PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Elliott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luboslav Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elliott's entrance music is Hits From The Bong. A fine choice. On his way into the cage it seems that Ben Elliott has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ben Elliott seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Elliott
vs
Petrov

185 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

185 cm
22
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Elliott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luboslav Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elliott shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Petrov is trying to defend but Elliott finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Petrov pushes Elliott off and gets back to his feet.

Petrov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Elliott did well to prevent Petrov getting side control.
Elliott moves into full guard.
Elliott working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Petrov.
Elliott lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Petrov!
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!
Petrov wants to hold on but Elliott pushes him away.
Petrov just holding on.
Petrov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Petrov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov regains half guard.
Elliott wants to free his trapped foot but Petrov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Elliott landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've been hearing that Elliott has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Petrov manages to get to full guard.
Petrov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Elliott trying to control but Petrov is working from the bottom.
Elliott is looking to work some ground and pound but Petrov has wrist control.
Petrov keeping moving, preventing Elliott from controlling successfully.
Petrov wants to sweep here but Elliott controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elliott wants to get up but he can't break Petrov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Elliott wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ben Elliott.
Petrov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Elliott's waist but Elliott gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Petrov off to one side.

Elliott drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrov has a closed guard, preventing Elliott from standing up.
Petrov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petrov wants to sweep here but Elliott controlling him for the moment.
Elliott is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Elliott lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elliott drops back looking for a leg! Petrov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Petrov manages to kick Elliott off! Elliott jumps back into Petrov's guard.
Petrov has control of Elliott's left arm, preventing Elliott from doing any damage.
Elliott trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elliott controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Elliott wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.
Petrov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elliott is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Elliott wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Petrov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Petrov tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott struggling a bit here.
Petrov throws a strike aimed at the side of Elliott's head but Elliott avoids it well.
Petrov is looking to take a break and control but Elliott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Petrov working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Elliott is looking to regain half guard here but Petrov 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 round but I would say that Ben Elliott will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Petrov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Elliott is fending him off so far but Petrov persists. Nope, Elliott circles away and we're back to standing.
Elliott stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Elliott wants it to stay on the feet.
Petrov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Elliott is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Petrov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Elliott pinned against the cage. Elliott gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ben Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luboslav Petrov.
Petrov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Elliott as he avoids it easily.

Elliott moves into the clinch successfully.
Elliott wants to get back to striking at distance but Petrov won't allow it.

Elliott has hold of one of Petrov's legs. Petrov is fighting the takedown attempt but Elliott gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Petrov wants to stand up but Elliott is controlling him.

Elliott drops back looking for a leg! Petrov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Petrov manages to kick Elliott off! Elliott jumps back into Petrov's guard.
Elliott wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elliott working some strikes from top position.
Petrov wants to sweep here but Elliott controlling him for the moment.
Elliott trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elliott trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Petrov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Elliott manages to get himself to full guard.
Petrov looking to pass the guard.
Petrov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Petrov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov preventing the sweep.

Elliott escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petrov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Petrov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Petrov throws a big elbow that misses.
Petrov trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrov pushing down on Elliott's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Petrov stands up out of the half guard.
Petrov darts in looking for a takedown but Elliott gets double underhooks and turns Petrov into the cage.

Petrov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Elliott is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Petrov to the mat. Petrov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Petrov scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Elliott paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Elliott moves into the clinch successfully.
Petrov lands a hook that snaps the head of Elliott backwards.

Elliott gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Petrov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Petrov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Elliott looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Elliott is working for a kimura but Petrov is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Petrov wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov tries to get to full guard but Elliott has control of the leg.
Petrov gets back to full guard.
Petrov keeping moving, preventing Elliott from controlling successfully.
Elliott with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elliott trying to stand up but can't free himself from Petrov's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Petrov keeping moving, preventing Elliott from controlling successfully.
Ben Elliott overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Petrov wants to sweep here but Elliott controlling him for the moment.
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 Ben Elliott will probably get the nod.
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!

Petrov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Elliott paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Elliott drives through and clinches with Petrov against the cage.
Elliott gets underhooks to prevent Petrov's takedown attempt.
Petrov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Petrov gets control of Elliott's arms and successfully pulls guard. Petrov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Elliott wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.
Petrov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Petrov is pulling down on Elliott's head. It's preventing any offense from Elliott, at least for the moment.
Elliott prevents Petrov from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ben Elliott wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Petrov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Elliott swivels and escapes.

Elliott shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Elliott is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Petrov sees it coming and defends easily.
Elliott wants to pass to mount but Petrov is defending the position.
Petrov trying to control here.
Elliott thows a huge punch but Petrov dodges it nicely.
Petrov tries to get to full guard but Elliott has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Petrov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Elliott trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Elliott is one step ahead there.
Elliott wants to stand but Petrov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Petrov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Elliott manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott keeping moving, preventing Petrov from controlling successfully.
Petrov throws a big right hand that misses.
Petrov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Petrov lands a couple of digs.
Luboslav Petrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petrov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Petrov trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elliott utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Elliott trying to control the position.
Petrov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott controls Petrov momentarily but Petrov frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Petrov slips nicely into half guard.
Petrov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Petrov 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.
Petrov trying to control the action but Elliott is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luboslav Petrov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Elliott has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ben Elliott!
Ben Elliott decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.