PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Obolon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Ding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Obolon
vs
Ding

190 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Obolon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bill Ding!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obolon misses with the combination.
Obolon throws a nice looking combination but Ding bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Obolon looks to score with a jab to the body but Ding is just out of range.
Ding closes the distance and clinches up with Obolon, looking for a takedown. Ding pushes Obolon against the cage but Obolon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ding shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Obolon pinned against the cage. Obolon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Obolon thuds his shin into the meat of Ding's side.
Obolon bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Obolon misses the shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ding looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Obolon breaks from the clinch.
Ding tries to clinch up but Obolon circles away and keeps his distance.
Obolon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ding.
Ivan Obolon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obolon tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ding moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obolon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ding has him pressed against the cage.
Ding tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Obolon smiles and moves away.
Ivan Obolon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Ding.
Ding will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Obolon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Obolon with a hook.

Obolon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ding lands a nice uppercut.
Obolon lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ding tries a knee to the head but Obolon blocks it.
Obolon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Obolon changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ding fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ding avoids the head kick by Obolon.
Obolon is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ding throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Obolon's waist but Obolon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ding off to one side.
Obolon closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ding counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Obolon wants to clinch

and Ding counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ding.
Ding is looking to break free of the clinch but Obolon has double underhooks.

Obolon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Obolon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Obolon misses with a combination

and Ding counters with a single leg into guard. Obolon didn't expect that.
Ding won't allow Obolon to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obolon working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obolon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Obolon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ding controls the pace.
Obolon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Obolon tries to get out of the position.
Obolon is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ding is controlling him.
Obolon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ding on the ground.
Ding trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Obolon wants to stand up but Ding is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Obolon lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Obolon.
Obolon throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ding counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Obolon's guard now.

Obolon pushes Ding off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Obolon clinches up against the cage.
Ding tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Obolon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ding lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A knee to the head by Obolon.

Obolon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Obolon forces Ding back against the cage and clinches.
Obolon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ding lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ding wants to get back to striking at distance but Obolon won't allow it.

Obolon manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bill Ding will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Obolon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ding looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Obolon pushes Ding up against the cage in a clinch.

Ding manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Obolon wants to stand but Ding has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Ding looking for a guillotine here but Obolon defends easily.
Ding trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ding controlling Obolon's posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Obolon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ding is proving hard to escape from.
Obolon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Obolon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ding's guard.
Ding looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Ding is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Obolon gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ding shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Obolon is wriggling around but Ding manages to pass to half guard.
Ding passes to side control.
Ding in side control lands a decent elbow.

Ding tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ding has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ding prevents Obolon from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ding tries to advance to mount but Obolon denies him.

Ding thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Obolon wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Ding stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Ding drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ding stops Obolon from standing up.
Obolon wants to get back to his feet but Ding passes into half guard.
Ding looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Obolon pushes Ding off looking to stand but Ding dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Ding showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Obolon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ding.
Ding takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Obolon tries to clinch up but Ding circles away and keeps his distance.
Obolon is looking to clinch but Ding is avoiding it.
Obolon tries to close the distance and clinch but Ding swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ding.
Obolon is looking to clinch.
Obolon throws a combination that misses

and Ding counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Obolon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ding tries to break the clinch but Obolon is controlling the position.
A knee to the head by Obolon.
Ding fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ding wants a takedown but no success here.
Ivan Obolon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Ding.

Ding manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Obolon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ding letting Obolon take a breather here.
Ding prevents Obolon from breaking the clinch.
Obolon is trying to break the clinch but Ding has him pressed against the cage.

Obolon manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Obolon misses.
A solid body kick from Obolon.
Ding tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Obolon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Obolon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ding paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Obolon tries to clinch

and Ding counters with a single leg into guard. Obolon didn't expect that.
Ding looking to pass the guard.

Obolon pushes Ding off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obolon has closed the distance and engaged Ding in a clinch.
Ding leaning against his opponent.

Obolon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Obolon falls off balance throwing a combination

so Ding counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ding decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ding.
Ding rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Obolon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ding looks to clinch
and Obolon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ding fails to land the takedown.
Obolon looks to clinch

and Ding counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Obolon!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Obolon really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Obolon in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Obolon squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ding working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Obolon is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Ding tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Obolon is trying to stand but he's just given Ding his back.
Ding is trying to stick to Obolon's back but Obolon is turning into Ding. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ding's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Obolon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ding trying to control the position.

Ding has his feet on Obolon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Obolon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Obolon scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Obolon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Obolon wants to clinch but Ding slips to the side

and Ding counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ivan Obolon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ding missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Ding comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ding 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Ding!