PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenalemodisa Mabogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Vladimirovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mabogo comes to the cage accompanied by 3 Doors Down - Duck and Run. Kenalemodisa Mabogo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mabogo
vs
Vladimirovich

190 cm
29
215 lbs
21 - 22 - 0

192 cm
25
250 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 22 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kenalemodisa Mabogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Vladimirovich!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vladimirovich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mabogo.
Vladimirovich throws a lazy uppercut
and Mabogo counters with a right hand to the body.
Vladimirovich lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vladimirovich goes for a double leg but Mabogo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mabogo continues to drive forward.
Mabogo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Vladimirovich lands a nice shot to the body.
Mabogo throws a nice looking combination but Vladimirovich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vladimirovich looks for a takedown but Mabogo sprawls well.
Mabogo tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vladimirovich enables Mabogo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vladimirovich manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mabogo trying to control the position from guard on top but Vladimirovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mabogo throwing strikes from guard but Vladimirovich blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabogo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mabogo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mabogo trying to control the position from guard on top but Vladimirovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vladimirovich working for a triangle but Mabogo defends it easily.
Vladimirovich tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mabogo trying to control the position from guard on top but Vladimirovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mabogo is really struggling to control Vladimirovich but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Vladimirovich looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mabogo is one step ahead there.
Vladimirovich is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Our spies down at at Russian Top Team Elite Gym inform us that Vladimirovich has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Mabogo wants to control from the top but Vladimirovich keeps moving.
Vladimirovich wants to sweep but no luck.
Mabogo looking to pass the guard.

Mabogo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mabogo trying to control but Vladimirovich is working from the bottom.

Vladimirovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mabogo is aware though and is defending well.
Mabogo trying to control the position from guard on top but Vladimirovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mabogo slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vladimirovich tries to get to full guard but Mabogo has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vladimirovich looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vladimirovich is looking for a sweep. Mabogo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mabogo wants to control but Vladimirovich is keeping him busy.
Vladimirovich trying to control here.
Vladimirovich tries to roll over but Mabogo keeps him under control.
Mabogo throwing shots but Vladimirovich is blocking nicely.
Mabogo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vladimirovich gets full guard.

Vladimirovich looking for a guillotine here but Mabogo defends easily.
Mabogo stopping the sweep attempt from Vladimirovich.
Mabogo trying to control but Vladimirovich is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vladimirovich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mabogo defends it easily.
Vladimirovich trying to keep a closed guard but Mabogo is proving a slippery customer.
Vladimirovich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mabogo wants to control from the top but Vladimirovich keeps moving.
Mabogo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mabogo looking to sit in guard and control but Vladimirovich gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mabogo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Mabogo looking for a guillotine here but Vladimirovich defends easily.
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 Kenalemodisa Mabogo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mabogo doesn't manage to clinch there - Vladimirovich circles away.
Vladimirovich with the counter takedown but Mabogo avoids it easily.

Mabogo moves into range and clinches up with Vladimirovich.
A shot in the inside from Vladimirovich.
Vladimirovich lands a left hand.
Vladimirovich fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vladimirovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Mabogo.
Mabogo cracks Vladimirovich with a nice body shot.
Mabogo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vladimirovich is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mabogo can't find room to land a body shot as Vladimirovich controls the action.
A short right from Mabogo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vladimirovich creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vladimirovich has Mabogo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mabogo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knees to the body from Mabogo.
Vladimirovich is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mabogo is keeping busy.
Mabogo scores with a shot to the side of Vladimirovich's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabogo tries to land knees in the clinch but Vladimirovich avoids the damage to the body.
Mabogo blocks a body shot from Vladimirovich.
Mabogo blocks a body shot from Vladimirovich.
Vladimirovich blocks a body shot from Mabogo.
Mabogo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mabogo blocks an uppercut.
Mabogo swings wildly with an uppercut but Vladimirovich uses good head movement to avoid it.
I was talking to Mabogo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Mabogo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vladimirovich avoids it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mabogo.
Vladimirovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Mabogo.
Vladimirovich misses with a punch on the inside.
Vladimirovich trying to control the position but instead, Mabogo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Vladimirovich into the cage.

Vladimirovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vladimirovich shoots for a takedown but Mabogo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Vladimirovich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vladimirovich looks to land a right hand but Mabogo moved out of range.

Mabogo clinches with his opponent.
A right hand to the body from Mabogo.
Vladimirovich goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Vladimirovich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mabogo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mabogo stops a takedown attempt from Vladimirovich.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vladimirovich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mabogo's elbow.
Mabogo tries to work over Vladimirovich's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vladimirovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mabogo can't find room to land a body shot as Vladimirovich controls the action.
Mabogo swings wildly with an uppercut but Vladimirovich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vladimirovich tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vladimirovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Mabogo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mabogo lands an elbow just above Vladimirovich 's eye.

It looks like Vladimir Vladimirovich has been cut.
Vladimirovich goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mabogo prevents it.
Vladimirovich misses with a body punch.
Mabogo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A knee to the head by Mabogo.
Vladimirovich is breathing heavily.
Vladimirovich wants to take the fight to the mat but Mabogo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Vladimirovich drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mabogo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vladimirovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mabogo lands a left hand.
Vladimirovich avoids the elbow strike from Mabogo, against the cage.
Mabogo lands a right hand.
Mabogo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vladimirovich struggles to land a body shot inside as Mabogo controls his hands.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mabogo obliges.
Mabogo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vladimirovich avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo prevents a body shot from Vladimirovich.
Vladimirovich misses with a punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mabogo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mabogo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mabogo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vladimirovich's elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Vladimirovich.
Mabogo blocks a body shot from Vladimirovich.
Vladimirovich looking to stall.
Vladimirovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Mabogo.

Vladimirovich jumps guard and drags Mabogo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mabogo lands a couple of elbows.
Mabogo trying to control but Vladimirovich is working from the bottom.
Mabogo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vladimirovich can do to turn this around?
Mabogo controlling from the top position.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vladimirovich working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenalemodisa Mabogo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Vladimirovich's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mabogo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vladimirovich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mabogo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mabogo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vladimirovich throws out the jab.
Mabogo tries to counter by clinching up but Vladimirovich breaks away and moves out of range.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vladimirovich throws a poor cross that misses
and Mabogo counters with a right hand to the body.
Vladimirovich looks to throw the jab but Mabogo is out of range.
Vladimirovich scores with a nice strike.
Mabogo moves in looking to clinch but Vladimirovich pushes him off.
Vladimirovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mabogo manages to avoid it.
Mabogo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mabogo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mabogo forces Vladimirovich back against the cage and clinches.
Vladimirovich slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vladimirovich struggles to land a body shot inside as Mabogo controls his hands.
Vladimirovich digs a right hand underneath Mabogo's ribcage. Mabogo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vladimirovich working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vladimirovich is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mabogo is keeping busy.
Vladimirovich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vladimirovich holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mabogo misses with an elbow over the top.
Mabogo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mabogo lands a knee to the body.
Vladimirovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vladimirovich working aggressively here.
Mabogo prevents Vladimirovich from breaking the clinch.
Mabogo tries to throw a body punch but Vladimirovich avoids it by throwing Mabogo back against the cage.

Mabogo has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Vladimirovich clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Kenalemodisa Mabogo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo is riding his opponent, not letting Vladimirovich buck him off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mabogo tries to get the hooks in deep but Vladimirovich pushed the leg off.
Mabogo biding his time, controlling Vladimirovich.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vladimirovich just trying to survive but Mabogo is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Vladimirovich is keeping busy.
Good control from Mabogo.
Mabogo trying to control.
You can see the frustration on Vladimirovich's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo not allowing Vladimirovich to control his hands.
Vladimirovich is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Mabogo struggling to keep hold of the position.
Vladimirovich tries to break free.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Mabogo controlling the positon.
Mabogo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vladimirovich tries to escape but Mabogo has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mabogo keeps control of the position easily here as Vladimirovich tries to buck him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vladimirovich just looking to survive in the bad position.
Good control from Mabogo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenalemodisa Mabogo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mabogo, 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenalemodisa Mabogo!
In his post fight interview, Kenalemodisa Mabogo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.