PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Isaac Cultice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cultice has chosen Sexy and I Know it as his entrance music. Isaac Cultice has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ivanov
vs
Cultice

186 cm
18
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isaac Cultice!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ivanov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cultice, pushing him back against the cage.

Ivanov has Cultice pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ivanov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cultice tumbling to the mat - Ivanov dives into Cultice's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ivanov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cultice's guard.
Ivanov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cultice trying to control the position.
Ivanov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ivanov postures up in Cultice's guard and throws a big left but Cultice blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cultice bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.
Cultice must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ivanov trying to control the position here.
Ivanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cultice's guard.
Cultice trying to strike off his back.
Ivanov preventing the sweep.
Ivanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cultice is keeping the position for now.
Cultice controls Ivanov momentarily but Ivanov frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ivanov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cultice trying to keep a closed guard but Ivanov is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Isaac Cultice.
Ivanov tries to clinch but Cultice moves away

and Cultice counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cultice not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Cultice seems to be working for a kimura but Ivanov defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cultice looks gassed!
Cultice tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ivanov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cultice seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ivanov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ivanov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ivanov tries to get out of the position.
Ivanov is pressing down on Cultice's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ivanov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ivanov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cultice stands up from Ivanov's guard - Cultice perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice sprawl there from Cultice as Ivanov shoots in.
Ivanov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ivanov feints and as Cultice raises his hands in defense, Ivanov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ivanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cultice not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ivanov stands and steps away. Cultice gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ivanov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cultice closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ivanov to the mat! Ivanov manages to get full guard.
Cultice prevents Ivanov from getting back to his feet.
Cultice would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ivanov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cultice is aware though and is defending well.
Ivanov is trying to control the position but Cultice postures up.

Ivanov uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Ivanov fails with a takedown attempt.
Cultice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ivanov as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cultice rushes Ivanov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cultice tries to break the clinch but Ivanov is controlling the position.
Cultice crunches a lovely knee into Ivanov's ribcage.

Cultice breaks the clinch.
Cultice tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ivanov stuffs the takedown attempt from Cultice. Cultice gets slowly back to his feet.
Ivanov dives in and grabs Cultice's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cultice pushes down on Ivanov's head and hops out.
Ivanov moves in looking to clinch but Cultice pushes him off.

Cultice feints and as Ivanov raises his hands in defense, Cultice changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maxim Ivanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cultice trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nice strikes from Ivanov there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ivanov is thwarting Cultice's attempts to control the position.
Ivanov slips a nice elbow through Cultice's hands, connecting with Cultice's forehead.
Ivanov lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cultice wants to get back to full guard.

Ivanov stands up and beckons Cultice to join him on the feet.
Ivanov tries for a takedown but Cultice sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ivanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov throws a nice looking combination but Cultice bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cultice is looking to clinch but Ivanov is avoiding it.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cultice fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Ivanov gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Cultice's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to take the fight to the mat but Cultice manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ivanov looking to stall.

Cultice jumps into guard, dragging Ivanov to the mat.

Ivanov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cultice is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cultice has escaped and now he's on top!
Cultice wants to get up but he can't break Ivanov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ivanov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Isaac Cultice will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ivanov shoots in for a takedown but Cultice shows good takedown defense.
Ivanov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cultice is fending him off so far but Ivanov persists. Nope, Cultice circles away and we're back to standing.

Cultice closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ivanov to the mat! Ivanov manages to get full guard.
Cultice lands a couple of digs.
Cultice throwing strikes from guard but Ivanov blocks nicely.
Cultice with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Cultice gets to his feet - Ivanov follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cultice shoots for a takedown but Ivanov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ivanov gets a takedown into half guard.
Cultice tries to get to full guard but Ivanov has control of the leg.
Cultice trying to control but Ivanov postures up.
Cultice is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ivanov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Maxim Ivanov just wasn't active enough.
Ivanov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cultice is fending him off so far but Ivanov persists. Nope, Cultice circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ivanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cultice takes the fight into the clinch.
Cultice tries to circle away but Ivanov has him pinned against the cage.
Ivanov trying to control the position but instead, Cultice has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ivanov into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cultice breaks the clinch.
Maxim Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ivanov enables Cultice to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ivanov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ivanov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cultice is controlling him.
Ivanov wants to sweep here but Cultice controlling him for the moment.

Ivanov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ivanov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cultice has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ivanov uses from the top position.
Ivanov working some strikes from top position.
Cultice is trying to keep Ivanov in close.
Cultice wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivanov slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Isaac Cultice comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cultice has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Isaac Cultice!
Post fight, an emotional Isaac Cultice said 'Thanks to my manager'.