PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Heriberto Parks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Afanasiy Boroda (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.

Parks
vs
Boroda

193 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heriberto Parks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Afanasiy Boroda!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Boroda.
Parks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Boroda swivels and escapes.
Parks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Parks shoots in looking for a takedown but Boroda manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Parks's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from Parks. No joy for Boroda on that attempt.

Parks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Boroda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Parks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boroda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Parks is looking to stand up but Boroda won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boroda looking to control.
Boroda has Parks pulled in close to control his posture.

Boroda has his foot on Parks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Parks works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Parks postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Boroda is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Parks, into his guard.

Boroda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Parks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Boroda is stalling in the full guard.
Parks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Parks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Boroda throws a big elbow that misses.
Boroda stands and throws Parks's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boroda in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Boroda sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Parks is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Parks parries the strikes from Boroda easily there. Boroda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Parks to escape.

Boroda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Parks is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Parks is not content to let Boroda control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boroda throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Boroda decides to stand back up. Boroda steps back and let's Parks get back to his feet.
Parks leaves Boroda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Boroda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Afanasiy Boroda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Parks fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heriberto Parks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boroda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Parks but Parks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Boroda fails to land the takedown.
Boroda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Parks but Parks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Parks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boroda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boroda with the counter takedown but Parks avoids it easily.
Parks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Parks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Boroda circles away.

Parks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Parks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Boroda circles away.
Boroda lands a head kick!

It looks like Heriberto Parks has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Boroda is defended easily by Parks.
Parks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Parks tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Boroda defends well and Parks ends up having to push Boroda into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Boroda pushes Parks up against the cage in a clinch.

Boroda breaks from the clinch.
Boroda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Heriberto Parks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afanasiy Boroda.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boroda moves into range and clinches up with Parks.
Boroda goes for a takedown attempt but Parks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Parks has a takedown stuffed.
Boroda throws a nice inside leg kick.
Boroda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Parks pinned against the cage. Parks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Parks shoots in for a takedown but Boroda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boroda shoots in looking for a takedown but Parks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Boroda's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Parks stuffs the takedown attempt from Boroda. Boroda gets slowly back to his feet.
Boroda is breathing heavily.
Parks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Boroda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boroda drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Parks defends it well.
Boroda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Parks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boroda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice takedown defense from Boroda. No joy for Parks on that attempt.
Boroda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Parks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Boroda slaps away a takedown attempt from Parks, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boroda misses with a head kick.
Parks avoids the head kick by Boroda.
Boroda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Parks's waist but Parks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Boroda off to one side.
Parks darts in looking for a takedown but Boroda gets double underhooks and turns Parks into the cage.
Parks shoots for a double leg takedown but Boroda sprawls well. He's pushed Parks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Boroda tries to counter with a clinch but Parks shakes him off and moves away.
Parks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Boroda has Parks up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Boroda on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parks prevents the takedown attempt.
Boroda is trying to pull guard but Parks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Boroda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Parks is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boroda tries to pull guard but Parks holds him up against the cage and eventually Boroda drops back down to his feet.
Parks is trying to pull guard but Boroda turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afanasiy Boroda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Heriberto Parks's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Boroda shoots for a double leg takedown but Parks sprawls well. He's pushed Boroda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Parks shoots in and drives through. Boroda sprawls well.
Boroda lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Parks circles away quickly and effectively.
Parks is looking for a counter combo.
Parks blocks a head kick by Boroda.

Boroda gets caught flat footed, as Parks shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Boroda has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Parks has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Parks jumps guard and drags Boroda to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Boroda drops back, looking for a kneebar! Parks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Parks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Parks!

Boroda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boroda is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boroda is not content to let Parks control the position.
Boroda wants to control but Parks postures up.

Parks swings around for an armbar but Boroda sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Parks's guard.
Parks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boroda content to stall in guard here.
Parks is looking to stand up but Boroda isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boroda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Boroda tries to free his leg and advance position but Parks is retaining full guard.
Boroda wants to control from the top but Parks keeps moving.
Boroda sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boroda throws a strike but Parks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Boroda trying to control the position.
Boroda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boroda trying to control the position here.
Parks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Boroda has Parks pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Parks drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Boroda manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Parks has Boroda in his guard.

Boroda controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Parks working for submissions but it's allowed Boroda to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Boroda stands up out of the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Afanasiy Boroda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Boroda 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afanasiy Boroda!