PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gonzalo Cobb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Smirnoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Smirnoff looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Cobb
vs
Smirnoff

223 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gonzalo Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vladimir Smirnoff!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnoff tries to clinch but Cobb moves away
and Cobb counters with a left and a right that stings Smirnoff.
Smirnoff looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Cobb drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Cobb swings around for an armbar but Smirnoff sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cobb's guard.
Cobb pulls Smirnoff in close to prevent any damage.
Cobb continues to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
More hug and hope from Cobb.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cobb working for a triangle but Smirnoff defends it easily.
Cobb will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cobb is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cobb is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Cobb is looking for a kimura but Smirnoff is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cobb to get the leverage.
Cobb is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cobb connects with a nice short shot to Smirnoff's temple.
Cobb prevents Smirnoff from standing back up.

Cobb is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Cobb looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cobb is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smirnoff defends it well.

Cobb looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smirnoff is looking for a sweep. Cobb is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cobb is looking for a kimura but Smirnoff is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cobb to get the leverage.

Cobb is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gonzalo Cobb dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cobb shoots in looking for a takedown. Smirnoff tries to sprawl out of it but Cobb keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smirnoff manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Smirnoff closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smirnoff lands in his opponent's guard.

Cobb looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gonzalo Cobb overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb 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.
Smirnoff is breathing heavily.

Cobb looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cobb is looking for a triangle but Smirnoff pushes his legs off easily.
Cobb pulls Smirnoff in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smirnoff postures up in Cobb's guard and throws a big left but Cobb blocks it.
Cobb managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cobb shoots in but no luck this time.
Cobb really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smirnoff misses with a low kick.
Cobb seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smirnoff wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gonzalo Cobb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cobb fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smirnoff keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cobb goes for a double leg but Smirnoff avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smirnoff continues to drive forward.
Smirnoff wants to clinch up but Cobb keeps it at a distance.
Cobb dives in for a single leg takedown but Smirnoff sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cobb has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Smirnoff.
Cobb is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smirnoff sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cobb fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smirnoff avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff throws a head kick but Cobb moves out of range.
Cobb misses with a takedown attempt - Smirnoff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Smirnoff closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cobb did well to prevent Smirnoff getting side control.
Smirnoff is looking to take a break and control but Cobb is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smirnoff misses with a head shot. Cobb uses the momentum to regain guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cobb seems keen to control Smirnoff's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Smirnoff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cobb's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smirnoff misses with a body kick.
Cobb is looking for a counter combo.
Smirnoff lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cobb shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smirnoff but Smirnoff pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vladimir Smirnoff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnoff fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cobb or perhaps it was just good defense by Smirnoff, which made it look bad.

Cobb manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smirnoff on his heels. He'll look to pass Smirnoff's guard now, I'm sure.
Cobb is standing up over Smirnoff. Smirnoff looks to escape but Cobb dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cobb tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cobb has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnoff throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Cobb is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smirnoff has escaped the position, nice work there.

Cobb is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smirnoff is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cobb landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Cobb tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Cobb goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Smirnoff rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cobb's guard! Nice work there by Smirnoff!
Cobb is trying to control the position but Smirnoff postures up.
Smirnoff scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff trying to control but Cobb is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cobb holds on and takes a little breather.
Smirnoff preventing the sweep.
Cobb has control of Smirnoff's left arm, preventing Smirnoff from doing any damage.
Cobb is trying to control the position but Smirnoff postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cobb controlling the position.
Cobb working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smirnoff.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smirnoff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smirnoff tries to sprawl but Cobb drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Smirnoff kicks Cobb off and gets back to his feet.

Smirnoff looking to score a takedown here. Cobb is defending well but Smirnoff drives through and ends up in Cobb's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smirnoff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnoff with a nice head shot there.
Cobb wants to sweep here but Smirnoff controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Smirnoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smirnoff has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Smirnoff!