PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Dank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Maslov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dank
vs
Maslov

150 cm
22
130 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
133 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Russian Tech Nutrition

Acton Nutritional Company

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Dank!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Maslov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dank dodges the punch combination from Maslov.
Dank shoots in for a double leg but Maslov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maslov throws out a loose jab but Dank uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maslov misses with a two punch combination.
Dank slips a jab and a cross from Maslov.
Dank shoots in for a double leg but Maslov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Maslov. No joy for Dank on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Dank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dank defending well as Maslov loads up on a big left hand.
Dank shoots in for a double leg but Maslov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dank avoids a punch combination nicely.

Maslov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Maslov is looking to take a break and control but Dank is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dank tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Maslov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dank is trying to escape the mount.
Maslov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dank is looking to escape.
Dank is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dank is squirming around, avoiding Maslov's attempts to control the action.
Dank tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Maslov avoids the attempt from Dank to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dank is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Dank is trying to escape the mount.
Dank wants to hold on but Maslov pushes him away.
Dank is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maslov moves to the back position.
Dank rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Maslov decides to return to a standing position.

Maslov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maslov looks gassed!

Dank has his foot on Maslov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maslov works his way back into a safe position though.

Dank had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Maslov is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Dank Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Maslov's back instead.

Dank looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dank seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Maslov's chin but Maslov turns very nicely into Dank's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Maslov.
Maslov advances to half guard.

Maslov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dank wants to improve his position but Maslov is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Maslov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dank closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Dank looking for a submission but Maslov manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

Maslov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dank wants to pass the guard but Maslov is keeping the position.
Dank advances position into side control!
Dank advances to mount.
Maslov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dank moves to take his opponent's back.

Maslov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dank.

Dank is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Maslov defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Dank working for the choke.
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!

Dank is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dank is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Maslov knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Maslov for a finish.
Dank is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Dank has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maslov has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Dank working for a choke but Maslov reverses nicely into Dank 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dank wants to sweep here but Maslov controlling him for the moment.
Maslov tries to stand but Dank is controlling from the bottom.
Dank manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Dank looking for a guillotine from mount but Maslov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maslov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Dank goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Maslov turns into him and now he's in Dank's guard.
Maslov wants to get up but he can't break Dank's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dank working a defensive guard here.
Dank has a closed guard, preventing Maslov from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Dank dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maslov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dank counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maslov's guard now.

Dank drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Maslov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dank has Maslov in his guard.
Maslov postures up.
Frank Dank overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dank has an active guard here but Maslov has managed to pass into half guard.
Dank is looking for a sweep. Maslov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dank is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maslov gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Maslov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Maslov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dank wants to control but Maslov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dank wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dank has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Maslov. Oh but Dank has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Maslov goes limp - he's gone! Dank jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Frank Dank!
Frank Dank retains his bantamweight title!