PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Coco Rocket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Voganoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Voganoff is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Nine Inch Nails Every Day is Exactly the Same. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rocket
vs
Voganoff

200 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Coco Rocket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Voganoff!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocket tries a head kick but it misses.
Rocket throws a wild body kick that Voganoff sees coming a mile off.
Rocket tries to clinch but Voganoff is having none of it.

Voganoff bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rocket is looking to regain half guard here but Voganoff keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Voganoff in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Rocket tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Voganoff wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rocket sneaks back into half guard.
Rocket is trying to get back to full guard.
Voganoff is tying to control. Rocket wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voganoff is taking a breather. Rocket 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.
Rocket is trying to get back to full guard.
Voganoff is tying to control. Rocket wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Rocket is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Voganoff pulls his head out easily.
Rocket tries to get to full guard but Voganoff has control of the leg.

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

Voganoff has closed the distance and engaged Rocket in a clinch.

Voganoff jumps into guard, dragging Rocket to the mat.
Voganoff keeping full guard, as Rocket tries to pass.
Voganoff has his hands on Rocket's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket trying to control but Voganoff is working from the bottom.
Rocket throwing strikes but missing.
Rocket content to stall in guard here.

Rocket postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Voganoff is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rocket, into his guard.

Rocket is looking for a triangle but Voganoff pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Voganoff's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Voganoff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rocket is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Voganoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocket is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocket not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rocket shoots and misses
and Voganoff counters with a two punch combo.

Voganoff shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Voganoff showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Voganoff seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rocket does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Voganoff connects with a nice short shot to Rocket's temple.
Rocket is trying to maintain the position but Voganoff is very close to passing his half guard.
Rocket gets full guard.

Rocket throws his legs up looking for a submission but Voganoff uses it to pass to side control.

Voganoff is trying to get an arm triangle but Rocket is defending well.
Voganoff just content to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rocket gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Voganoff counters by moving into the clinch.

Voganoff gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Voganoff throwing strikes but missing.
Voganoff sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rocket looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Voganoff trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rocket's guard.
Voganoff controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rocket is looking for a triangle but Voganoff pushes his legs off easily.
Voganoff is pushing down on Rocket's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rocket is fighting to maintain full guard but Voganoff has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rocket trying to hold on to Voganoff's head to control him but Voganoff postures up.
Rocket throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Voganoff is taking a breather. Rocket 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.
Rocket is looking to improve his position.
Rocket regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rocket trying to keep a closed guard but Voganoff is proving a slippery customer.

That's two 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.

Rocket escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Voganoff gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Voganoff controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rocket avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rocket looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Voganoff wants to control from the top but Rocket keeps moving.
Rocket is trying to control the position but Voganoff postures up.
Rocket utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Voganoff shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rocket as he avoids it easily.
Voganoff is breathing heavily.
Rocket fails with the takedown

so Voganoff counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket managing to control the position.
Voganoff content to stall in guard here.
Voganoff looking to sit in guard and control but Rocket gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Voganoff preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Voganoff is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rocket controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.
Voganoff keeping moving, preventing Rocket from controlling successfully.
Voganoff is trying to keep Rocket in close.
Voganoff keeping moving, preventing Rocket from controlling successfully.
Voganoff is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rocket chips away with some ground and pound.
Rocket wants to control from the top but Voganoff keeps moving.
Voganoff is pulling down on Rocket's head. It's preventing any offense from Rocket, at least for the moment.
Rocket tries to free his leg and advance position but Voganoff is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Voganoff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Good work by Voganoff as he checks the leg kick.
Rocket fails with the takedown

and Voganoff counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Voganoff.

Rocket has his foot on Voganoff's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Voganoff works his way back into a safe position though.
Rocket is trying to keep Voganoff in close.
Voganoff throws a big right hand that misses.

Voganoff drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Voganoff jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rocket working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Voganoff doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Voganoff manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Igor Voganoff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Voganoff controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Voganoff feints and as Rocket raises his hands in defense, Voganoff changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Voganoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rocket working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Voganoff doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Voganoff manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Voganoff's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Voganoff drops back looking for a leg! Rocket is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rocket manages to kick Voganoff off! Voganoff jumps back into Rocket's guard.

Rocket has his foot on Voganoff's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Voganoff works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rocket had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Voganoff is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rocket Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Voganoff's back instead.
Voganoff turns into Rocket and is now in his guard.
Rocket trying to keep a closed guard but Voganoff is proving a slippery customer.
Voganoff's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Voganoff looking to sit in guard and control but Rocket gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rocket wants to control from the top but Voganoff keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rocket wants to pass the guard but Voganoff is keeping the position.

Rocket is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Voganoff is trying to keep Rocket in close.

That's four 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 referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Voganoff shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Voganoff preventing the sweep.
Voganoff wants to control from the top but Rocket keeps moving.
Voganoff might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rocket kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Coco Rocket has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocket looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Igor Voganoff is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Voganoff trying to control but Rocket is working from the bottom.
Voganoff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rocket is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Voganoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Voganoff 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Voganoff!