PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoly Bazanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Ricardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bazanov
vs
Ricardo

170 cm
25
205 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

191 cm
24
220 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anatoly Bazanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Ricardo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bazanov gets a takedown into half guard.
Bazanov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bazanov winds up and cracks Ricardo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bazanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ricardo's head.
Ricardo is looking for a sweep. Bazanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bazanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bazanov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ricardo on the ground.
Ricardo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Ricardo looking for submissions off his back.
Ricardo works his way to full guard. Good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ricardo working for a triangle but Bazanov defends it easily.
Bazanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricardo looking to control.
Bazanov postures up in Ricardo's guard and throws a big left but Ricardo blocks it.
Bazanov with a nice head shot there.
Bazanov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bazanov stands up over Ricardo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bazanov throws a big elbow that misses.
Bazanov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ricardo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bazanov is one step ahead there.
Bazanov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bazanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ricardo's head.
Bazanov landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ricardo working a defensive guard here.
Ricardo has momentary wrist control but Bazanov slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ricardo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bazanov throws an elbow that misses. Ricardo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bazanov's guard. Nice move by Ricardo!

Bazanov looking to control.
Ricardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bazanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ricardo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bazanov is keeping the position for now.
Ricardo won't allow Bazanov to sweep him here.
Ricardo wants to control from the top but Bazanov keeps moving.
Bazanov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ricardo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Ricardo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ricardo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov can't do much from the bottom here.
Ricardo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bazanov keeps working.

Ricardo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ricardo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ricardo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bazanov tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ricardo presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ricardo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bazanov is looking to escape.

Ricardo working for a guillotine from mount but Bazanov is in no mood to give up.
Bazanov is desperately trying to improve his position but Ricardo has a good base and remains in mount.
Bazanov tries to hold on but Ricardo postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Anatoly Bazanov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ricardo enables Bazanov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ricardo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bazanov stopping the sweep attempt from Ricardo.
Bazanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ricardo can do to turn this around?
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bazanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anatoly Bazanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ricardo is on top in guard.

Ricardo is pushing down on Bazanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bazanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Ricardo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ricardo passes to full mount!
Ricardo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Ricardo wants to finish this one by submission but Bazanov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ricardo.
Bazanov tries to reverse the position but Ricardo maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Ricardo.
Ricardo has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Bi-polar Asylum. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Bazanov is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ricardo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ricardo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bazanov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Bazanov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ricardo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bazanov has managed to get both his arms back between Ricardo's legs - danger averted.
Ricardo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bazanov is one step ahead there.
Bazanov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bazanov.
Bazanov looking to pass the guard.
Ricardo wants to sweep here but Bazanov controlling him for the moment.
Bazanov postures up and lands a big shot to Ricardo's brow.
Bazanov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bazanov is working Ricardo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bazanov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ricardo's head.
Ricardo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bazanov throwing strikes but missing.
Ricardo working a defensive guard here.
Bazanov postures up in Ricardo's guard and throws a big left but Ricardo blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricardo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bazanov cracks Ricardo with a solid left hand.
Bazanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ricardo's head.
Bazanov lands a couple of elbows.
Bazanov lands a couple of elbows.
Ricardo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bazanov manages to get himself to full guard.

Ricardo is looking to work some ground and pound but Bazanov has wrist control.
Bazanov keeping moving, preventing Ricardo from controlling successfully.
Ricardo looking to pass the guard.
Bazanov wants to get back to his feet but Ricardo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov pulls Ricardo in to control the position.
Ricardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bazanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bazanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ricardo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bazanov tries to improve position but can't.

Ricardo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
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 Anatoly Bazanov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bazanov gets the takedown into side control.
Ricardo tries to improve position but can't.
Bazanov looks up at the clock and then as Ricardo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bazanov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Bazanov working the ground and pound from side control.
Ricardo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ricardo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ricardo wants to control but Bazanov is keeping him busy.

Ricardo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Ricardo is trying to work for a kimura but Bazanov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bazanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bazanov is trying to maintain the position but Ricardo is very close to passing his half guard.
Bazanov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bazanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Bazanov, not yet.
Bazanov keeping moving, preventing Ricardo from controlling successfully.
Ricardo throws a strike but Bazanov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anatoly Bazanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bazanov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ricardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ricardo looking to control.
Ricardo wants to sweep but no luck.
Bazanov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bazanov pushing down on Ricardo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bazanov is taking a breather. Ricardo 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.
Ricardo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bazanov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bazanov's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov tries to roll but Ricardo sticks to his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bazanov is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ricardo gets his way!
Bazanov tries to break free.
Bazanov trying to control the hands but Ricardo breaks the grip.
Bazanov is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Bazanov showing good submission defense here.
Bazanov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Bazanov is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo not allowing Bazanov to control his hands.

Ricardo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Bazanov trying to control the position but Ricardo manages to sink in the hooks.

Ricardo working for a choke but Bazanov reverses nicely into Ricardo 's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bazanov content to stall in guard here.

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 Anatoly Bazanov.
Well Bazanov 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anatoly Bazanov!
In defeat, Ricky Ricardo stepped up to the mic, saying 'Eu não lutei para o meu potencial. Eu vou voltar para o ginásio e isso não vai acontecer novamente.'.