PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Phelps
vs
Orlov

196 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Orlov!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Orlov clinches up against the cage.
Phelps prevents the takedown attempt.

Phelps ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Phelps no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Phelps had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Orlov defends it easily.

Phelps scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Phelps tries to clinch

and Orlov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Phelps wants the takedown. Orlov is fighting it off but Phelps persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Orlov's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Orlov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Phelps has passed into half guard!
Orlov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Orlov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Orlov is trying to keep Phelps in close.

Phelps drops back, looking for a kneebar! Orlov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Orlov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Orlov!
Orlov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Orlov is looking to take a break and control but Phelps is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Orlov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Orlov prevents Phelps from escaping the position.
Orlov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phelps. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Orlov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Orlov decides to stand back up. Orlov steps back and let's Phelps get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps fails with an attempt to clinch.
Orlov lands a high kick!

It looks like George Phelps has been cut.
Ivan Orlov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Phelps has closed the distance and engaged Orlov in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phelps is looking to break free of the clinch but Orlov has double underhooks.

Orlov pulls Phelps into guard.

Phelps decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Orlov, up you get!
A head kick misses from Orlov.
Phelps wants to clinch.
Phelps stuffs the takedown.
Orlov looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov tries to close the distance and clinch but Phelps swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Phelps moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Orlov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Phelps defends well and Orlov ends up having to push Phelps into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Orlov.
Orlov keeps control of Phelps as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phelps tries for a takedown. No joy.

Phelps gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Orlov is looking to improve his position.
Orlov wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phelps working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Phelps missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phelps missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Orlov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Phelps.
Phelps working Orlov over with strikes.

Phelps seems to be working for a kimura but Orlov defends the submission attempt.
Orlov is not content to let Phelps control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Phelps dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Phelps's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Phelps moves into the clinch successfully.
Phelps gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Orlov.

Phelps has clasped his hands together around Orlov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Orlov is looking for a sweep.
Orlov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Phelps connects with a decent elbow.
Phelps in side control, throwing shots but Orlov defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orlov can't do much from the bottom here.
Phelps has control of an arm but Orlov manages to advance to Phelps's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps wants to get back to his feet.
I really don't envy Phelps right now.
Phelps wants to get back to his feet.

Phelps is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Orlov off. It looks like it's working - Orlov slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Phelps displaying calm under pressure there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Orlov scores with a head kick. Phelps tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Orlov gets the takedown into side control.

Orlov decides to stand back up. Orlov steps back and let's Phelps get back to his feet.
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!

Phelps moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov looking for a takedown.

Phelps manages to break the clinch.

Orlov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Phelps is looking to take this one to the mat.

Orlov has hold of one of Phelps's legs. Phelps is fighting the takedown attempt but Orlov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Orlov trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.
Orlov wanted to stand there but Phelps had control of the position.
Phelps thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Orlov trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.
Phelps bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Orlov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps distracts Orlov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Phelps slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Orlov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Phelps tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Phelps has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Phelps wants to lay and pray for a moment but Orlov keeps working.

Phelps stands up and beckons Orlov to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Orlov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Orlov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Phelps's shoulder. That is not cool.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Orlov in side control, throwing shots but Phelps defends.
Phelps tries to buck Orlov off but Orlov is having none of it.
Phelps throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
George Phelps overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Phelps is trying to get back to half guard.
Phelps could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Orlov controlling the position from side mount.
Phelps is looking to regain half guard here but Orlov keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that George Phelps will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on George Phelps's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Orlov misses with a head kick.
Orlov tries a head kick but it misses.
Orlov dives in and grabs Phelps's left leg, looking for a takedown. Phelps pushes down on Orlov's head and hops out.
Phelps fails with an attempt to clinch.

Orlov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Orlov throws a punch but it's blocked by Phelps.
A frustrated look appears on Phelps's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Phelps breaks from the clinch.
Orlov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Orlov counters with a good low kick that Phelps was not able to check.
Orlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov goes for a double leg but Phelps avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Phelps continues to drive forward.
Orlov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phelps pulls his leg out and moves away.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Orlov.
Orlov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phelps manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Phelps moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Phelps's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Phelps drags the fight down to the ground.
Orlov tries to free his leg and advance position but Phelps is retaining full guard.
Phelps trying to strike off his back.
Phelps might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Phelps throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Orlov has passed into side control.
Phelps manages to work his way to half guard, despite Orlov's best efforts.

Phelps pushes Orlov off and gets back to his feet.
Phelps wants to clinch
and Orlov counters with a big head kick but Phelps shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Orlov tries to clinch up.
Orlov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phelps circles away.
Phelps wants to clinch.
Orlov shoots and misses

and Phelps moves into the clinch.
Phelps has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Orlov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov is stalling here.
Orlov gets underhooks to prevent Phelps's takedown attempt.
Phelps tries to score a body lock takedown but Orlov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Phelps goes for a takedown attempt but Orlov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Orlov shoots in for a takedown but Phelps shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Orlov keeps the fight on the outside.
Orlov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
George Phelps is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phelps takes a swing at Orlov's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phelps tries to clinch up.
Orlov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phelps tries to avoid it but Orlov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phelps to the ground. Phelps escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Orlov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phelps throws a jab but it's blocked by Orlov.
Orlov doesn't manage to clinch there - Phelps circles away.
Orlov shoots and misses
and Phelps counters with a three punch combo that has Orlov backing up. Orlov nods at Phelps to acknowledge the strikes.
Ivan Orlov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Orlov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phelps.
Ivan Orlov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Phelps is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Orlov throws a sloppy head kick and Phelps moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Phelps showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Phelps, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Phelps!