PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andr De Fran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birigiz Ignatiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Fran comes into the arena with No Worries blaring out of the sound system. Birigiz Ignatiev told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

De Fran
vs
Ignatiev

172 cm
34
158 lbs
26 - 18 - 2

160 cm
39
145 lbs
32 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 26 - 18 - 2, fighting out of New York, Andr De Fran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 18 - 1, fighting out of New York, Birigiz Ignatiev!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatiev throws a head kick but De Fran moves out of range.
It looked like De Fran wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ignatiev fails in his attempt to clinch.
De Fran misses with a straight left.
Ignatiev tries to counter with a clinch but De Fran shakes him off and moves away.
De Fran motions for Ignatiev to come forward. De Fran throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev wants to counter the offense by De Fran and move into the clinch position.
De Fran scores with a nice head shot.
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.

Ignatiev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with De Fran, pushing him back against the cage.
Ignatiev trying to control the position but instead, De Fran has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ignatiev into the cage.
Ignatiev misses with a knee to the head.
De Fran tries to throw a body punch but Ignatiev avoids it by throwing De Fran back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Fran with a knee to the head.
Ignatiev misses with a knee to the head.
Ignatiev blocks an elbow strike.
Ignatiev blocks an elbow strike.
Ignatiev looking to throw knees to the head but De Fran is blocking nicely.
Ignatiev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of De Frans head.
De Fran avoiding damage as Ignatiev throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fran blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ignatiev tries to land a knee to the head but De Fran blocks with his arms.
Ignatiev misses with some punches.
Ignatiev lands a nice knee to the body.
Ignatiev throws a head punch that misses.
Ignatiev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ignatiev misses with a knee strike.
Ignatiev scores with a knee to the head.
Ignatiev swings wildly with an uppercut but De Fran uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Ignatiev fails to land.
Ignatiev connects with a nasty looking knee right to De Fran's face.
Ignatiev blocks the elbow strike.
De Fran misses with a shot to the kidneys.
De Fran lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Birigiz Ignatiev has been cut.
A short right from De Fran on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Fran lands a nice uppercut.
De Fran creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ignatiev's defenses.
Ignatiev lands with a left to the head.
De Fran unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ignatiev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev managing to block the knees to the body from De Fran.
De Fran scores with a hook to the body.
Ignatiev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ignatiev misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from De Fran.
De Fran blocks a body shot from Ignatiev.
De Fran missing with knees to the body.
Ignatiev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
De Fran with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
De Fran lands a body punch in the clinch.
De Fran struggles to land a body shot inside as Ignatiev controls his hands.
De Fran utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Ignatiev fails to land.
De Fran gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ignatiev misses with a knee to the head.
Ignatiev lands a left hand that snaps the head of De Fran backwards.
De Fran scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ignatiev fails to land.
De Fran lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fran is working Ignatiev over against the cage.
De Fran misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ignatiev avoiding damage as De Fran throws knees to the body.
A short right from Ignatiev.
De Fran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ignatiev avoids it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from De Fran.
De Fran pushes off an throws an elbow but Ignatiev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
De Fran missing with knees to the body.
De Fran misses with a body punch.
De Fran lands a body punch.
Our sources have told us that De Fran has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Ignatiev misses with a knee strike.
De Fran lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
De Fran lands a knee to the body.
Ignatiev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ignatiev misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, De Fran just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ignatiev's brow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev misses with a punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ignatiev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ignatiev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but De Fran blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Fran is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ignatiev is defending well for now.
De Fran blocks an uppercut.
Ignatiev takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ignatiev throws a head punch that misses.
De Fran crunches a lovely knee into Ignatiev's ribcage.
De Fran lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ignatiev backwards.
Ignatiev takes a shot to the head.
Ignatiev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ignatiev lands a hook to the side of the head.
De Fran blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev misses with a short punch on the inside.
De Fran throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ignatievs head.
De Fran pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ignatiev lands a left hand.
Ignatiev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
De Fran pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
De Fran throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ignatiev managing to block the knees to the body from De Fran.
