PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Artur Szpilka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Sergiov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Szpilka
vs
Sergiov

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artur Szpilka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Sergiov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sergiov has Szpilka up against the cage in a clinch.
Szpilka is looking for a takedown.

Sergiov jumps guard.
Sergiov keeping moving, preventing Szpilka from controlling successfully.
Szpilka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szpilka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpilka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sergiov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Szpilka trying to control the position from guard on top but Sergiov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Szpilka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sergiov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Szpilka as he jumps to the side.
Sergiov just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSzpilka.

Szpilka closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sergiov can't get the takedown.
Sergiov stops a takedown attempt from Szpilka.
Szpilka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sergiov to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artur Szpilka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szpilka jumps guard but Sergiov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Szpilka jumps guard but Sergiov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Szpilka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sergiov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sergiov misses with a double jab.
Szpilka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Szpilka slaps away a takedown attempt from Sergiov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Szpilka fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sergiov just manages to avoid it.
Szpilka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Szpilka is breathing heavily.
Sergiov fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szpilka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sergiov tries to avoid it but Szpilka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sergiov to the ground. Sergiov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Szpilka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sergiov manages to get back to half guard.
Sergiov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Sergiov is pressing down on Szpilka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szpilka trying to control the position from guard on top but Sergiov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szpilka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sergiov's guard.
Sergiov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sergiov keeping moving, preventing Szpilka from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Szpilka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Sergiov has closed the distance and engaged Szpilka in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sergiov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Szpilka's face.
Szpilka letting Sergiov take a breather here.
Sergiov taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Sergiov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A chopping leg kick lands by Sergiov.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Szpilka.
Sergiov with the counter takedown but Szpilka avoids it easily.
Szpilka misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Sergiov to counter with a crisp jab.
Szpilka shoots for a takedown but Sergiov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Szpilka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sergiov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artur Szpilka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sergiov cracks a nice hook into Szpilka's ribs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Szpilka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sergiov dives in and scores a takedown into Szpilka's guard.
Sergiov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sergiov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sergiov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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. Sergiov connects with a nice short shot to Szpilka's temple.
Sergiov is trying to control the action in half guard but Szpilka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sergiov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sergiov is trying to control the action in half guard but Szpilka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sergiov seems to be looking for submissions.

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.
Szpilka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sergiov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Szpilka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Szpilka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sergiov defends well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sergiov goes for a double leg but Szpilka avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Szpilka continues to drive forward.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sergiov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sergiov clinches with his opponent.
Sergiov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sergiov goes for a takedown attempt but Szpilka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Szpilka shoots for a double leg takedown but Sergiov sprawls well. He's pushed Szpilka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Szpilka shoots and misses

and Sergiov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sergiov.
Szpilka lands with a light punch inside.
Szpilka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sergiov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Szpilka turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sergiov wants to control but Szpilka postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szpilka is trying to get an arm triangle but Sergiov is defending well.
Sergiov can't do much from the bottom here.
Szpilka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sergiov keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Szpilka landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Sergiov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Szpilka avoids the head kick by Sergiov.
And Szpilka counters with a quick kick to the body but Sergiov blocks it.
Szpilka pushes Sergiov away with a front kick.
Szpilka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sergiov.
Szpilka fails to land the takedown.
Artur Szpilka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sergiov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Szpilka is fending him off so far but Sergiov persists. Nope, Szpilka circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Szpilka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Szpilka gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sergiov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpilka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Szpilka wants to control from the top but Sergiov keeps moving.
Sergiov wants to get back to his feet but Szpilka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Szpilka postures up and lands a big shot to Sergiov's brow.

Sergiov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Szpilka is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Sergiov manages to break the clinch.
Szpilka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Szpilka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artur Szpilka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sergiov scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sergiov clinches up against the cage.
Szpilka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Szpilka has Sergiov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sergiov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Good body shot from Sergiov.
Sergiov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Szpilka breaks the clinch.

Sergiov has closed the distance and engaged Szpilka in a clinch.
Szpilka tries to pull guard but Sergiov holds him up against the cage and eventually Szpilka drops back down to his feet.

Sergiov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sergiov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sergiov trying to control the position from guard on top but Szpilka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szpilka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sergiov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Szpilka wants to control but Sergiov postures up.
Artur Szpilka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Sergiov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sergiov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szpilka keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Sergiov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sergiov 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Sergiov!