PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shin Dong Hyuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birigiz Ignatiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dong Hyuk
vs
Ignatiev

167 cm
25
147 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

160 cm
36
145 lbs
30 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shin Dong Hyuk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Birigiz Ignatiev!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dong Hyuk attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev tries to counter with a clinch but Dong Hyuk shakes him off and moves away.
Dong Hyuk connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ignatiev's hands.

Ignatiev has managed to clinch.
Dong Hyuk takes a knee to the side of the body.

Dong Hyuk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ignatiev is looking to clinch but Dong Hyuk is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ignatiev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ignatiev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ignatiev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Dong Hyuk has time to react.
Dong Hyuk throws a hook but Ignatiev avoids it easily.
Dong Hyuk bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shin Dong Hyuk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A leg kick checked by Ignatiev.
A jab from Dong Hyuk misses.
Ignatiev tries to counter with a clinch but Dong Hyuk shakes him off and moves away.
Dong Hyuk avoids the body shot from Ignatiev.
Dong Hyuk throws a push kick but Ignatiev slaps the foot to one side.
Dong Hyuk throws a body shot but no joy.
Ignatiev raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Ignatiev tries to close the distance and clinch but Dong Hyuk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dong Hyuk swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ignatiev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ignatiev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Dong Hyuk moves out of range easily.
Dong Hyuk fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ignatiev just manages to avoid it.
Ignatiev tries to clinch there but Dong Hyuk circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong Hyuk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick by Ignatiev misses
and Dong Hyuk counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice cross by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev is looking to clinch.
Ignatiev defending well as Dong Hyuk loads up on a big left hand.
Ignatiev tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ignatiev tries to clinch but Dong Hyuk moves out of range.
Ignatiev slips under a jab from Dong Hyuk.
Dong Hyuk tries to work over Ignatiev's front leg with a kick but Ignatiev checks it.
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!
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.
Dong Hyuk swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Dong Hyuk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev wants to counter the offense by Dong Hyuk and move into the clinch position.
Dong Hyuk takes one to the side of the head.
Dong Hyuk takes a swing at Ignatiev's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong Hyuk throws a right hand that misses
and Ignatiev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dong Hyuk blocks a head kick by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dong Hyuk swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Dong Hyuk looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dong Hyuk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dong Hyuk just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatiev misses with a series of wild punches.
Ignatiev on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ignatiev moves out of range as Dong Hyuk strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong Hyuk throws a jab when Ignatiev was well out of range.
Dong Hyuk lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ignatiev tries to clinch but Dong Hyuk is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Dong Hyuk on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dong Hyuk slips under a jab.
Ignatiev just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDong Hyuk.
Dong Hyuk uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ignatiev has time to react.
Ignatiev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dong Hyuk throws out the jab.
Dong Hyuk looks to throw a body kick
and Ignatiev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ignatiev just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dong Hyuk throwing a counter right hand but Ignatiev manages to avoid it.
Ignatiev moves forwards but Dong Hyuk connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ignatiev moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shin Dong Hyuk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ignatiev scores with a shot to the body.
Ignatiev moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick from Dong Hyuk misses.
Dong Hyuk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ignatiev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dong Hyuk lands a nice looking body kick.
Dong Hyuk tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ignatiev is able to avoid easily.
Ignatiev misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dong Hyuk tries to keep at a distance but Ignatiev has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dong Hyuk breaks from the clinch.
Dong Hyuk keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong Hyuk lands with a right hand.
Shin Dong Hyuk is winning the standup battle so far.
Dong Hyuk drops his hands momentarily and Ignatiev takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dong Hyuk misses with a head kick.
Ignatiev wants to counter with a clinch but Dong Hyuk pushes him away.
Ignatiev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dong Hyuk counters with a nice leg kick.
Ignatiev throws a big shot that misses.
Ignatiev moves in looking to clinch but Dong Hyuk pushes him off.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ignatiev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Dong Hyuk blocks a head kick by Ignatiev.
Nice uppercut lands for Dong Hyuk. That snapped Ignatiev's head back.
Ignatiev avoids the head kick by Dong Hyuk.
Ignatiev raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Dong Hyuk lands.
Jab by Dong Hyuk.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dong Hyuk lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dong Hyuk misses with an uppercut. Ignatiev saw that one coming.
Dong Hyuk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ignatiev takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Dong Hyuk avoids the head kick by Ignatiev.
Dong Hyuk finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dong Hyuk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ignatiev moves away.

