PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Antonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swanson's entrance music is ScHoolboy Q x Kendrick Lamar - Collard Greens (Benasis Trap Remix). A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Swanson
vs
Antonov

178 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robbie Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexei Antonov!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Swanson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Antonov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Swanson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Swanson prevents the takedown attempt.
Swanson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Swanson lands a shoulder strike.
Swanson can't break the clinch.
Swanson being controlled against the cage.

Swanson pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Swanson trying to control the position.
Antonov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Swanson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Swanson looking for a guillotine here but Antonov defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Antonov from controlling successfully.
Swanson can't keep his opponent in guard - Antonov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Swanson has his hands clasped together around Antonov's back. He's all about the action.
Swanson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Swanson tries to get out of the position.
Antonov is thwarting Swanson's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson tries to roll over but Antonov keeps him under control.
Antonov trying to control from half guard but Swanson is working away.

Swanson is defending against the submission attempts here by Antonov.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.
Swanson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Antonov is working away from the top position though.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Swanson gets caught napping as Antonov dives in and scores a takedown. Swanson manages to retain guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Antonov pushing down on Swanson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Antonov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Antonov wants to control but Swanson is keeping him busy.
Swanson wants to improve his position but Antonov is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson tries to kick Antonov off in order to stand up. Antonov Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Swanson can't do much from the bottom here.

Swanson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
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!
Swanson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Swanson wants to clinch up but Antonov keeps it at a distance.
Antonov shoots for a double leg takedown but Swanson sprawls well. He's pushed Antonov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Robbie Swanson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Antonov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Antonov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Antonov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Swanson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swanson wants it to stay on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Antonov misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexei Antonov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Swanson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Antonov misses with a straight right.
Antonov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Swanson circles away quickly and effectively.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Antonov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Swanson shoots in looking for a takedown. Antonov tries to sprawl out of it but Swanson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Antonov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Swanson lands with an uppercut that bounces Antonov off the cage and back into range.
Swanson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Swanson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Swanson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Antonov defends it nicely.

Swanson gets caught flat footed, as Antonov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson can't keep his opponent in guard - Antonov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Swanson is staying active underneath Antonov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Antonov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Antonov is thwarting Swanson's attempts to control the position.
Swanson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Antonov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Antonov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Antonov is pressing down on Swanson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Swanson is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Swanson gets full guard.
Antonov stays in close to Swanson's body and controls the position.
Swanson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Antonov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Swanson is proving hard to escape from.
Swanson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is trying to control the position but Antonov postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Swanson is looking for a triangle here but Antonov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Antonov is looking to take a break and control but Swanson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Swanson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Antonov's best efforts.
Antonov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Swanson wants to improve his position but Antonov is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Antonov pulls his head out easily.

Antonov is trying to work for a kimura but Swanson is defending well.
Antonov is keen to just control but Swanson is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Antonov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Swanson is looking to control Antonov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Swanson avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Antonov 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!

Swanson lands a nice looking body shot.
Swanson throws a head kick that misses.

Antonov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Swanson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Swanson manages to get back to half guard.
Antonov is trying to control. Swanson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet.
Antonov prevents Swanson from improving his position.
Antonov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Swanson keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antonov wants to pass the guard but Swanson is defending well.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.

Antonov is trying to work for a kimura but Swanson is defending well.
Swanson keeping control of the position.
Swanson wants to control but Antonov is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antonov prevents Swanson from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circling - Swanson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Swanson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Swanson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Antonov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Swanson is looking to stand up but Antonov won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swanson trying to control but Antonov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson wants to stand but Antonov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Antonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Swanson stays in close to Antonov's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Robbie Swanson.

Swanson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Antonov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Antonov from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antonov slips nicely into half guard.
Swanson is trying to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Antonov tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Swanson.
Swanson tries to roll over but Antonov keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Robbie Swanson.
I think Antonov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight for Robbie Swanson!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Alexei Antonov!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Alexei Antonov!

Alexei Antonov wins by split decision!