PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Azevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azevedo comes to the cage accompanied by I'm a Soldier, I'm a Fighter. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Azevedo
vs
Ivanov

185 cm
32
216 lbs
27 - 11 - 0

185 cm
29
197 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 27 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugo Azevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Yuri Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Azevedo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ivanov.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azevedo lands a right hook to the body.
Azevedo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ivanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azevedo manages to avoid it.
Azevedo throws a shot from downtown. Ivanov moves away and avoids it.
Azevedo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ivanov as he avoids it easily.
Azevedo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivanov lands a nice looking body shot.
Ivanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A low kick from Azevedo is predictable there
and Ivanov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ivanov fails to land the takedown.

Azevedo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ivanov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ivanov is looking for a sweep.

Ivanov throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov misses with a straight left.
Azevedo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ivanov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice jab there from Ivanov.
Azevedo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ivanov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hugo Azevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Ivanov.
Ivanov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ivanov throws a head kick but Azevedo moves out of range.

Azevedo has Ivanov up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Ivanov.
Ivanov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Azevedo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ivanov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Azevedo stalls.
Ivanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ivanov blocks a body shot from Azevedo.
Azevedo can't break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ivanov is looking to break free of the clinch but Azevedo has double underhooks.
Azevedo is stalling here.
Azevedo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ivanov backwards.
Azevedo has had enough of the clinch but Ivanov keeps him there for the moment.
Ivanov misses with a punch to the body.
Ivanov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Azevedo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Azevedo stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Azevedo struggles to land a body shot inside as Ivanov controls his hands.
Ivanov working aggressively here.
Good body shot from Azevedo.
Azevedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ivanov has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Azevedo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ivanov has hold of one of Azevedo's legs. Azevedo is fighting the takedown attempt but Ivanov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Azevedo is pulling down on Ivanov's head. It's preventing any offense from Ivanov, at least for the moment.
Azevedo keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.
Azevedo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Azevedo working a defensive guard here.
Ivanov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Azevedo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ivanov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Azevedo has passed into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanov can't do much from the bottom here.
Azevedo lands an elbow.
Ivanov can't do much from the bottom here.
Ivanov is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Azevedo has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Azevedo looking to control but Ivanov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azevedo dominating with strikes here.
Azevedo controlling the pace for now.
Ivanov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
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 Hugo Azevedo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ivanov checks the leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Ivanov.
Azevedo throws a series of punches but Ivanov avoids them all with ease.
Ivanov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azevedo.
Azevedo misses with a wild body shot.
Ivanov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Azevedo throws a head kick but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov moves out of range of the leg kick from Azevedo.
Ivanov staying out of range there.

Azevedo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Azevedo in particular looking to stall.
Ivanov wants to control but Azevedo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Azevedo trying to control from half guard but Ivanov is working away.
Azevedo moves into full mount! Ivanov won't be happy about that!
Ivanov is working to get back to half guard.
Azevedo controlling from mount.
Azevedo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ivanov hang on?
Ivanov wants to control but Azevedo is having none of it.
Azevedo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Azevedo tries to control but Ivanov wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ivanov hang on?
Ivanov working to try and regain half guard.
Azevedo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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!
Ivanov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ivanov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Azevedo prevents Ivanov from getting the reversal.
Azevedo trying to control but Ivanov is having none of it.
The referee warns Ivanov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Azevedo working Ivanov over with strikes here.
Azevedo avoids the attempt from Ivanov to control.
Azevedo wants to control the pace but Ivanov is squirming around nicely.
Hugo Azevedo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ivanov is trying to escape the mount.
Azevedo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Azevedo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ivanov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azevedo uses his free foot to push down on Ivanov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ivanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azevedo content just to control the position here.
Ivanov is squirming around, avoiding Azevedo's attempts to control the action.
Azevedo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
BOOM! Azevedo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Azevedo wants to control the pace but Ivanov is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Azevedo 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!

Azevedo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ivanov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Azevedo.
Azevedo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ivanov to score with a decent uppercut.
Azevedo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Azevedo takes the fight into the clinch.
Ivanov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Azevedo digs a right hand into Ivanov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ivanov's gas tank.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ivanov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azevedo gets back to full guard.
Azevedo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.
Azevedo trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.
Azevedo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ivanov wants to improve his position but instead Azevedo has moved into half guard.
Ivanov wants to get back to full guard.
Azevedo wants to take a breather but Ivanov is having none of it.
Ivanov is trying to get back to full guard.
Azevedo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Azevedo trying to pass the guard but Ivanov defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov is defending against the submission attempts here by Azevedo.
Ivanov is not content to let Azevedo control the position.
Ivanov wants to improve his position but Azevedo is controlling well.
Ivanov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azevedo wants to pass the guard but Ivanov is keeping the position.
Azevedo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azevedo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Yuri Ivanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ivanov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Azevedo is controlling him.
Azevedo lands a couple of digs.
Azevedo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azevedo looking to pass the guard.
Azevedo with a nice head shot there.
Ivanov looking to control.
Azevedo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo won't allow Ivanov to sweep him here.
Ivanov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Azevedo lands a couple of digs.
Azevedo is pushing down on Ivanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ivanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Azevedo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Azevedo is trying to control the action in half guard but Ivanov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Well, if Azevedo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azevedo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ivanov wants to get back to full guard but Azevedo has passed into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ivanov is trying to escape the position but Azevedo is controlling the position.
Hugo Azevedo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azevedo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ivanov keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Azevedo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azevedo, 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Azevedo!
Our winner, Hugo Azevedo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.