PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Acevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maris Ponomarjovs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Acevedo
vs
Ponomarjovs

207 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dennis Acevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maris Ponomarjovs!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ponomarjovs gets a double leg takedown into Acevedo's guard.
Acevedo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Acevedo has a closed guard, preventing Ponomarjovs from standing up.
Acevedo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Acevedo keeping moving, preventing Ponomarjovs from controlling successfully.

Ponomarjovs has gone for a leg lock! Acevedo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ponomarjovs's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ponomarjovs is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acevedo actively working from the bottom here.
Ponomarjovs is trying to control. Acevedo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Acevedo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ponomarjovs.
Ponomarjovs tries to pass to full mount but Acevedo defends it.
Acevedo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ponomarjovs is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Acevedo looking for submissions off his back.
Ponomarjovs seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Acevedo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ponomarjovs perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Acevedo moves into full guard.
Ponomarjovs looking to sit in guard and control but Acevedo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Acevedo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo continues to stall.
Ponomarjovs controls Acevedo momentarily but Acevedo frees himself.

Acevedo gets to his feet - Ponomarjovs follows without any prompting.

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.
Acevedo lands a jab to the nose.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ponomarjovs.
Ponomarjovs misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Acevedo sneaks back into half guard.
Acevedo punching from the bottom.
Acevedo gets back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Acevedo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ponomarjovs tries to keep at a distance but Acevedo has taken the fight into the clinch.

Acevedo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ponomarjovs pushes Acevedo off but Acevedo dives into side control.
Ponomarjovs is letting Acevedo control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Acevedo stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ponomarjovs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Acevedo, pushing him back against the cage.

Ponomarjovs manages to break the clinch.
Acevedo avoids the head kick by Ponomarjovs.

Ponomarjovs drives through with a takedown into Acevedo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Acevedo wants to get back to his feet but Ponomarjovs passes into half guard.

Acevedo actively working from the bottom here.
Ponomarjovs controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponomarjovs trying to control from Acevedo's half guard. Acevedo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ponomarjovs looking to sit in guard and control but Acevedo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Acevedo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ponomarjovs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo preventing the sweep.
Acevedo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ponomarjovs is trying to keep Acevedo in close.

Ponomarjovs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ponomarjovs is breathing heavily.
Ponomarjovs can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Acevedo controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
More hug and hope from Acevedo.
Ponomarjovs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Acevedo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ponomarjovs clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ponomarjovs prevents Acevedo from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dennis Acevedo will probably get the nod.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ponomarjovs slips a straight right by Acevedo.
Ponomarjovs unleashes a big counter combination but Acevedo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Ponomarjovs drives through with a takedown into Acevedo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ponomarjovs seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ponomarjovs gets to his feet. Acevedo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Ponomarjovs closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Acevedo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ponomarjovs regains guard immediately.
Acevedo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponomarjovs throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ponomarjovs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Acevedo 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.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Acevedo gets tackled into the cage by Ponomarjovs. Ponomarjovs maintains the clinch.
Acevedo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Acevedo is looking to break free of the clinch but Ponomarjovs has double underhooks.
Acevedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Acevedo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponomarjovs jumps guard and drags Acevedo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Acevedo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ponomarjovs is trying to keep Acevedo in close.
Maris Ponomarjovs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Acevedo is stalling in the full guard.
Acevedo pushes down on Ponomarjovs's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ponomarjovs is trying to maintain the position but Acevedo is very close to passing his half guard.
Acevedo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Acevedo explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maris Ponomarjovs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ponomarjovs has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maris Ponomarjovs!