PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Petr Petrovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taj Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Petrovich comes to the cage accompanied by Soviet Anthem. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Petrovich
vs
Lewis

180 cm
20
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petr Petrovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taj Lewis!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lewis looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Lewis tries to keep at a distance but Petrovich has taken the fight into the clinch.
Petrovich lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Petrovich works on Lewis's body with a couple of short punches.
Lewis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Petrovich manages to break the clinch.
Lewis moves away from the strike by Petrovich.
Petrovich throws a series of punches but Lewis moves out of range.
Lewis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Petrovich misses with an uppercut.
Petrovich missing with a left hand there. Lewis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Petrovich throws a right hand that Lewis ducks under and follows up with a left that Lewis also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petrovich clinches up with Lewis and pushes him back against the cage.

Petrovich breaks the clinch.
Petrovich throws a hook but Lewis avoids it easily.
Petrovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Lewis is just out of range.
Petrovich connects with a jab.
Lewis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrovich fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lewis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Petrovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Petrovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lewis manages to avoid it.
Lewis moves out of range of the strikes.
Petrovich misses with an uppercut. Lewis saw that one coming.

Lewis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Petrovich will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lewis up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Petrovich misses the jab.
Lewis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Petrovich misses with a body shot.
Lewis moves out of range as Petrovich strikes.
Lewis slips under a jab from Petrovich.
Petrovich looks to land a right hand but Lewis moved out of range.
A combination from Petrovich does no damage.
Petrovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Lewis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Petrovich not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petrovich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petrovich lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lewis!
Petrovich landing punches.
Petrovich looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lewis regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Petrovich is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lewis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Petrovich scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lewis actively working from the bottom here.
Petrovich controlling the action here.

Petrovich is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lewis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lewis tries to roll over but Petrovich keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Petrovich seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petr Petrovich dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lewis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petrovich.

Lewis gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lewis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Petrovich controls the pace.
Petrovich working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Petrovich slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Petrovich slips nicely into half guard.

Petrovich is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Petrovich is nestled in close to Lewis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Petrovich working Lewis over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrovich passes to full mount!
Lewis is breathing heavily.
Lewis is bucking up trying to escape but Petrovich cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovich controlling the position easily from mount.
Petrovich landing punches.
Petrovich looking to control and managing it successfully.
Petrovich is landing with some decent strikes but Lewis is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Petrovich looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Petrovich controlling the position easily from mount.
Petrovich lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Petrovich.
Petrovich looking to control and managing it successfully.
Petrovich looking to control but Lewis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Petrovich content just to control the position here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Petr Petrovich just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Petrovich shoots and misses

and Lewis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lewis won't allow Petrovich to sweep him here.
Lewis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petrovich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petrovich is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich is keen to just control but Lewis is a slippery customer.
Petrovich wants to pass to mount but Lewis is defending the position.
Petrovich is trying to control the action in half guard but Lewis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Petrovich controlling the action here.
Petrovich has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lewis taking some punishment here, with Petrovich in his half guard.
Petrovich controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Petrovich working Lewis over with strikes.

Petrovich is working for a kimura but Lewis is defending it quite comfortably.
Petrovich uses his free foot to push down on Lewis's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lewis.
Petrovich controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petrovich is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lewis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Petrovich tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petr Petrovich dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Petrovich throws a body punch but Lewis moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Petrovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lewis ducks under a wild hook from Petrovich.
Lewis stuffs the takedown attempt from Petrovich. Petrovich gets slowly back to his feet.
Petrovich has his takedown stuffed

and Lewis counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Petrovich!
Petrovich tries to lock up and control but Lewis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lewis looking to ground and pound but Petrovich is blocking nicely.
Petr Petrovich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lewis swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Petrovich is now in Lewis's guard. A big mistake from Lewis there, giving up the dominant position!
Petrovich controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Petrovich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Petrovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Petr Petrovich just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Petrovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lewis manages to avoid it.
Lewis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Petrovich counters with a left to the body.
Taj Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Petrovich.
Petrovich digs a good hook to Lewis's body.
Lewis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Petrovich swivels and escapes.
Petrovich throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lewis with a poor takedown

and Petrovich decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lewis's guard.
Petr Petrovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taj Lewis.
Lewis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Petrovich.
Petrovich scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Petrovich is in close to Lewis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Petrovich postures up and lands a big shot to Lewis's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich forces his way into half guard.
Lewis taking some punishment here, with Petrovich in his half guard.
Petrovich looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Petrovich content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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!
Petrovich wants to pass to mount but Lewis is defending the position.
Petrovich lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Petrovich passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Lewis!
Lewis is bucking up trying to escape but Petrovich cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Petrovich lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich lands a big shot there that rocks Lewis but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Lewis is rocked!
Lewis can't escape the position.
Lewis is still in real trouble! Can Petrovich finish him?
Petrovich tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lewis seems to have recovered his senses.
Petrovich fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Petrovich tries to control but Lewis wriggling away.
Petrovich pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Petrovich has hold of Lewis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Lewis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Petrovich controlling the pace for now.

Petrovich looking to secure an arm triangle but Lewis defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lewis looks a forlorn figure.
Petrovich dominating with strikes here.
Petrovich content just to control the position here.
Petrovich working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Petrovich controlling from the full mount.
Lewis is looking to improve his position but Petrovich isn't that keen on the idea.
Taj Lewis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lewis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petr Petrovich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Petrovich 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petr Petrovich!