PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luboslav Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross comes to the cage accompanied by Swedish House Mafia-One. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ross
vs
Petrov

190 cm
20
209 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luboslav Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petrov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Petrov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Petrov clinches with his opponent.
Petrov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ross backwards.
We've been hearing reports that Ross has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ross prevents a takedown attempt there.

Petrov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Petrov manages to end up in side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ross pushes Petrov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Petrov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Petrov decides to stand back up. Petrov steps back and let's Ross get back to his feet.

Petrov takes the fight into the clinch.
Petrov stalling in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ross goes for a takedown in the clinch but Petrov prevents it.

Petrov drags the fight down to the ground.
Ross with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ross throwing strikes from guard but Petrov blocks nicely.
Ross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Petrov controlling the position.
Petrov controls Ross momentarily but Ross frees himself.
Petrov wants to sweep here but Ross controlling him for the moment.
Ross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ross preventing the sweep.
Ross throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ross is fighting to break Petrov's control of his arms but Petrov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ross with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross won't allow Petrov to sweep him here.
Ross stands up over Petrov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Petrov managing to control the position.
Ross distracts Petrov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov pulls Ross in close to his closed guard and prevents Ross from doing any damage or advancing position.
Petrov trying to control the position.
Ross prevents Petrov from getting back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ross postures up in Petrov's guard and throws a big left but Petrov blocks it.
Ross trying to control but Petrov is working from the bottom.

Petrov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Petrov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ross with a hook.
Horrible takedown by Ross or perhaps it was just good defense by Petrov which made him look bad.

Petrov closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Petrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ross tries a head kick but it misses.

Petrov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Petrov wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.
Petrov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Petrov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ross's head.
Petrov trying to control but Ross is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is stalling in the full guard.

Luboslav Petrov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Petrov clinches with his opponent.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Petrov obliges.
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!
Ross takes a shot to the head.

Petrov drags the fight down to the ground.
Ross preventing the sweep.
Ross has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Petrov is on top in guard.
Petrov throwing strikes from guard but Ross blocks nicely.
Ross is breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Petrov wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Petrov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ross, pushing him back against the cage.
Petrov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Petrov is pressed up against the cage. Ross has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Petrov down to the mat. Petrov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James Ross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Petrov moves in looking to clinch but Ross pushes him off.
We've been informed that Petrov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Petrov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Petrov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Petrov fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Petrov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Petrov scores with a takedown into Ross's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ross is keeping the position for now.
Petrov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross wants to stand and escape but Petrov is having none of it.
Petrov landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ross has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Petrov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ross drives through and clinches with Petrov against the cage.

Petrov manages to pull guard.
Luboslav Petrov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Petrov kicks Ross off and gets to his feet.

Petrov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Petrov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ross lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petrov scores with a shot to the side of Ross's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrov decides to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petrov holds on and takes a little breather.
Ross wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.

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

Petrov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Petrov has hold of one of Ross's legs. Ross is fighting the takedown attempt but Petrov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Petrov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ross dives on top into guard.
Petrov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ross manages to get himself to full guard.
Petrov trying to control but Ross is working from the bottom.
Petrov lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is stalling in the full guard.
Petrov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Petrov forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is in trouble now - Petrov has advanced to mount!
Petrov landing strikes from the mount.
A nice elbow there by Petrov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petrov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Petrov lands a nice shot to the head.

Ross is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Petrov with shots to the head and body - Ross looks very uncomfortable down there.
Oh Ross is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Petrov controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luboslav Petrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ross tries to keep at a distance but Petrov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ross seems to have got his legs back now.
Petrov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Petrov prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Ross fails to land.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Petrov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Petrov gets a clinch.

Petrov pulls guard effortlessly.
Petrov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ross preventing the sweep.
Petrov keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov controlling Ross's posture.
Petrov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luboslav Petrov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ross fails with the takedown
and Petrov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Ross moves into range and clinches up with Petrov.
Ross on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Petrov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Ross. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petrov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ross paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Petrov drives through with a takedown into Ross's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Petrov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Petrov stands and throws Ross's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Petrov is trying to get an arm triangle but Ross is defending well.
James Ross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov looks up at the clock and then as Ross takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Petrov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petrov working the ground and pound.
Petrov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Petrov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Petrov controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Petrov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ross has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Petrov but great work by Ross.

Ross wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Petrov, who protects the arm well.
Luboslav Petrov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Petrov can't do much from the bottom here.
Ross tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Petrov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov keeping control of the position.
Petrov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Petrov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrov wants to stand and escape but Ross is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Petrov is on top in guard.
Petrov is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Petrov stands and steps away. Ross gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luboslav Petrov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Petrov 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luboslav Petrov!
James Ross was interviewed post fight and said 'Rematch i Dare YOU!!!!'.