PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Ignatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Triple Hhh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolay Ignatov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ignatov
vs
Hhh

186 cm
23
198 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Brute

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Ignatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Triple Hhh!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ignatov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ignatov is looking to advance position but Hhh won't allow it.
Ignatov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hhh wants to get back to his feet.
Hhh trying to control here.
Hhh wants to improve his position but Ignatov is controlling well.
Ignatov working Hhh over with strikes.

Hhh looking for submissions off his back.
Ignatov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hhh trying to control here.

Hhh is defending against the submission attempts here by Ignatov.
Ignatov wants to control but Hhh is keeping him busy.
Hhh trying to hold on to Ignatov's head to control him but Ignatov postures up.
Ignatov is taking a breather. Hhh says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hhh is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Ignatov jumps into side control!
Ignatov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hhh on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hhh is looking for a sweep.
Hhh is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hhh seems a little lost for a moment, as Ignatov dominates the positioning.
Hhh manages to get back to half guard.
Ignatov is taking a breather. Hhh says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hhh wants to control but Ignatov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hhh looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ignatov is working for a kimura but Hhh is defending it quite comfortably.
Still in half guard, Ignatov seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ignatov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hhh defending well though.
Hhh trying to control but Ignatov postures up.

Ignatov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ignatov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hhh trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Ignatov avoids the attempt from Hhh to control.
Ignatov cracks Hhh with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ignatov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ignatov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Ignatov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ignatov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hhh did well to prevent Ignatov getting side control.
Ignatov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Ignatov decides to stand and escape the position.
Hhh lands a jab-cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hhh misses with a takedown attempt

so Ignatov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hhh is trying to control the position but Ignatov postures up.
Ignatov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ignatov won't allow Hhh to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hhh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nikolay Ignatov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ignatov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hhh tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hhh is being controlled here.
Hhh is looking to get back to his feet here but Ignatov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Hhh's back.
Ignatov is throwing shots to the body but Hhh manages to wriggle free. Ignatov pounces on him again and ends up in Hhh's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov passes Hhh's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hhh is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ignatov in particular looking to stall.

Ignatov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hhh is just riding it out for now. Ignatov eventually gives up the hold.
Hhh is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hhh is pressing down on Ignatov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ignatov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hhh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ignatov controls the pace.
Hhh trying to control the position.
Ignatov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hhh is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Hhh looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hhh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ignatov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hhh, up you get!

Hhh gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ignatov distracts Hhh with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
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.
Ignatov postures up.
Hhh might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ignatov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Hhh is working an open guard so Ignatov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Ignatov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ignatov shoots in and gets a takedown into Hhh's guard.
Hhh doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ignatov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ignatov tries to free his leg and advance position but Hhh is retaining full guard.
Hhh controls Ignatov momentarily but Ignatov frees himself.
Hhh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ignatov trying to control but Hhh is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikolay Ignatov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hhh fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hhh fails to land the takedown.
Hhh throws a head kick but Ignatov moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Ignatov.

Ignatov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hhh keeping full guard, as Ignatov tries to pass.
Ignatov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikolay Ignatov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hhh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ignatov manages to get himself to full guard.
Ignatov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hhh wants to control from the top but Ignatov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hhh throws a head kick that misses.
Hhh misses with a wild combination.

Ignatov closes the distance and pushes Hhh back into the cage.
Ignatov avoiding damage as Hhh throws knees to the body.
Hhh letting Ignatov take a breather here.
Hhh has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov avoids the elbow strike from Hhh, against the cage.
Ignatov can't get the takedown.
Ignatov tries to pull guard but Hhh forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hhh trying to control the position but instead, Ignatov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hhh into the cage.
Hhh is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ignatov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nikolay Ignatov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Triple Hhh.
Hhh has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ignatov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hhh drags the fight down to the ground.
Ignatov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Triple Hhh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ignatov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolay Ignatov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ignatov, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Ignatov!