PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Mandanda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Boitsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arthur Mandanda has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mandanda
vs
Boitsov

197 cm
23
203 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
31
215 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur Mandanda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Boitsov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mandanda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mandanda.
Mandanda misses with a few strikes there.
Mandanda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mandanda misses with a double jab
and Mandanda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Boitsov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mandanda to the mat! Mandanda manages to get full guard.
Boitsov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mandanda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boitsov pushing down on Mandanda's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Boitsov is trying to work for a kimura but Mandanda is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandanda trying to control from the bottom.
Mandanda wants to improve his position but Boitsov is controlling well.

Boitsov is looking for a kimura here.
Boitsov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mandanda wants to improve his position but Boitsov is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Boitsov is working for a submission of some sort.
Mandanda is not content to let Boitsov control the position.
Mandanda is looking to improve his position.
Boitsov is pressing down on Mandanda's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mandanda is holding on for now.
Mandanda keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boitsov working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Mandanda's thigh. Mandanda counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov 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.
Mandanda keeping moving, preventing Boitsov from controlling successfully.
Boitsov stays in close to Mandanda's body and controls the position.
Mandanda is trying to control the position but Boitsov postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boitsov looking to sit in guard and control but Mandanda gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boitsov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've been hearing good reports from Mandanda's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandanda trying to control the position from guard on top but Boitsov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mandanda is really struggling to control Boitsov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mandanda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Boitsov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mandanda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mandanda makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mandanda trying to control the position from guard on top but Boitsov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boitsov managing to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mandanda passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dmitry Boitsov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boitsov misses with a hook. Mandanda ducked under it nicely.

Boitsov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mandanda to the mat! Mandanda manages to get full guard.

Mandanda is looking for a triangle but Boitsov pushes his legs off easily.

Mandanda working for a triangle but Boitsov defends it easily.
Boitsov won't allow Mandanda to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mandanda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Boitsov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Boitsov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mandanda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Boitsov is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandanda being controlled here, momentarily.
Boitsov wants to pass the guard but Mandanda is keeping the position.
Boitsov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mandanda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Boitsov is aware though and is defending well.
Boitsov wants to control from the top but Mandanda keeps moving.
Mandanda looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mandanda can't keep his opponent in guard - Boitsov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mandanda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Boitsov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mandanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mandanda pulls Boitsov in close to his closed guard and prevents Boitsov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Mandanda looking for a sweep. Not yet Mandanda, not yet.
Boitsov trying to control but Mandanda is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Good exchange - Boitsov coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov shoots in but no luck this time.
Mandanda throws a shot from downtown. Boitsov moves away and avoids it.
Boitsov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mandanda defends it well.
Some wild striking there from Mandanda.
Mandanda slips a jab from Boitsov.

Mandanda gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Boitsov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mandanda is looking to sweep but instead, Boitsov has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov is looking to take a break and control but Mandanda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boitsov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Boitsov wants to work for an arm triangle but Mandanda is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mandanda is refusing to be controlled, as Boitsov sits in half guard.
Mandanda trying to control here.
Boitsov moves nicely into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mandanda manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Boitsov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Mandanda dives in and scores a takedown into Boitsov's guard.

Boitsov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mandanda passes into side control.
Boitsov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Mandanda has hold of Boitsov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Boitsov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Boitsov regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boitsov wants to control but Mandanda is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mandanda wants to take a breather but Boitsov is having none of it.

Mandanda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandanda is looking to take a break and control but Boitsov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Boitsov is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Mandanda is tapping! Great win for Boitsov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Dmitry Boitsov!
A victorious Dmitry Boitsov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.