Ignatiev has managed to clinch.
Dong Hyuk throws a punch but it's blocked by Ignatiev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong Hyuk gets through Ignatiev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dong Hyuk is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ignatiev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ignatiev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dong Hyuk.
A hook to the body from Dong Hyuk.
The referee calls for Dong Hyuk to work.
Dong Hyuk misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev tries to land a knee to the head but Dong Hyuk blocks with his arms.
Ignatiev stalling the fight.
Ignatiev tries a knee to the head but Dong Hyuk blocks it.
Ignatiev creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dong Hyuk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ignatiev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dong Hyuk is defending well for now.
Dong Hyuk blocks a body shot from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev throws a punch but it's blocked by Dong Hyuk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Dong Hyuk breaks from the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Dong Hyuk.
Dong Hyuk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dong Hyuk misses with a low kick.
Ignatiev tries to counter by closing the distance.
Dong Hyuk lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dong Hyuk staying out of range there.
Dong Hyuk scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ignatiev moves to clinch but Dong Hyuk breaks away
and Dong Hyuk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dong Hyuk blocks a head kick by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ignatiev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shin Dong Hyuk dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Ignatiev.
Dong Hyuk lands the left hand.
Dong Hyuk lands a jab to the head.

Ignatiev is rocked!
Dong Hyuk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev is still on wobbly legs! Can Dong Hyuk finish him?
Ignatiev staying out of range there.
Ignatiev tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ignatiev seems to have recovered his senses.
Ignatiev plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Ignatiev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dong Hyuk avoiding damage as Ignatiev throws knees to the body.
Ignatiev working aggressively here.
Dong Hyuk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dong Hyuk lands a shoulder strike.
Dong Hyuk tries to stall but Ignatiev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ignatiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dong Hyuk lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dong Hyuk avoiding damage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ignatiev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dong Hyuk lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ignatiev backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
I was talking to Dong Hyuk's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Dong Hyuk tries to stall but Ignatiev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ignatiev is working Dong Hyuk over against the cage.
Dong Hyuk stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shin Dong Hyuk.
Dong Hyuk looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A jab from Dong Hyuk misses.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dong Hyuk blocks a head kick by Ignatiev.
Dong Hyuk lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ignatiev tries to counter with a clinch but Dong Hyuk shakes him off and moves away.
Dong Hyuk misses with an uppercut.

Dong Hyuk drops Ignatiev with a left and a right! Oh, Ignatiev is hurt - Dong Hyuk dives into side control looking to finish!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dong Hyuk is looking to take a break and control but Ignatiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dong Hyuk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ignatiev has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dong Hyuk working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong Hyuk wants to control but Ignatiev is keeping him busy.
Ignatiev is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Dong Hyuk goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ignatiev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Dong Hyuk but great work by Ignatiev.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ignatiev stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Dong Hyuk. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dong Hyuk.
Shin Dong Hyuk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ignatiev misses with a hook. Dong Hyuk ducked under it nicely.
Birigiz Ignatiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ignatiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dong Hyuk looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Ignatiev throws a body shot but no joy.
Dong Hyuk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ignatiev moves away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dong Hyuk.
Ignatiev checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dong Hyuk lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ignatiev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dong Hyuk counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shin Dong Hyuk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dong Hyuk, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shin Dong Hyuk!
Shin Dong Hyuk decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.