PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Olivier Denis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Non Ultra Steve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Denis
vs
Ultra Steve

173 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

150 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 5 - 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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Non Ultra Steve!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve throws a combination that misses
and Denis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Steve moves into range and clinches up with Denis.

Denis manages to break the clinch.

Denis feints and as Steve raises his hands in defense, Denis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Denis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Steve is wriggling around but Denis manages to pass to half guard.
Steve pushes Denis off but Denis dives into side control.
Steve tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Steve looks gassed!
Denis is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steve wants to escape the position.
Denis controlling from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Denis scores with punches to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denis has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Steve.
Denis controlling from the back.
Steve tries to roll but Denis sticks to his back.
Denis controlling the position well here. Steve rolled but Denis kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Steve is really stuck here.
Denis controls the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve is trying to stand back up.
Steve should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Denis biding his time, controlling Steve.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve trying to get back to his feet but Denis is in full control for now.
Denis biding his time, looking for the opening.
Denis scores with punches from the back.
Denis slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Denis loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Steve hold on?
Steve is trying to get back to his feet but Denis has full control of the position and if anything, Steve has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Steve is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Denis.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Denis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Denis decides to stand up.

Denis shoots in and bounces Steve off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Steve is looking for a triangle here but Denis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Denis controls the position.
Steve is breathing heavily.
Steve tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denis is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Steve looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
What can Steve do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denis connects with a big shot to the side of Steve's head.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Denis's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Steve is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Denis is riding his opponent, not letting Steve buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries to roll but Denis sticks to his back.
Denis slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Steve trying to get back to his feet but Denis is in full control for now.
Denis controls the action.

Olivier Denis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Steve clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve is trying to push Denis away but Denis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Steve has eaten all the pies!
A short right from Denis.

It looks like Non Ultra Steve has been cut.
Steve looking to slow down the pace here.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Denis as Steve tries to tie him up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve is trying to push Denis away but Denis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Denis is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Denis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Non Ultra Steve's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Denis scoring well with a low kick there.

Steve closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Steve is trying to push Denis away but Denis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Denis is defending well for now.
Denis is stalling here.
Steve takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Denis connects with a knee to the head.
Steve is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denis is trying to trip Steve. He has hold of a leg but Steve is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Denis persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Olivier Denis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Steve is looking for a triangle here but Denis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Denis controls the position.
Steve wants to get back to his feet but Denis is dominant here and he's now got Steve's back!
Denis just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Olivier Denis wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Steve clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denis decides to pull guard.

Denis manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A lazy body kick from Steve

and Denis counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Steve throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Denis escapes and throws Steve's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Denis controlling the position from side mount.
Denis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steve can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve looks to move to half guard but instead Denis has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Denis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Steve is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Denis controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olivier Denis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Denis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

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