PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sam Eva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pera Vikic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pera Vikic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Eva
vs
Vikic

167 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

198 cm
24
151 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

The Adrenaline Matrix

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Eva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pera Vikic!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eva misses with a two punch combination.

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

Eva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vikic shoots in looking for a takedown but Eva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vikic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vikic with a poor takedown

and Eva counters by clinching up.
Sam Eva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pera Vikic.
Eva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Eva.

Eva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eva shoots in and gets a takedown into Vikic's guard.
Vikic looks winded!
Eva pushing down on Vikic's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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!
Eva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Vikic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Eva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eva is keen to just control but Vikic is a slippery customer.
Vikic is trying to control but can't.
Eva wants to control but Vikic is keeping him busy.
Eva wants to pass to mount but Vikic is defending the position.
Vikic is looking to control Eva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vikic avoid being mounted?
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vikic is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Eva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Eva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Eva showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Eva drops an elbow to the side of Vikic's head.
Eva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Vikic is controlling Eva's trapped leg to prevent Eva from advancing to side control.
Eva wants to stand up but Vikic is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vikic is controlling Eva's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Eva tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vikic keeps control of the position for the meantime.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Eva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vikic trying to control but Eva postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vikic is concentrating on defense, preventing Eva from advancing position.
Eva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vikic keeps working.
Eva seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vikic tries to roll over but Eva keeps him under control.
Vikic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vikic has his hands clasped together around Eva's back. He's all about the action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Vikic wants to improve his position but Eva is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Eva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Eva wants to clinch

and Vikic counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vikic.
Eva controls Vikic momentarily but Vikic frees himself.
Vikic looking to pass the guard.
Vikic sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Vikic looking to pass the guard.
Vikic is stalling in the full guard.
Eva working a defensive guard here.
Eva wants to stand up but Vikic is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Eva clinches up with Vikic and pushes him back against the ropes.

Eva has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Vikic is trying to keep an underhook but Eva manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Eva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vikic defending well though.
Vikic trying to hold on to Eva's head to control him but Eva postures up.
Eva is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Vikic is controlling Eva's trapped leg to prevent Eva from advancing to side control.
Eva is taking a breather. Vikic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vikic is looking to improve his position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Vikic wants to control but Eva is keeping busy.
Vikic is looking to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vikic slips under a jab from Eva.
Vikic looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vikic fails with the takedown
and Eva counters with an outside leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Eva.
Vikic tries to improve position but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vikic can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Eva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vikic, who protects the arm well.
Eva wants to control but Vikic is keeping him busy.
Eva tries to advance to mount but Vikic denies him.
I wouldn't like to be where Vikic is right now.
Vikic is not content to let Eva control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Eva wants to stand but Vikic is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Eva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Eva shoots in and bounces Vikic off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Eva controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vikic holds on and takes a little breather.
Vikic is trying to keep Eva in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eva wants to pass the guard but Vikic is keeping the position.
Vikic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eva tries to free his leg and advance position but Vikic is retaining full guard.
Vikic is breathing heavily.
Eva wants to control from the top but Vikic keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Eva rushes Vikic and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Eva gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Vikic is looking to control Eva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vikic avoid being mounted?
Eva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vikic keeps working.
Eva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vikic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vikic desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vikic slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Eva wants to control from the top but Vikic keeps moving.
Vikic is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Eva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Eva lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vikic is adopting a defensive guard.
Vikic trying to keep a closed guard but Eva is proving a slippery customer.
Eva trying to control but Vikic is working from the bottom.
Eva seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Eva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Eva wants to get up but he can't break Vikic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Eva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vikic keeping full guard, as Eva tries to pass.
Eva wants to control from the top but Vikic keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vikic working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eva scores with the left hand. Vikic knows he should have avoided that one.
A head kick misses from Eva.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Vikic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Eva as he avoids it easily.
Eva tries to close the distance and clinch but Vikic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Eva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vikic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Eva wants to control but Vikic is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Vikic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vikic controls the position for a moment.

Eva stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sam Eva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Eva tries to clinch up.
Vikic goes for a double leg but Eva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Eva continues to drive forward.

Eva lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Eva wants to control but Vikic is keeping him busy.
Sam Eva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vikic's head.
Vikic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Eva wants to pass the guard but Vikic is defending well.
Eva scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Vikic manages to get to full guard.
Eva trying to control but Vikic is working from the bottom.
Vikic looking to control.

Eva decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vikic, up you get!

Eva drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Eva takes a little break here. Vikic wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Eva in side control lands a decent elbow.
Eva in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Vikic is holding Eva down, trying to stall.
Vikic is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Vikic wants to control but Eva is keeping busy.

Eva wants to work for an arm triangle but Vikic is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Eva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vikic wants to get back to full guard.

Eva is working for a submission of some sort.
Vikic is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Eva trying to control from half guard but Vikic is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Eva dominated that second round.
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!

Vikic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Vikic pulls Eva in close to his closed guard and prevents Eva from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vikic working a defensive guard here.
Vikic keeping full guard, as Eva tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vikic seems keen to control Eva's posture.
Vikic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vikic keeping moving, preventing Eva from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vikic pulls Eva in close to prevent any damage.
Eva wanted to stand there but Vikic had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Eva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Eva lands in his opponent's guard.
Vikic looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vikic pulls Eva in to control the position.
Eva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eva controlling from the top position.
Eva tries to free his leg and advance position but Vikic is retaining full guard.
Vikic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vikic is adopting a defensive guard.
Vikic is continuing to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vikic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Eva counter with a right hand.
Eva is looking to clinch.
Eva throws a hook but Vikic avoids it easily.

Eva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Eva in side control lands a decent elbow.
Vikic wants to control but Eva postures up.
Eva trying to control the action but Vikic is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vikic is looking to reverse the position.
Eva is working Vikic over with some ground and pound from side control.
Eva looking to control but instead Vikic has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Eva trying to control the action but Vikic is working from the bottom.
Vikic trying to hold on to Eva's head to control him but Eva postures up.
Eva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vikic can do to turn this around?

Eva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vikic defends it well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Vikic trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eva misses with a combination
letting Vikic counter with a right hand.

Vikic manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Eva on his heels. He'll look to pass Eva's guard now, I'm sure.
Vikic trying to control but Eva is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Eva is on top in guard.

Vikic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Vikic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Eva haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Eva wants to control from the top but Vikic keeps moving.
Vikic working a defensive guard here.
Vikic controlling Eva's posture.
Eva tries to free his leg and advance position but Vikic is retaining full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Eva trying to control the position from guard on top but Vikic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Vikic tries to sprawl but Eva drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vikic is holding on to half guard well.
Eva trying to control from half guard but Vikic is working away.
Eva wants to pass to mount but Vikic is defending the position.
Vikic moves into full guard.
Eva is fighting to break Vikic's control of his arms but Vikic is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The adventures of Vikic the control monster continue. Boring.
Vikic keeping moving, preventing Eva from controlling successfully.
Eva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vikic avoids the head kick by Eva.

Eva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vikic's guard.
Vikic controlling the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Eva wants to control from the top but Vikic keeps moving.
Vikic has Eva pulled in close to control his posture.
Let's hope that Vikic has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Vikic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pera Vikic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Eva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Eva trying to control but Vikic is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Eva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Eva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Eva!