PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Privalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Baroev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Privalov
vs
Baroev

180 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Privalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Baroev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Privalov closes the distance and clinches up with Baroev, looking for a takedown. Privalov pushes Baroev against the cage but Baroev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Privalov shoots in for a takedown but Baroev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baroev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Privalov scores with a hook to the body. Baroev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baroev tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Privalov counters by moving into the clinch.
Baroev wants to take the fight to the mat but Privalov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Privalov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Baroev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Baroev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baroev throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Privalov.
Privalov has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Privalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baroev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baroev wants it to stay on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Privalov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Baroev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baroev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baroev throws a looping overhand right but Privalov ducks down to avoid it.
Privalov throws a lazy body kick
and Baroev counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Privalov gets a clinch.

Privalov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Privalov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Privalov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Privalov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baroev wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Privalov in particular looking to stall.

Oleg Privalov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Privalov shoots in for a takedown but Baroev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baroev throws out a leg kick but Privalov moves out of range and Baroev only half commits.
Baroev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Privalov is fending him off so far but Baroev persists. Nope, Privalov circles away and we're back to standing.
Baroev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Privalov avoids it really well and circles away.
Privalov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Baroev shoots in but Privalov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Baroev looks gassed!
Privalov throws a chopping leg kick but Baroev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Baroev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Privalov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Privalov tries to land a front kick but Baroev steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Baroev moves out of range as Privalov throws a body kick.
Baroev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baroev misses with a left hand
and Privalov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Baroev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Privalov shoots in but Baroev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Baroev looks to land a body kick but Privalov moved away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baroev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Privalov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baroev but Baroev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baroev shoots in for a takedown but Privalov shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Oleg Privalov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Privalov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baroev as he avoids it easily.
Baroev shoots in for a takedown but Privalov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Privalov dives in and grabs Baroev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baroev pushes down on Privalov's head and hops out.
Privalov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Privalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baroev.
Baroev shoots in for a double leg but Privalov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baroev fails to land the takedown.
Privalov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Privalov throws a leg kick but Baroev moved away.
Ruslan Baroev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baroev is breathing heavily.
Privalov fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Privalov. No joy for Baroev on that attempt.
Oleg Privalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Baroev. No joy for Privalov on that attempt.
Baroev thows a body kick. Privalov tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Baroev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Baroev gets tackled into the cage by Privalov. Privalov maintains the clinch.

Privalov jumps into guard, dragging Baroev to the mat.

Privalov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Privalov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Privalov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Privalov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baroev manages to get himself to full guard.

Privalov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Privalov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Privalov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Baroev wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Privalov is now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baroev trying to control but Privalov postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Privalov works his way into side control.
Privalov is staying tight to Baroev's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Privalov decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Privalov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Privalov closes the distance and clinches up with Baroev, looking for a takedown. Privalov pushes Baroev against the cage but Baroev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baroev fails with the takedown.
Privalov tries for a takedown but Baroev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Baroev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Privalov sprawls well. Privalov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baroev gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Privalov or perhaps it was just good defense by Baroev which made him look bad.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baroev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Privalov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck for Baroev with that takedown attempt.

Privalov clinches up against the cage.
Baroev tries to pull guard but Privalov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Baroev wants to break free but Privalov has control.
Privalov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Privalov wants a takedown but no success here.
Baroev jumps guard but Privalov stands there with Baroev around his waist. Baroev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Oleg Privalov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Baroev.
Baroev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baroev jumps guard but Privalov stands there with Baroev around his waist. Baroev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Privalov lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Privalov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Privalov jumps guard and drags Baroev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Privalov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Privalov pushes Baroev off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Privalov stuffs the takedown attempt from Baroev. Baroev gets slowly back to his feet.

Privalov instigates a clinch.
Privalov is looking to break free of the clinch but Baroev has double underhooks.
Privalov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baroev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baroev prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Privalov manages to pull guard.
Baroev wants to control from the top but Privalov keeps moving.
Privalov pulls Baroev in close to prevent any damage.
Oleg Privalov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Oleg Privalov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Privalov gets a double leg takedown into Baroev's guard.

Privalov stands up and waves to Baroev to follow him.
Privalov misses with a wild combination.
Privalov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baroev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Privalov clinches.

Privalov jumps guard.

Privalov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Baroev trying to control the position from guard on top but Privalov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Privalov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ruslan Baroev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oleg Privalov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Privalov pulls Baroev in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleg Privalov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Privalov, 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Privalov!