PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Ivanov
vs
Foster

176 cm
23
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brad Foster!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Chris Dean and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foster shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov shows good takedown defense.

Ivanov pushes Foster up against the cage in a clinch.
Foster is trying to drag Ivanov to the mat but Ivanov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ivanov working hard to break the clinch.
Ivanov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ivanov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Foster has him pressed against the cage.
Foster is trying to pull guard but Ivanov has him pressed against the cage.
Igor Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Foster.
Ivanov is trying to force a seperation but Foster has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ivanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ivanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ivanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Ivanov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Brad Foster seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ivanov lands a jab-cross combination.
A punch combination from Ivanov misses.
Foster looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ivanov is fending him off so far but Foster persists. Nope, Ivanov circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Foster with that takedown attempt.
Foster has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ivanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Foster fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Foster fails with the takedown
and Ivanov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

It looks like Brad Foster has been cut.
Foster avoids the body shot from Ivanov.
Foster is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ivanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ivanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ivanov lands a nice hook to Foster's body. Foster takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ivanov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ivanov duly obliges.

Foster is rocked!
Foster looks winded!

Foster tries to keep at a distance but Ivanov has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Foster misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Foster is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Foster is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ivanov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ivanov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Foster pulls Ivanov into guard.
Ivanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Foster is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Foster wants to control the position but Ivanov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ivanov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Foster is looking to improve his position.
Foster is looking to control Ivanov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Foster avoid being mounted?
Ivanov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Foster tries to roll over but Ivanov keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ivanov controlling the action here.
Ivanov prevents Foster from standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ivanov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ivanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Foster.
Ivanov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Foster avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foster shoots in looking for a takedown. Ivanov tries to sprawl out of it but Foster keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ivanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ivanov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Ivanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brad Foster's cut.
That's time! Ivanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ivanov throws a series of punches but Foster moves out of range.
Ivanov stuffs the takedown attempt from Foster. Foster gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Foster changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ivanov tries to avoid it but Foster manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ivanov to the ground. Ivanov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Foster tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ivanov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Ivanov darts in and clinches Foster up against the cage.
Foster keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ivanov's efforts to push away.
Foster is trying to pull guard but Ivanov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Igor Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Foster.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foster has a couple of punches blocked by Ivanov.
Foster stalling.
Foster has Ivanov pressed against the cage, preventing Ivanov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster prevents Ivanov from breaking the clinch.
Foster wants to stall.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Foster forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ivanov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ivanov tries to circle away but Foster has him pinned against the cage.
Ivanov is looking to break free of the clinch but Foster has double underhooks.
Foster prevents Ivanov from breaking the clinch.
Foster tries to score a body lock takedown but Ivanov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ivanov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Foster drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ivanov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Foster is breathing heavily.
Ivanov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ivanov duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ivanov throws a series of strikes that have Foster backpedaling.
Ivanov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Foster pinned against the cage. Foster gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ivanov throws a series of punches but Foster moves out of range.
Ivanov throws a right hand that Foster ducks under and follows up with a left that Foster also avoids with ease.
Ivanov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ivanov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ivanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Foster can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Foster scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Ivanov throws Foster to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Igor Ivanov is winning the standup battle so far.
Foster misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ivanov.
Foster appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Foster shoots and misses
and Ivanov counters with a nice uppercut.
Foster shoots in looking for a takedown but Ivanov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Foster's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Foster is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Foster gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ivanov.

Foster throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ivanov was covering up waiting for the punch and Foster finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ivanov has his feet on Foster's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ivanov looks for a takedown but Foster sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster feints and then cracks Ivanov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ivanov down.
Foster tries to bum rush Ivanov with a series of wild strikes but Ivanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ivanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ivanov throws a series of strikes that have Foster backpedaling.
Foster tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ivanov lands a slapping body shot.
Ivanov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ivanov duly obliges.

Ivanov moves into the clinch.
Ivanov is trying to break the clinch but Foster is controlling him.
Foster misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Ivanov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brad Foster's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Foster slaps away a takedown attempt from Ivanov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ivanov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ivanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Foster moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Foster with the counter takedown but Ivanov avoids it easily.
A big left from Foster misses.
Foster throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Foster lands a high kick!
Ivanov throws a series of punches but Foster avoids them all with ease.
And Foster tries to counter it with a takedown but Ivanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Igor Ivanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foster stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ivanov throws a right hand that Foster ducks under and follows up with a left that Foster also avoids with ease.
Ivanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Foster.
Ivanov is looking for a counter combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster lands a front kick.
Foster lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ivanov's sensitive parts.
Ivanov shoots for a takedown but Foster saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Ivanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foster fails in his attempt to clinch.
Foster throws an overhand right that lands on Ivanov's shoulder, as Ivanov tries to avoid the shot.
Ivanov misses with a two punch combination.
Foster scores with a head kick.
Foster moves in looking to clinch but Ivanov pushes him off.
Foster shoots in but Ivanov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It looked like Ivanov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Foster shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov lands with a nice combination. Foster backs away looking to recover.
Ivanov throws a series of punches but Foster moves out of range.
Ivanov dives in for a single leg takedown but Foster sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ivanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Foster, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ivanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Foster tries to clinch but Ivanov is having none of it.
Ivanov throws a series of punches but Foster avoids them all with ease.
Ivanov tries to bum rush Foster with a series of wild strikes but Foster uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Foster is defended easily by Ivanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Ivanov throws a body shot but no joy.
Ivanov scores with a hook to the body. Foster takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Foster shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov shows good takedown defense.
Foster dodges the punch combination from Ivanov.
Brad Foster has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivanov scores with a one two! Foster had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Foster is looking to clinch.
Ivanov misses with a series of wild punches.
Ivanov moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromFoster.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Foster circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ivanov dodges the punch combination from Foster.
Foster throws a sloppy head kick and Ivanov moves out of range easily.
Ivanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Foster tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Foster shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ivanov but Ivanov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ivanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Ivanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ivanov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Ivanov!