PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raivis Vidzis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vidzis
vs
Smirnov

180 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raivis Vidzis!
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, Vladimir Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov shoots in looking for a takedown. Vidzis tries to sprawl out of it but Smirnov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vidzis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vidzis is looking to clinch but Smirnov is avoiding it.
No luck for Smirnov with that takedown attempt.
Smirnov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Raivis Vidzis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Smirnov.

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Smirnov stopping the sweep attempt from Vidzis.
Vidzis keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Vidzis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smirnov stands up over Vidzis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vidzis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smirnov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidzis trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smirnov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vidzis postures up in Smirnov's guard and throws a big left but Smirnov blocks it.
Vidzis throws a big right hand that misses.
Smirnov wants to sweep here but Vidzis controlling him for the moment.

Vidzis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smirnov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vidzis, into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov stops Vidzis from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vidzis wants to stand up but Smirnov is controlling him.
Smirnov throws an elbow that misses. Vidzis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smirnov's guard. Nice move by Vidzis!
Smirnov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vidzis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vidzis connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vidzis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smirnov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vidzis won't allow Smirnov to get back to his feet.
Vidzis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to stand and escape but Vidzis is having none of it.
Smirnov looks winded!
Vidzis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smirnov's guard.
Vidzis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vidzis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vidzis trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Smirnov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smirnov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vidzis scoring with some ground and pound.
Smirnov is trying to control the position but Vidzis postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vidzis trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnov wants to stand but Vidzis is controlling the position.
Vidzis throwing strikes from guard but Smirnov blocks nicely.
Vidzis trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vidzis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raivis Vidzis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vidzis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smirnov.
Vidzis fails with the takedown.
Vidzis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vidzis as he avoids it easily.
Smirnov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vidzis.
Raivis Vidzis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smirnov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Vidzis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vidzis trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidzis stops Smirnov from standing up.
Vidzis works over Smirnov with some ground and pound from guard.
Vidzis throwing strikes from guard but Smirnov blocks nicely.
Vidzis won't allow Smirnov to get back to his feet.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Vidzis from controlling successfully.
Vidzis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vidzis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to stand but Vidzis is controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Vidzis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smirnov's head.

Smirnov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vidzis defends well.
Vidzis stops Smirnov from standing up.
Vidzis stays in close to Smirnov's body and controls the position.
Vidzis trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidzis working some strikes from top position.
Vidzis works over Smirnov with some ground and pound from guard.
Vidzis content to stall in guard here.
Smirnov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smirnov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vidzis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smirnov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vidzis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smirnov!
Vidzis content just to control the position here.
Smirnov tries to reverse the position but Vidzis maintains control.
Raivis Vidzis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smirnov taking shots to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smirnov can do anything to dispel that myth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vidzis cracks Smirnov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Vidzis working the ground and pound effectively.
Vidzis landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raivis Vidzis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vidzis doesn't manage to clinch there - Smirnov circles away.

Smirnov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smirnov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vidzis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet.

Smirnov seems to be looking for submissions.
Vidzis trying to control here.
Smirnov prevents Vidzis from improving his position.
Vidzis lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.

Smirnov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smirnov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidzis wants to get back to full guard.
Smirnov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vidzis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smirnov is working away from the top position though.
Vidzis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vidzis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Vidzis managing to control the position.

Vidzis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smirnov forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vidzis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smirnov pulls his head out easily.
Smirnov working Vidzis over with strikes.
Smirnov winds up and cracks Vidzis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smirnov is nestled in close to Vidzis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smirnov drops an elbow to the side of Vidzis's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vidzis trying to hold on to Smirnov's head to control him but Smirnov postures up.
Vidzis throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Vidzis wants to get back to full guard.
Smirnov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vidzis is not content to let Smirnov control the position.
Vidzis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smirnov working the head and body with strikes.
Vidzis tries to roll over but Smirnov keeps him under control.
Smirnov winds up and cracks Vidzis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smirnov lands a nice short elbow.

Vidzis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smirnov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vidzis is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Vidzis hang on?
Vidzis wants to control but Smirnov is having none of it.
Smirnov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Vidzis taking shots to the head.
Smirnov avoids the attempt from Vidzis to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smirnov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Smirnov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vidzis tries to lock up and control but Smirnov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Smirnov.
Vidzis tries to reverse the position but Smirnov maintains control.
Vladimir Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raivis Vidzis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vidzis wants to control but Smirnov is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Smirnov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vidzis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raivis Vidzis!