PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Kavabalanga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kavabalanga has chosen Ozzy Osborne - Crazy Train as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pierce
vs
Kavabalanga

216 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

175 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikel Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Kavabalanga!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pierce clinches up with Kavabalanga and pushes him back against the cage.

Pierce pulls guard effortlessly.

Pierce looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kavabalanga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kavabalanga should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kavabalanga is looking to work some ground and pound but Pierce has wrist control.

Kavabalanga stands up and waves to Pierce to follow him.
Pierce fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Pierce. Those never looked like landing.
Pavel Kavabalanga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pierce connects with a solid leg kick.

Kavabalanga darts in and clinches Pierce up against the cage.

Pierce pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kavabalanga has eaten all the pies!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kavabalanga looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kavabalanga stays in close to Pierce's body and controls the position.
Kavabalanga trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pierce's guard.

Pierce had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kavabalanga defends it easily.

Pierce looking for a guillotine here but Kavabalanga defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Kavabalanga from controlling successfully.
Kavabalanga controlling from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kavabalanga trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kavabalanga shoots in and bounces Pierce off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kavabalanga is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pierce tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kavabalanga looking to pass the guard.
Pierce will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Pierce had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kavabalanga defends it easily.
Kavabalanga trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pierce is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kavabalanga controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Pierce looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Kavabalanga from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kavabalanga closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pierce's guard.
Kavabalanga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Pierce working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kavabalanga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kavabalanga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Kavabalanga from controlling successfully.

Pierce isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kavabalanga stacks Pierce on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kavabalanga!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierce wants to get back to his feet but Kavabalanga drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavabalanga laying and praying for a moment but Pierce takes advantage and regains half guard.
Kavabalanga sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kavabalanga moves into full mount! Pierce won't be happy about that!
Kavabalanga thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Pierce defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kavabalanga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kavabalanga goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pierce turns into him and now he's in Kavabalanga's guard.
Kavabalanga is breathing heavily.
Pierce throws a strike but Kavabalanga rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kavabalanga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kavabalanga thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce is trying to improve his position.
Pierce is working hard here to advance position.
Kavabalanga is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Pierce's shoulder. That is not cool.
Pierce manages to get back to half guard.

Pierce actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kavabalanga wants to take a breather but Pierce is having none of it.

Pierce makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kavabalanga takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pierce throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Pierce stuns Kavabalanga with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Kavabalanga shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pierce actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kavabalanga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kavabalanga manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pierce on his heels. He'll look to pass Pierce's guard now, I'm sure.
Kavabalanga throws a big elbow that misses.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Kavabalanga from controlling successfully.

Pierce looking for a guillotine here but Kavabalanga defends easily.

Pierce has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kavabalanga is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Pierce.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierce is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavabalanga creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pierce sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Kavabalanga working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kavabalanga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kavabalanga taking a break here but Pierce is having none of it and regains half guard.
Kavabalanga trying to control the pace.

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.

Pierce actively working from the bottom here.
Pierce is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kavabalanga's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kavabalanga's back!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kavabalanga. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Kavabalanga is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Kavabalanga tries to escape but Pierce has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pierce has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Kavabalanga rolls, trying to escape but Pierce keeps control of the position.
Kavabalanga wants to control his opponent's hands but Pierce gets his hands free.
Pierce looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Pierce lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Pierce.

Kavabalanga tries to escape but he's let his defenses down in doing so and Pierce has slipped in the rear naked choke! Oh, that's tiiiiiiiiight! Kavabalanga is tapping! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mikel Pierce!