PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edwardo Rosario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Ilich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edwardo Rosario has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rosario
vs
Ilich

214 cm
24
279 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

198 cm
20
264 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edwardo Rosario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Ilich!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ilich closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ilich lands in his opponent's guard.
Rosario controlling Ilich's posture.
Ilich tries to free his leg and advance position but Rosario is retaining full guard.
Ilich looking to sit in guard and control but Rosario gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ilich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rosario postures up in Ilich's guard and throws a big left but Ilich blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rosario throws a strike but Ilich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rosario pulls Ilich in close to prevent any damage.
Ilich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rosario is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ilich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rosario controlling Ilich's posture.
Ilich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rosario is keeping the position for now.

Ilich drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rosario manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ilich has Rosario in his guard.
Rosario throwing strikes from guard but Ilich blocks nicely.
Rosario is looking to work some ground and pound but Ilich has wrist control.

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.
Ilich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rosario postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rosario postures up in Ilich's guard and throws a big left but Ilich blocks it.
Rosario throws a big right hand that misses.
Rosario throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ilich looks winded!
Rosario makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ilich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rosario throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ilich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rosario scoring with some ground and pound.
Rosario throws a big right hand that misses.
Ilich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rosario with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rosario postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ilich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rosario loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ilich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Rosario landing with the ground and pound.
Rosario postures up and lands a big shot to Ilich's brow.
Rosario scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ilich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Rosario postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rosario throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rosario in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rosario trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosario lands a couple of digs.
Rosario cracks Ilich with a solid left hand.
Rosario with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ilich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rosario throws a big right hand that misses.
Rosario working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rosario working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ilich's head.
Rosario working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rosario with a nice head shot there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rosario scoring with some ground and pound.
Ilich has momentary wrist control but Rosario slips an elbow through the middle.
Rosario keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ilich's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwardo Rosario dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rosario lands with a nice body kick.

Rosario tries to sprawl but Ilich drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Rosario manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ilich keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ilich is trying to maintain a safe position but Rosario gets an underhook and turns Ilich into the cage.

Ilich pulls Rosario into guard.
Rosario postures up in Ilich's guard and throws a big left but Ilich blocks it.
Rosario throwing strikes from guard but Ilich blocks nicely.
Rosario working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ilich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rosario is looking to work some ground and pound but Ilich has wrist control.
Ilich is breathing heavily.
Rosario is in close to Ilich's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ilich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Ilich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rosario throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ilich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rosario postures up in Ilich's guard and throws a big left but Ilich blocks it.
Rosario with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rosario postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've been informed that Ilich has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ilich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rosario postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ilich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rosario chips away with some ground and pound.
Rosario throwing strikes from guard but Ilich blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosario keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ilich's head.
Rosario working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rosario is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ilich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rosario working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Edwardo Rosario overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ilich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Ilich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ilich throws a leg kick

so Rosario counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rosario landing with the ground and pound.
Rosario postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rosario throws a big right hand that misses.
Ilich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ilich controls Rosario momentarily but Rosario frees himself.
Rosario throws a big elbow that misses.
Rosario lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rosario throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rosario missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ilich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rosario keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ilich's head.
Ilich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Rosario throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ilich pushes Rosario up against the cage in a clinch.

Rosario pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ilich scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rosario is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ilich can do to turn this around?

Ilich shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ilich thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rosario is doing well to control the position and prevent Ilich from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwardo Rosario dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ilich throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rosario was covering up waiting for the punch and Ilich finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Rosario pushes Ilich off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rosario connects with a body shot that sends Ilich's belly button to the back.
Ilich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilich lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rosario takes a step back to recover.
Ilich stalks Rosario and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rosario's face. Rosario staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilich throws a lazy head kick

and Rosario counters by moving into the clinch.

Rosario manages to break the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ilich lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rosario has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rosario and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rosario scores with a one two! Ilich had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ilich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rosario.
Ivan Ilich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ilich instigates a clinch.
Rosario displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ilich up against the cage.

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

Ilich drives through with a takedown into Rosario's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Rosario pushes Ilich off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rosario goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ilich misses with a combination

and Rosario counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rosario is looking to work some ground and pound but Ilich has wrist control.
Rosario stops Ilich from standing up.
Rosario throwing strikes from guard but Ilich blocks nicely.
Ilich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Rosario has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario throwing strikes but missing.
Ilich has momentary wrist control but Rosario slips an elbow through the middle.
Rosario is looking to work some ground and pound but Ilich has wrist control.
Rosario won't allow Ilich to get back to his feet.
Ilich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ilich gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ilich scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Ilich closes the distance and pushes Rosario back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ilich has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rosario uses from the top position.
Ilich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rosario accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ilich is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rosario is controlling him.
Rosario keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ilich's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rosario throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ilich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rosario missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rosario throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ilich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ivan Ilich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edwardo Rosario is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ilich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rosario is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edwardo Rosario showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rosario, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edwardo Rosario!