PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Otto Octavius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Ljashko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Octavius
vs
Ljashko

175 cm
21
245 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
265 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Otto Octavius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Ljashko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Octavius throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A telegraphed right hand from Ljashko misses the target.

Ljashko closes the distance and clinches.
Ljashko can't find room to land a body shot as Octavius controls the action.

Ljashko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Octavius missing with a left hand there. Ljashko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ljashko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Octavius thows a body kick. Ljashko tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ljashko. That's going to slow Octavius down.

Ljashko clinches up with Octavius and pushes him back against the ropes.
Octavius is working for takedown but Ljashko is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ljashko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Octavius scores with a shot to the body.

Octavius looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Octavius wants to pass the guard but Ljashko is keeping the position.
Octavius sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ljashko's guard.
Octavius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ljashko defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ljashko is looking for a sweep. Octavius is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Octavius prevents Ljashko from standing back up.

Ljashko makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Octavius pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
It seemed like Ljashko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Ljashko takes the fight into the clinch.
Ljashko lands an uppercut.
Octavius lands a hook to the side of the head.
Octavius drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ljashko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ljashko is pressed up against the ropes. Octavius has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ljashko down to the mat. Ljashko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otto Octavius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Octavius checks a low kick from Ljashko.

Oooh a lovely combination from Ljashko sends Octavius down but not out. Ljashko dives into side control looking to finish.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ljashko stands up.
Octavius swats away the attempt to clinch by Ljashko.
Ljashko doesn't manage to clinch there - Octavius circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ljashko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Octavius throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Octavius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ljashko takes a swing at Octavius's ribcage but misses.
Octavius moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Octavius takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ljashko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Octavius.
Ljashko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Octavius has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ljashko misses with a double jab.
Ljashko wants to clinch up but Octavius keeps it at a distance.
A leg kick checked by Ljashko.

Ljashko clinches up with Octavius and pushes him back against the ropes.
Octavius tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Octavius wants a takedown but no success here.
Ljashko unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ljashko is looking to control Octavius's arms but Octavius gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ljashko has his back to the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Ljashko.
Octavius is breathing heavily.
Octavius misses with the head strike.
Ljashko lands an elbow just above Octavius 's eye.
Nice body punch from Ljashko.
Ljashko scores with a knee to the head.
Ljashko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ljashko scores a nice knee to the body.
Octavius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ljashko's elbow.

Ljashko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ljashko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ljashko misses with a few strikes there.

Ljashko rushes Octavius and presses him up against the ropes.
Ljashko lands a nice knee to the body.
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!
Ljashko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ljashko lands a knee to the head.
Octavius fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Ljashko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ljashko lands a big shot that drops Octavius! Can he finish him?

Octavius is rocked!
Ljashko tries to stand but Octavius is controlling from the bottom.
Oh Octavius is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ljashko stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Octavius seems to have got his legs back now.
Octavius tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ljashko defends well and Octavius ends up having to push Ljashko into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ljashko gets a clinch.
Ljashko is working Octavius over against the ropes.
Ljashko crunches a lovely knee into Octavius's ribcage.
Ljashko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Octavius blocks it with crossed arms.
Ljashko trying to control the position but instead, Octavius has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ljashko into the ropes.
Ljashko lands an elbow inside that Octavius shrugs off.

Ljashko breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ljashko connects with an inside leg kick.

Ljashko throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Octavius tumbling to the canvas!
Ljashko wants to stand but Octavius is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Octavius tries to land a front kick but Ljashko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Ljashko drops his shoulder and cracks Octavius with a huge uppercut! Octavius goes down! Can Ljashko finish him?
Octavius throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Octavius is trying to control the position but Ljashko postures up.
Ljashko looking to pass the guard.

Ljashko stands up from Octavius's guard - Ljashko perhaps looking for a knockout.
Octavius scoring well with a low kick there.
Ljashko is looking to clinch.
Octavius tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Octavius is looking to slow Ljashko down with leg kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ljashko pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ljashko closes the distance and clinches.
Ljashko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Octavius avoids it.
Ljashko stops a takedown attempt from Octavius.
Ljashko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ljashko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ljashko throws a sloppy head kick and Octavius moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Octavius.
Ljashko is breathing heavily.
Ljashko is trying to stall.
Octavius dodges an elbow strike from Ljashko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ljashko.
Ljashko prevents a body shot from Octavius.
Octavius lands a body punch.
Octavius tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Octavius cracks Ljashko with a nice body shot.
Ljashko prevents a body shot from Octavius.
Octavius softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from Octavius fails to land.

Ljashko breaks from the clinch.
Octavius shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ljashko eats them both and turns towards Octavius to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The fighters circle momentarily. Octavius darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Octavius throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Octavius.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ljashko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ljashko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A big left from Ljashko misses.
Ljashko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Octavius paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Octavius half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Octavius throws a wild body kick that Ljashko sees coming a mile off.
Ljashko scores with a leg kick.
Ljashko doesn't manage to clinch there - Octavius circles away.
Octavius is looking to counter punch.

