the body kick but Fernandez saw that one coming.

Fernandez dives in and scores a takedown into Gigant 's guard.
Gigant is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fernandez is controlling him.
Gigant looks gassed!
Fernandez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fernandez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mandingo Fernandez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernandez wants to clinch.

Fernandez scores with a takedown into Gigant 's guard.

Gigant is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernandez is aware though and is defending well.

Gigant looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Fernandez passes into half guard.
Fernandez is taking a breather. Gigant says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gigant for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Mandingo Fernandez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fernandez instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gigant pulls his leg out and moves away.

Gigant drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gigant must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fernandez has his hands on Gigant 's head, controlling the position.
Fernandez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Fernandez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fernandez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Fernandez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Gigant turns into him and now he's in Fernandez's guard.

Gigant drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Fernandez dives on top into guard.
Gigant is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Gigant keeps moving.
Fernandez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gigant working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Fernandez has passed into half guard!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gigant actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mandingo Fernandez dominated that second round.
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!

Fernandez throws a head kick but Gigant moves out of range.
Gigant tries to clinch but Fernandez is having none of it.

Fernandez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gigant sprawls well initially but Fernandez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Gigant is working from the bottom.
Gigant trying to control but Fernandez postures up.
Fernandez tries to pass to full mount but Gigant defends it.
Gigant is trying to stand up here but Fernandez is controlling him well.
Fernandez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fernandez wants to pass to mount but Gigant is defending the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Mandingo Fernandez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gigant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fernandez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gigant gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fernandez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gigant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fernandez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gigant is working an open guard so Fernandez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Gigant gets tackled into the cage by Fernandez. Fernandez maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gigant tries to land a knee to the head but Fernandez blocks with his arms.
Fernandez tries to land knees in the clinch but Gigant avoids the damage to the body.
Gigant is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fernandez to keep the fight standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fernandez breaks from the clinch.
Gigant wants to clinch.

Fernandez clinches with his opponent.

Fernandez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gigant can't fight it off and eventually Fernandez manages to take the fight to the floor. Gigant looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fernandez passes into half guard.
Fernandez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gigant can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fernandez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fernandez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Fernandez uses his free foot to push down on Gigant 's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gigant .
Fernandez landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fernandez looking to secure an arm triangle but Gigant defends it well.
Fernandez working the ground and pound effectively.
Fernandez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fernandez raining down hammerfists from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mandingo Fernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fernandez 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mandingo Fernandez!