PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Micheal White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shay Ivanov (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.

White
vs
Ivanov

173 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Micheal White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shay Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ivanov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Ivanov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ivanov controls the position.
Ivanov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
White can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee asks Ivanov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ivanov prefers to stall for the moment though.
White can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ivanov decides to stand up, so the ref orders White to his feet.

Ivanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ivanov manages to pull guard.
Ivanov wants to stand and escape but White is having none of it.
Ivanov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
White postures up in Ivanov's guard and throws a big left but Ivanov blocks it.
Ivanov pulls White in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. White is aware though and is defending well.
White working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

White has gone for a leg lock! Ivanov slips out almost immediately though and dives into White's guard.
Ivanov controls from within his opponent's guard.

White looking for a guillotine here but Ivanov defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov forces his way into half guard.
Ivanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ivanov trying to control from half guard but White is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
White trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ivanov passes White's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Ivanov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, White has managed to free his arm - good work.
Still in half guard, Ivanov seems content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed White's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shay Ivanov dominated that round.
That's time! White's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ivanov gets a double leg takedown into White's guard.

White working for a triangle but Ivanov defends it easily.
Ivanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
Ivanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ivanov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov postures up in White's guard and throws a big left but White blocks it.
White preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ivanov wants to pass the guard but White is keeping the position.
Ivanov is looking to stand up but White won't let him.

Ivanov drops back, looking for a kneebar! White looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. White looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from White!
Ivanov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov looking for submissions off his back.
Ivanov wants to control but White is keeping busy and won't allow it.
White sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ivanov defending well though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. White lands a nice short elbow.
Ivanov manages to get to full guard.
White has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
White is looking to stand up but Ivanov won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as White accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
White postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
White throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ivanov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Ivanov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ivanov is trying to control the position but White postures up.
White throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
Ivanov pushes down on White's leg and manages to get into half guard.
White wants to get back to full guard.
White avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ivanov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ivanov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ivanov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shay Ivanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

White darts in trying to clinch

and Ivanov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Micheal White is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ivanov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ivanov lands in his opponent's guard.
Ivanov postures up.
Ivanov trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
White is trying to keep Ivanov in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov throws a strike but White rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ivanov looking to control.
Ivanov wants to stand up but White is controlling him.

White has gone for a leg lock! Ivanov slips out almost immediately though and dives into White's guard.

White looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ivanov passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Ivanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so White is just riding it out for now. Ivanov eventually gives up the hold.
Ivanov wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is concentrating on defense, preventing Ivanov from advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ivanov content to control rather than advance.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ivanov prevents White from improving his position.
Ivanov wants to stand up but White is controlling the position.
White punching from the bottom.
Ivanov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shay Ivanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ivanov 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shay Ivanov!