Ljashko rushes Octavius and presses him up against the ropes.
Ljashko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ljashko scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Otto Octavius has been cut.
Ljashko lands a knee to the head.
Octavius drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ljashko drops Octavius with a big right hand! Ljashko charges in looking to finish - Octavius manages to keep Ljashko in his guard and seems to have recovered somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ljashko wants to stand but Octavius is controlling his posture from full guard.
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.

Ljashko stands and steps away. Octavius gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Octavius misses with a wild combination.

Ljashko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ljashko lands an elbow inside.
Ljashko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ljashko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Oleg Ljashko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ljashko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ljashko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Octavius or not.
Ljashko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Ljashko breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ljashko darts in and clinches Octavius up against the ropes.

Ljashko breaks the clinch.

Ljashko catches Octavius napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Octavius to the canvas!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Octavius keeping moving, preventing Ljashko from controlling successfully.
Ljashko wants to stand but Octavius is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ljashko trying to control the position from guard on top but Octavius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Octavius throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ljashko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Octavius is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Octavius is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Octavius is looking for a triangle but Ljashko pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Ljashko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Otto Octavius's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Octavius fails with the takedown.
Octavius lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Ljashko and Octavius goes tumbling to the canvas! Ljashko follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Octavius is looking to control Ljashko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Octavius avoid being mounted?
Ljashko wants to stand up but Octavius is controlling the position.
Octavius wants to improve his position but Ljashko is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ljashko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Octavius is not content to let Ljashko control the position.
Octavius wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ljashko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Octavius!
Ljashko controlling from the full mount.
Ljashko wants to control the pace but Octavius is squirming around nicely.
Ljashko controlling the position easily from mount.
Octavius really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Octavius tries to lock up and control but Ljashko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Octavius is desperately trying to improve his position but Ljashko has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ljashko controlling the position easily from mount.
Octavius is trying to escape the mount.

Ljashko is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Ljashko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Octavius.
Ljashko throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Octavius tried to counter with a leg kick but Ljashko avoided it.
A combination from Octavius does no damage.
Octavius lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Ljashko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Octavius, pushing him back against the ropes.
Octavius working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Octavius misses with a punch on the inside.
Octavius throws a head punch that misses.
Octavius looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ljashko taking a breather.

Ljashko manages to break the clinch.
Oleg Ljashko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ljashko has Octavius up against the ropes in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Octavius fails to land.
Ljashko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ljashko lands an elbow just above Octavius 's eye.

Ljashko breaks the clinch.

Ljashko has managed to clinch.
Ljashko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Octavius or not.
Octavius takes an elbow to the temple.
Ljashko lands a good knee to the midsection. Octavius won't want to take too many of those.
Ljashko lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Octavius.

Ljashko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ljashko has managed to clinch.
Ljashko working Octavius over with knees to the body.
Ljashko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Ljashko breaks from the clinch.
Ljashko tries to clinch but Octavius moves out of range.
Octavius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ljashko.
Ljashko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ljashko with a nice cross.

Octavius gets tackled into the ropes by Ljashko. Ljashko maintains the clinch.

Ljashko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ljashko blocks a leg kick.
Ljashko moves to clinch but Octavius breaks away

and Octavius counters with a takedown into side control.
Ljashko is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ljashko struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Ljashko really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Otto Octavius's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ljashko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Octavius half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Octavius moves away from the strike by Ljashko.
Ljashko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Octavius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ljashko's corner calls for a 1-2. Ljashko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Octavius lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ljashko's sensitive parts.
Ljashko moves in looking to clinch but Octavius pushes him off.
Ljashko swinging wildly here.
Octavius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Octavius shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ljashko pinned against the ropes. Ljashko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Octavius does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Octavius lands a leg kick that knocks Ljashko off balance momentarily.
Ljashko moves out of range as Octavius throws a body kick.
Octavius misses with a low kick as Ljashko jumps back.
Octavius dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ljashko. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ljashko fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Octavius pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ljashko is out of range and Octavius settles back down.
Octavius defending well as Ljashko loads up on a big left hand.
Oleg Ljashko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ljashko moves into the clinch successfully.
Ljashko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ljashko wants to stall.

Ljashko lands a big knee from the Thai clinch and Octavius goes down hard! The ref takes a good look at him but he's still defending himself. Ljashko in side control.
Ljashko wants to stand but Octavius has his arm trapped.
Octavius can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Ljashko is looking to take a break and control but Octavius is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Octavius manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ljashko's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ljashko decides to return to a standing position.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Ljashko and Octavius goes tumbling to the canvas! Ljashko follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ljashko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Octavius slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Otto Octavius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Octavius is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ljashko is aware though and is defending well.

Ljashko stands up from Octavius's guard - Ljashko perhaps looking for a knockout.

Ljashko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Octavius lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ljashko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Octavius drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ljashko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ljashko manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ljashko slows down the pace here.
Ljashko lands a huge knee in the clinch and it's knocked Octavius out! Massive knee - he's celebrating with his corner and the crowd showing their appreciation!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Oleg Ljashko!