PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ron Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birigiz Ignatiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Paul
vs
Ignatiev

172 cm
28
135 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

160 cm
28
145 lbs
15 - 4 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ron Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Birigiz Ignatiev!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paul is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ignatiev's half guard.
Paul prevents Ignatiev from standing back up.
Paul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ignatiev keeps working.
Paul looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Paul is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ignatiev sees it coming and defends easily.
Ignatiev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Paul's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Paul's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ignatiev controls the position.
Paul tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev controls the position.
Paul is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
I really don't envy Paul right now.
Paul trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
What can Paul do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Paul is in bad spot here.
Paul wants to get back to his feet.
Ignatiev keeps control of the position as Paul tries to break free.
Paul is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at TOUGH DOJO-Family Dojo for best result, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
What can Paul do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Ignatiev not allowing Paul to control his hands.
Good control from Ignatiev.
Paul can't escape the position.
Ignatiev is riding his opponent, not letting Paul buck him off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paul trying to control the hands but Ignatiev won't let him.
Paul is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Paul doesn't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Birigiz Ignatiev was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A swing and a miss from Ignatiev.
Paul is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Paul.
Ignatiev throws a lazy body kick
and Paul counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A big left from Paul misses.
Ignatiev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Paul fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paul is looking to clinch.
Paul is looking to clinch.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that Paul semi-blocks.
Birigiz Ignatiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paul avoids the head kick by Ignatiev.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ignatiev lands a big head kick that sends Paul tumbling to the mat! Ignatiev takes a step backwards and waves Paul back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Paul is rocked!
Paul takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ignatiev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ignatiev takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birigiz Ignatiev dominated that round.
That's time! Paul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ignatiev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Paul on the side of the head.
Paul tries to clinch but Ignatiev is having none of it.
Paul tries to clinch there but Ignatiev circles away.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ignatiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Ignatiev circles away.
Ignatiev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev throws a wild body kick that Paul sees coming a mile off.
Ignatiev blocks a head kick by Paul.
Ignatiev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ignatiev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Paul moves in looking to clinch but Ignatiev pushes him off.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paul avoids the head kick by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev looks for the body kick but Paul saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev scores with a body shot.
Ron Paul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paul throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ignatiev's head.
Ignatiev keeps the fight on the outside.
Birigiz Ignatiev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Paul moves away from the strike by Ignatiev.
Paul has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatiev throws a good cross that connects.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.
Ignatiev misses with a body shot.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Ignatiev misses.
Paul avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
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!
Ignatiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Paul. Paul gets slowly back to his feet.
Ignatiev tries to land a front kick but Paul steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul with a poor takedown
and Ignatiev counters with a head kick. That will keep Paul thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Paul wants to clinch.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses
and Paul counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ignatiev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ignatiev keeps the fight on the outside.
A lazy left from Ignatiev finds it's target.
Ignatiev tries to land a front kick but Paul steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ignatiev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ignatiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paul shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ignatiev sprawls well. Ignatiev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Paul gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ron Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul looks for a takedown but Ignatiev sprawls well.
Paul is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ignatiev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ignatiev looks to land a combination but Paul avoids it well.
Paul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ignatiev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Paul takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Ignatiev circles away.
Ignatiev throws a head kick but Paul moves out of range.
Ignatiev throws a hook but Paul blocks it.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.
Ignatiev throws a hook but Paul avoids it easily.
Paul fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ignatiev avoids it really well and circles away.
Paul shoots in looking for a takedown but Ignatiev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Paul's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ignatiev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.
Ignatiev throws a wild body kick that Paul sees coming a mile off.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick by Ignatiev misses
and Paul counters with a head kick.
Paul avoids the head kick by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.
Ignatiev is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Ignatiev which made him look bad.
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!
Horrible takedown by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Ignatiev which made him look bad.
Paul has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ignatiev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birigiz Ignatiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Paul will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Paul fails with an attempt to clinch.

Paul clinches with his opponent.
Ignatiev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev blocks an elbow strike from Paul.
Ignatiev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Paul misses with an elbow over the top.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Paul.

Ignatiev manages to break the clinch.
Ignatiev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Paul fails with a takedown attempt.

Ignatiev lands a big head kick that sends Paul tumbling to the mat! Ignatiev takes a step backwards and waves Paul back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Oh Paul is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paul seems to have got his legs back now.
Paul closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ignatiev circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ron Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul tries to clinch but Ignatiev moves away
and Ignatiev counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ignatiev misses with a head kick.
Ignatiev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ignatiev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Paul avoids the head kick by Ignatiev.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ignatiev misses with a wild body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paul is defended easily by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Birigiz Ignatiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Paul.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paul darts in trying to clinch

and Ignatiev counters by clinching up.
Paul lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ignatiev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Ignatiev breaks the clinch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ignatiev - that will leave a mark!
Paul with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ignatiev to score with a decent uppercut.
Ignatiev looks to land a right hand but Paul moved out of range.
Ignatiev misses with a head kick.
Ignatiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul fails with the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ignatiev misses with an uppercut. Paul saw that one coming.
An inside leg kick lands from Paul.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Ignatiev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Paul fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ignatiev misses with a head kick.
Ignatiev misses with a straight right.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses
and Paul counters with a big head kick but Ignatiev shrugs it off.
Ignatiev misses with a head kick.
Ignatiev throws a head kick but Paul moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Ignatiev misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ignatiev circles away.
Ignatiev throws a jab when Paul was well out of range.
Paul tries to clinch up.
Ignatiev with a hook.
Ignatiev lands a head kick!
Ron Paul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ignatiev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ignatiev scores with a hook to the body. Paul takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick
and Paul counters with a big head kick but Ignatiev shrugs it off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ignatiev avoids the head kick by Paul.

Paul gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ignatiev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ignatiev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Birigiz Ignatiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ignatiev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Birigiz Ignatiev!