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 Andr De Fran will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Birigiz Ignatiev's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ignatiev staying out of range there.
A head kick misses from Ignatiev.
De Fran jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Ignatiev tries to clinch but De Fran is having none of it.
Ignatiev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from De Fran.
De Fran swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ignatiev.
De Fran throws a body punch but Ignatiev moves out of range.
Ignatiev tries to counter by closing the distance.
Jab, jab by De Fran - just one landing.
Ignatiev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
De Fran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Fran circles away from the clinch attempt.
De Fran is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev defending well as De Fran loads up on a big left hand.
De Fran blocks a head kick by Ignatiev.
Ignatiev is looking to clinch.
De Fran is looking for a counter combo.
De Fran dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by De Fran there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
De Fran throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ignatiev on the side of the head.
De Fran throws a shot to the body.
De Fran thows a leg kick but Ignatiev checks it
and Ignatiev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ignatiev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Ignatiev in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
De Fran looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ignatiev wants to counter the offense by De Fran and move into the clinch position.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ignatiev connects with a jab.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Ignatiev moves into the clinch successfully.
De Fran blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ignatiev tries to land a knee to the head but De Fran blocks with his arms.
De Fran misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ignatiev looking to slow down the pace here.
Ignatiev looking to throw knees to the head but De Fran is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ignatiev avoiding damage as De Fran throws knees to the body.
Ignatiev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ignatiev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and De Fran avoids it.
Ignatiev taking a breather.
De Fran lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ignatiev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with De Fran's elbow.
Andr De Fran has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ignatiev prevents a body shot from De Fran.
De Fran swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ignatiev tries to land a knee to the head but De Fran blocks with his arms.
De Fran lands a nice uppercut.
Ignatiev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of De Frans head.
Ignatiev missing with knees to the body.
De Fran throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ignatiev blocks it with crossed arms.
Ignatiev blocks an elbow strike from De Fran.
De Fran misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev tries to land knees in the clinch but De Fran avoids the damage to the body.
Ignatiev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev avoids a wild elbow strike from De Fran.
Ignatiev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but De Fran blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ignatiev.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, De Fran just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ignatiev's brow.
Ignatiev blocks a body shot from De Fran.
De Fran lands an elbow just above Ignatiev 's eye.
Ignatiev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ignatiev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. De Fran is defending well for now.
De Fran tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ignatiev's elbow.
De Fran lands a good knee to the midsection. Ignatiev won't want to take too many of those.
De Fran lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ignatiev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ignatiev looking to throw knees to the head but De Fran is blocking nicely.
De Fran makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for De Fran.
Ignatiev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ignatiev is breathing heavily.
De Fran lands a shot to the body.
De Fran blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Fran misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ignatiev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ignatiev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
De Fran blocks an uppercut.
De Fran working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nice elbow from De Fran.
Ignatiev working some nice short punches in the clinch.
De Fran landing knees to the head.

Ignatiev is rocked!
Ignatiev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ignatiev is still on wobbly legs! Can De Fran finish him?
Ignatiev tries to land knees in the clinch but De Fran avoids the damage to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, De Fran just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ignatiev's brow.
De Fran blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ignatiev misses with a punch on the inside.
De Fran lands a body shot.
A short uppercut from De Fran.
A head punch on the inside from Ignatiev fails to land.
Ignatiev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knees to the body from De Fran.
De Fran scores with an uppercut up the middle.
De Fran lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Fran lands a shot to the body.
De Fran avoiding damage as Ignatiev throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andr De Fran dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Birigiz Ignatiev's cut.
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!

De Fran feints a jab and as Ignatiev dips his head, De Fran unleashes a brutal head kick that catches Ignatiev right on the jaw! Timbeeer! Ignatiev falls backwards in slow motion, only propped up by the cage! De Fran smiles a psychotic smile as he stares down his unconscious opponent. That is a scary man.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Andr De Fran!
Andr De Fran made sure to mention his sponsor, Dead Orbit in his post fight interview.