PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luther Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaspars Petrovs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ross
vs
Petrovs

190 cm
20
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Experienced

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luther Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaspars Petrovs!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross slips a jab from Petrovs.
Ross was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ross lands with a shot to the body.
Ross connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Petrovs's hands.
Ross throws a jab when Petrovs was well out of range.
Ross throws a big shot that misses.
Petrovs fails in his attempt to clinch.
Luther Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Ross misses.
Ross misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Petrovs on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Petrovs gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ross ducks under a wild hook from Petrovs.
Ross throws a sloppy head kick

and Petrovs counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Petrovs misses with a knee to the head.

Ross manages to break the clinch.
A left and a right from Petrovs both land. Nice combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ross lands a leg kick that knocks Petrovs off balance momentarily.
Ross misses with a few strikes there.
Ross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petrovs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross tried to score with a low kick but Petrovs checks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ross. Petrovs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ross sets himself, and Petrovs steps forward looking for the clinch! Ross avoids it this time.
Nice body punch from Petrovs.
Ross throws a shot from downtown. Petrovs moves away and avoids it.
Petrovs tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Petrovs throws a combination. Ross tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ross throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ross swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Petrovs counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ross connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Petrovs momentarily.

Petrovs closes the distance and pushes Ross back into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Ross's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Petrovs misses with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Petrovs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ross's efforts to push away.
Petrovs has Ross pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross is trying to break the clinch but Petrovs is controlling him.
Petrovs leaning against his opponent.
Ross is trying to break free.
Petrovs connects with a knee to the head.
Ross blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ross is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Petrovs prevents Ross from breaking the clinch.
Ross is looking to break free of the clinch but Petrovs has double underhooks.
Petrovs slowing the pace effectively.
Petrovs lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Petrovs working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Petrovs.
Petrovs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ross has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Petrovs lands with a right to the head.
Petrovs throws a knee to the head but misses.
I was talking to Ross's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Petrovs landing knees to the head.
Petrovs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross can't break the clinch.
Ross can't break the clinch.
Petrovs throws a knee to the head but misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ross wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ross wants to break free but Petrovs has control.
Petrovs with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Petrovs landing knees to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Ross's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Petrovs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ross is trying to force a seperation but Petrovs has the dominant position.
Petrovs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Petrovs throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ross blocks it with crossed arms.
Petrovs will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ross up against the cage.
Petrovs unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ross lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Ross manages to break the clinch.
Petrovs closes the distance but Ross moves to the side
and Ross connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Ross.

Petrovs clinches up with Ross and pushes him back against the cage.
Ross doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Petrovs scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ross tries to break the clinch but Petrovs is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Ross's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Petrovs scores with a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from Petrovs.
Ross is trying to push Petrovs away but Petrovs has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Petrovs tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.

Ross escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Petrovs takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Petrovs is looking for the big counter here.
Ross tries to work over Petrovs's front leg with a kick but Petrovs checks it.
Petrovs throws out a counter right but Ross avoids it with no problem.
Ross fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Petrovs moves into the clinch.
Ross is trying to break the clinch but Petrovs has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaspars Petrovs dominated that round.
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.

Ross throws a low kick but Petrovs moves out of range easily.
Ross fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Petrovs has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Petrovs clinches with his opponent.
Petrovs lands with a right to the head.

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrovs smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Petrovs is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ross wants to slow Petrovs down by chopping away at his legs.
A slow jab from Ross misses its intended target.
Ross connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Petrovs's hands.
Petrovs fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Petrovs ducks right into an uppercut from Ross.
Ross moves away from the strike by Petrovs.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Petrovs gets a clinch.
Petrovs is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovs lands an uppercut.
Petrovs with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrovs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ross paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ross misses with an uppercut. Petrovs saw that one coming.
Ross misses with a straight right.
Ross misses with an uppercut.
Ross misses with the combination.
Ross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ross throws the left hand but Petrovs avoids the punch easily.
Petrovs now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Petrovs slips under a jab from Ross.
Ross waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Petrovs.
Ross swings for the body but Petrovs moves out of range.
Luther Ross is winning the standup battle so far.
Ross sizes up Petrovs with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross takes one on the button.
Petrovs cracks Ross with an open hand slap.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ross throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Petrovs moves into the clinch.
Petrovs misses with a knee to the head.
Ross can't break the clinch.
Petrovs taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Petrovs has Ross pressed against the cage, preventing Ross from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ross looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Petrovs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ross breaks the clinch.
Petrovs shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ross throws a leg kick but Petrovs sees it coming and moves out of range.
Petrovs looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ross displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Petrovs displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ross throws out the jab.
Ross connects with a solid leg kick.
Petrovs blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs slips a straight right by Ross.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Petrovs 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.
Ross ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petrovs moves away.
Petrovs is looking to clinch but Ross is avoiding it.
Ross throwing a counter right hand but Petrovs manages to avoid it.

Petrovs closes the distance and clinches.
Petrovs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Petrovs misses with a knee strike.
Ross blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Petrovs.
Ross looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Petrovs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Petrovs doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ross is looking to break free of the clinch but Petrovs has double underhooks.
Petrovs tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.
Petrovs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ross's efforts to push away.

Ross breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petrovs moves out of range of the body kick from Ross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Petrovs.
Ross swings away with a body shot that misses
and Petrovs counters with a one-two to the body.
Ross lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrovs tries to clinch but Ross moves out of range.
Ross connects with a crisp jab.
Ross throws a leg kick that is checked
and Petrovs counters with a three punch combo that has Ross backing up. Ross nods at Petrovs to acknowledge the strikes.
Ross scores with a shot to the body.
Petrovs scores with a jab to the body.
Ross throws a body punch but Petrovs moves out of range.
Ross misses with a looping left.
Petrovs has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Petrovs checks the leg kick nicely there.
Petrovs wants to counter with a clinch but Ross pushes him away.
Petrovs scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ross in his tracks.
Ross throws a series of punches but Petrovs moves out of range.
Ross with a jab.
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 Luther Ross will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Petrovs takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ross on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Petrovs fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ross swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Petrovs cracks Ross with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Petrovs cracks Ross with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ross tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Petrovs was well out of range. Poor timing from Ross.
Petrovs let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ross fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Petrovs checks it well.
Petrovs moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrovs throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ross on the side of the head.

Ross is rocked!
Petrovs cracks Ross on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Ross falls backwards against the cage. Petrovs follows up with more strikes that drop Ross to his knees. Petrovs keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Ross! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaspars Petrovs!