PBP Commentary

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

Destroyer
vs
Federov

190 cm
23
218 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

194 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dominque Destroyer!
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, Alexander Federov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Destroyer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Federov as he avoids it easily.
Federov wants to clinch.
Federov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Federov tries to clinch but Destroyer moves out of range.
Destroyer tries to close the distance and clinch but Federov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Destroyer takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Federov clinches but Destroyer breaks the clinch

and Destroyer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Destroyer.
Federov pulls Destroyer in close to prevent any damage.

Destroyer drops back looking for a leg! Federov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Federov manages to kick Destroyer off! Destroyer jumps back into Federov's guard.
Federov pulls Destroyer in close to his closed guard and prevents Destroyer from doing any damage or advancing position.
Destroyer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Federov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Destroyer won't allow Federov to get back to his feet.
Federov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Federov is looking for a triangle but Destroyer pushes his legs off easily.
Federov working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Destroyer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Federov as he avoids it easily.
Destroyer fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominque Destroyer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Destroyer looks for a takedown but Federov sprawls well.
Destroyer is breathing heavily.

Federov clinches up with Destroyer and pushes him back against the cage.
Federov tries to land a knee to the head but Destroyer blocks with his arms.

Federov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Destroyer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Destroyer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Federov tries to roll over but Destroyer keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Destroyer wants to free his trapped foot but Federov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Federov trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Federov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Destroyer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Destroyer's back!
Destroyer manages to reverse the position and now he's in Federov's guard. Nice work there by Destroyer.
Federov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Destroyer!

Federov working for a guillotine from mount but Destroyer is in no mood to give up.
Destroyer is desperately trying to improve his position but Federov has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Destroyer is working hard here to advance position.
Federov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Federov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Federov looking to control but Destroyer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Federov looking to finish Destroyer with some ground and pound. This is bad for Destroyer!
Destroyer tries to reverse the position but Federov maintains control.
Federov controlling from mount.
Federov is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Federov working for a guillotine from mount but Destroyer is in no mood to give up.

Federov stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Destroyer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Federov pinned against the cage. Federov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Federov wants to clinch up but Destroyer keeps it at a distance.
Destroyer shoots in but no luck this time.
Destroyer looks for a takedown but Federov sprawls well.
Federov closes the distance but Destroyer moves to the side

and Destroyer counters with a shoot takedown. Federov fights it but they end up in guard.
Federov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Destroyer!
Destroyer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Federov with a couple of short strikes.
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 Dominque Destroyer will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Federov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Destroyer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dominque Destroyer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Destroyer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Federov moves into the clinch successfully.
Federov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Federov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Destroyer can't get the takedown.
Federov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Destroyer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Destroyer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Federov but Federov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominque Destroyer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Federov clinches up with Destroyer and pushes him back against the cage.

Federov jumps guard and drags Destroyer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

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

Federov is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Destroyer has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Destroyer is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Federov is hanging on to Destroyer's back as he tries to escape.
Will Federov go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Federov is landing with strikes from the back.
Destroyer trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Destroyer prevents Federov from getting a body triangle.

Federov is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Federov is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Destroyer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Federov moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Destroyer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Federov works to advance to full mount. Destroyer defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Federov trying to control but Destroyer is having none of it.
Dominque Destroyer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Federov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Federov misses with a head shot.

Federov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Destroyer can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Federov fails to advance to Destroyer's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Destroyer working to try and regain half guard.
Destroyer wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Federov trying to control.
Destroyer tries to break free.

Destroyer showing good submission defense here.
Destroyer is really stuck here.

Federov tightening his grip on Destroyer, looking for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Destroyer turns into Federov and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Destroyer chips away with some ground and pound.
Destroyer wants to pass the guard but Federov is keeping the position.
Federov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Federov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Federov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Destroyer to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fight stays on the outside here - Federov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Federov scores with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Federov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Federov rushes Destroyer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Destroyer tries to pull guard but Federov won't allow it.

Destroyer works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Federov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Federov looking for a sweep. Not yet Federov, not yet.
Destroyer throws a big right hand that misses.
Federov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Destroyer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Federov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Destroyer's guard.
Destroyer keeping full guard, as Federov tries to pass.
Federov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Destroyer looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Federov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Destroyer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Federov is working away from the top position though.
Federov slips a nice elbow through Destroyer's hands, connecting with Destroyer's forehead.
Destroyer tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Destroyer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Destroyer swats away the attempt to clinch by Federov.
Destroyer misses with a takedown attempt - Federov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Federov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Destroyer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Destroyer tries to clinch

and Federov counters by clinching up.
Federov scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Federov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Federov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Federov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Destroyer changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Federov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominque Destroyer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Federov closes the distance and clinches.
Federov is pressed up against the cage. Destroyer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Federov down to the mat. Federov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Federov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Destroyer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Federov passes into half guard.

Federov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Federov is tying to control. Destroyer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Federov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Destroyer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Federov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Destroyer controlling Federov's posture.
Destroyer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Federov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Destroyer looking for a sweep. Not yet Destroyer, not yet.
Federov stays in close to Destroyer's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Destroyer has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Federov has passed into side control.
Destroyer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Federov lands a nice forearm strike.
Destroyer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Federov wants to pass the guard but Destroyer is defending well.
Destroyer is not content to let Federov control the position.
Destroyer is looking for a sweep. Federov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Federov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Destroyer keeps working.
Federov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Federov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Federov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Federov!