PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Semyon Varlamov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Varlamov
vs
Hart

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
235 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Semyon Varlamov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Hart!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hart tries to clinch

and Varlamov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Hart pulls guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Varlamov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

Varlamov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hart has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Varlamov has managed to get both his arms back between Hart's legs - danger averted.
Hart can't keep his opponent in guard - Varlamov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hart wants to get back to full guard but Varlamov has passed into side control.
Varlamov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
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!
Varlamov looking to control but instead Hart has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varlamov is looking to take a break and control but Hart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hart with the active half guard here but Varlamov passes nicely into side control.

Varlamov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hart has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hart takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hart 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.

Varlamov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hart tries to close the distance and clinch but Varlamov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hart tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Varlamov counters by moving into the clinch.
Hart tries to pull guard but Varlamov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hart tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Varlamov just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hart gets control of Varlamov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hart will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hart is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Varlamov is aware though and is defending well.
Varlamov wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.

Hart working for a triangle but Varlamov defends it easily.
Varlamov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart trying to control the position.
Varlamov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Varlamov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hart is proving hard to escape from.

Varlamov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Varlamov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hart sprawls well. Hart wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Varlamov gets slowly back to his feet.
Semyon Varlamov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hart wants to clinch up but Varlamov keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Varlamov gets a clinch.

Hart gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Hart drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Varlamov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hart has Varlamov in his guard.

Hart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Varlamov from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Hart will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Varlamov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Varlamov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hart paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Varlamov forces Hart back against the cage and clinches.
Hart tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Varlamov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hart tries to close the distance and clinch but Varlamov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hart tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Varlamov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Varlamov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hart tries to clinch but Varlamov is having none of it.

Varlamov clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Varlamov just stands there and leans against the cage.

Varlamov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hart regains guard immediately.

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

Hart working for a triangle but Varlamov defends it easily.
Varlamov trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.

Varlamov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Varlamov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varlamov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Hart actively working from the bottom here.
Varlamov winds up and cracks Hart with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hart wants to get back to full guard.
Varlamov trying to control the action but Hart is working from the bottom.

Hart looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Varlamov pushes past his half guard into mount!
Varlamov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Semyon Varlamov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hart tries to reverse the position but Varlamov maintains control.
Hart is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hart is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart wants to control but Varlamov is having none of it.
Hart is in a horrible position here. Varlamov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Varlamov content just to control the position here.
Hart is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hart stops Varlamov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Hart sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hart is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hart looking for submissions off his back.
Varlamov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Hart actively working from the bottom here.
Hart wants to improve his position but Varlamov is controlling well.

Varlamov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hart is looking to control Varlamov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hart avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Semyon Varlamov will probably get the nod.
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!

Varlamov misses with a head kick.
Varlamov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hart darts in trying to clinch

and Varlamov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Varlamov.
Hart fails to pull guard.

Hart wants the takedown. Varlamov is fighting it off but Hart persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Varlamov's guard against the cage.

Varlamov pushes Hart off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Varlamov drives through and clinches with Hart against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varlamov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hart after a bit of a struggle.

Varlamov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Hart throws his legs up looking for a submission but Varlamov uses it to pass to side control.
Hart gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Varlamov content just to control the position here.
Hart is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varlamov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hart is looking to escape.
Hart regains half guard.

Hart with the active half guard here but Varlamov passes nicely into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hart gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Varlamov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hart is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart wants to get back to full guard but Varlamov has passed into side control.
Hart tries to buck Varlamov off but Varlamov is having none of it.

Varlamov stands up.
Hart takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Varlamov tries to clinch but Hart is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Varlamov.

Varlamov closes the distance and clinches.
Hart is trying to pull guard but Varlamov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hart is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Varlamov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Semyon Varlamov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Hart.
Varlamov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hart pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Varlamov gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Hart looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Varlamov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Varlamov trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Semyon Varlamov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Varlamov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Semyon Varlamov!