PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Michaloff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denzel Spears (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.

Michaloff
vs
Spears

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dante Michaloff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denzel Spears!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spears is looking to clinch.
Michaloff feinted with a counter takedown.
Denzel Spears seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spears is looking to clinch.

Michaloff closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Spears looking to throw knees to the head but Michaloff is blocking nicely.
Michaloff wants to take the fight to the mat but Spears manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Spears tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Spears avoids the elbow strike from Michaloff, against the cage.
Spears tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Michaloff has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Spears is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Michaloff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dante Michaloff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spears connects with a knee to the head.
Michaloff creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Michaloff wants a takedown.
Michaloff is working for takedown but Spears is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spears tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Michaloff decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spears has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Michaloff is proving hard to escape from.
Michaloff manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spears manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaloff postures up in Spears's guard and throws a big left but Spears blocks it.
Michaloff sitting in guard here, content to control.
Michaloff throwing strikes but missing.
Spears is looking to stand up but Michaloff isn't so interested in that idea.

Michaloff stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Spears moves into range and clinches up with Michaloff.
Michaloff misses with a knee to the head.

Michaloff turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Michaloff manages to end up in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaloff is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Spears is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Spears is looking to regain half guard here but Michaloff keeps moving and retains side control.

Michaloff is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Spears knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Michaloff landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Michaloff is working Spears over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaloff working the head and body with strikes.
Michaloff throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Michaloff tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Michaloff lands a nice forearm strike.
Michaloff lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Michaloff in side control, throwing shots but Spears defends.
An elbow from Michaloff crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaloff decides to stand back up. Michaloff steps back and let's Spears get back to his feet.
Spears wants to clinch up but Michaloff keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Michaloff with that takedown attempt.
Michaloff swats away the attempt to clinch by Spears.
Spears tries to close the distance and clinch but Michaloff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Michaloff appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Spears wants to clinch.
Michaloff looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Spears moves into the clinch successfully.
Spears working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Spears tries to clinch there but Michaloff circles away.

Spears takes the fight into the clinch.
Michaloff is looking for a takedown.
Spears looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Spears landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Spears with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Michaloff tries to land a knee to the head but Spears blocks with his arms.
Spears with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Spears throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Michaloff blocks it with crossed arms.
Spears trying to land knees to the body.
Spears with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Michaloff fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spears throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Michaloff blocks it with crossed arms.
Spears misses with a knee strike.
Spears looking to throw knees to the head but Michaloff is blocking nicely.

Michaloff pulls Spears into guard.
Michaloff manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spears manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaloff is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Spears avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spears really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Michaloff. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Michaloff in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Michaloff thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Michaloff is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spears can do to turn this around?
Michaloff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Spears avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Michaloff throwing strikes from guard but Spears blocks nicely.
Michaloff missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Spears avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Michaloff slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Michaloff throws a big elbow that misses.
Michaloff is in close to Spears's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Michaloff is looking to work some ground and pound but Spears has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaloff postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Michaloff missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Michaloff won't allow Spears to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Spears is looking to clinch but Michaloff is avoiding it.
Michaloff swats away the attempt to clinch by Spears.
Spears tries to clinch but Michaloff moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spears looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spears changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Michaloff tries to avoid it but Spears manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Michaloff to the ground. Michaloff escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Michaloff shoots in for a double leg but Spears sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dante Michaloff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaloff swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Michaloff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dante Michaloff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spears wants to clinch up but Michaloff keeps it at a distance.
Spears tries to clinch there but Michaloff circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spears looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spears tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michaloff paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Michaloff circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michaloff counters with a three punch combo that has Spears backing up. Spears nods at Michaloff to acknowledge the strikes.

Michaloff clinches.
Michaloff controlling the action here for a moment.
Spears connects with a nasty looking knee right to Michaloff's face.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Michaloff breaks the clinch.
Michaloff swats away the attempt to clinch by Spears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Michaloff dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Spears tries to clinch there but Michaloff circles away.
Michaloff defending well as Spears loads up on a big left hand.
Michaloff uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spears.
Spears tries to clinch up.
Spears tries to clinch but Michaloff moves out of range.
Spears fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spears is looking to clinch.
Michaloff shoots in for a takedown but Spears shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Michaloff instigates a clinch.
Michaloff jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Spears walks away with a smile on his face. Michaloff gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Spears is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spears moves in looking to clinch but Michaloff pushes him off.
Spears moves in looking to clinch but Michaloff pushes him off.
Michaloff tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Spears manages to circle out of the way.
Spears tries to close the distance and clinch but Michaloff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Michaloff tries to keep at a distance but Spears has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spears using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Michaloff has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Spears tries a knee to the head but Michaloff blocks it.
Denzel Spears seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Spears misses with a body punch.
Spears throws a knee to the head but misses.
Spears with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Spears with a knee to the head.
Spears looking to throw knees to the head but Michaloff is blocking nicely.
Spears takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michaloff tries to score a body lock takedown but Spears shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dante Michaloff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spears looking to throw knees to the head but Michaloff is blocking nicely.
Michaloff tries for a takedown but Spears manages to get underhooks.
Michaloff changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spears fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Michaloff swats away the attempt to clinch by Spears.
Spears tries to clinch there but Michaloff circles away.
Spears fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spears tries to clinch but Michaloff is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spears looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spears fails with the takedown.
Denzel Spears has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Michaloff instigates a clinch.

Michaloff breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Michaloff fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spears, pushing him back against the cage.
Spears unloads a knee to the mid-section. Michaloff lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Michaloff is trying to pull guard but Spears has him pressed against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Spears.
Spears with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Michaloff tries for a takedown. No joy.
Michaloff blocks an elbow strike.
Michaloff takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaloff stalling the fight.
Spears tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Spears with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Michaloff will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Spears up against the cage.
Spears tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Michaloff just stands there and leans against the cage.
Spears scores with a knee to the head.

Michaloff pulls guard successfully.
Michaloff pulls Spears in close to prevent any damage.
Michaloff has a closed guard, preventing Spears from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaloff seems keen to control Spears's posture.
Michaloff looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spears is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spears has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Michaloff is proving hard to escape from.
Michaloff bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spears's guard.

Spears being controlled here, momentarily.
Michaloff throwing strikes but missing.
Dante Michaloff is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaloff slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Denzel Spears.
I think Michaloff has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Michaloff!