PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Olivier Denis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andriy Molotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andriy Molotov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Denis
vs
Molotov

173 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Olivier Denis!
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, Andriy Molotov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Molotov clinches up with Denis and pushes him back against the cage.
Denis wants a takedown but no success here.
Molotov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Denis misses with the head strike.
Molotov jumps guard but Denis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Molotov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Molotov is looking to control Denis's arms but Denis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Molotov has his back to the cage.
Molotov tries to pull guard but Denis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Denis goes for a takedown attempt but Molotov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Molotov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Denis sprawls well. Denis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Molotov gets slowly back to his feet.
Olivier Denis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andriy Molotov.
Molotov dives in and grabs Denis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Denis pushes down on Molotov's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Molotov clinches up against the cage.
Denis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Molotov can't break the clinch.
Molotov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Denis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Denis rushes Molotov and presses him up against the cage.

Molotov pulls guard effortlessly.

Molotov kicks Denis off and gets to his feet.
Denis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Molotov counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Molotov instigates a clinch.
Molotov is pressed up against the cage. Denis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Molotov down to the mat. Molotov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Molotov shoots in but Denis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Molotov has taken the fight to the clinch.
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!

Denis works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Denis from controlling successfully.
Molotov wants to hit a switch here but Denis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Molotov there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denis controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotov wants to hold on but Denis pushes him away.
Denis tries to control but Molotov wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denis controlling from the full mount.
Molotov tries to hold on but Denis pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but 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.

Molotov looks for a takedown but Denis sprawls well.
Molotov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Denis defends it nicely.

Molotov darts in and clinches Denis up against the cage.

Denis lands a takedown into guard.
Denis trying to control but Molotov is working from the bottom.
Molotov looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Denis from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Denis postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Olivier Denis just wasn't active enough.
Molotov shoots in for a double leg but Denis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Olivier Denis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andriy Molotov.

Molotov rushes Denis and presses him up against the cage.

Molotov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Molotov clinches up against the cage.

Molotov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Denis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Molotov to the mat. Molotov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Denis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Denis wants to control from the top but Molotov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Denis is really struggling to control Molotov but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Olivier Denis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Molotov tries a head kick but it misses.
Denis shoots for a takedown but Molotov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Molotov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Denis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Molotov is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Denis preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis passes Molotov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Denis tries to stand but can't do so whilst Molotov controls his leg.
Molotov has a hand on Denis's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Denis takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Denis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Molotov is looking to improve his position but Denis isn't that keen on the idea.
Molotov tries to lock up and control but Denis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Denis controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Denis dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Molotov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Molotov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Denis uses from the top position.
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Denis from controlling successfully.
Denis postures up.
Molotov is controlling Denis's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Molotov looks to land a body kick but Denis moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Molotov closes the distance and clinches.

Denis tightens his grip and picks Molotov up, before dumping him to the ground. Molotov manages to land in guard.
Denis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Denis prevents Molotov from getting back to his feet.
Denis postures up in Molotov's guard and throws a big left but Molotov blocks it.
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Denis from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Olivier Denis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Denis fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Molotov.

Molotov closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denis stalling in the clinch.
Denis lands a knee to the head.
Denis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Denis can't get the takedown.
Molotov is trying to stall.
Molotov can't get the takedown.
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 tries to break free but Denis pushes him back against the cage.
Molotov is trying to break free.
Molotov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Molotov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Molotov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Denis looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Olivier Denis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Molotov looking for a takedown.

Denis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Molotov rushes Denis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Denis tries for a takedown but Molotov manages to get underhooks.
Denis tries to throw a body punch but Molotov avoids it by throwing Denis back against the cage.
Molotov fails to pull guard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Molotov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Denis throws a head kick that misses.
Denis shoots in looking for a takedown but Molotov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Denis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Molotov shoots in for a takedown but Denis shows good takedown defense.

Denis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Molotov on his heels. He'll look to pass Molotov's guard now, I'm sure.

Molotov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Denis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Denis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Denis from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Olivier Denis.
I think Denis 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olivier Denis!