PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gnarls Ford (ranked 1578 p4p, 234 weight class) and Kaspars Petrovs (ranked 1782 p4p, 262 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ford
vs
Petrovs

199 cm
21
216 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
210 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

King of Clothes

IniTech Nutrition

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gnarls Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaspars Petrovs!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ford swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Petrovs was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A shot to the body from Ford misses
and Petrovs counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Petrovs slips a jab from Ford.
Petrovs looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ford scores with a shot to the body.
Petrovs misses with a right hand
and Ford counters with a stiff right hand.
Ford looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Petrovs misses with a hook
and Ford counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ford throws a right hand that misses
enabling Petrovs to counter with a crisp jab.
Gnarls Ford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrovs falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ford counters with a stiff right hand.
Ford swings widly with a right hand
and Petrovs counters with a nice uppercut.
Ford slips under a jab from Petrovs.
Ford lands with a straight right. Petrovs didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrovs takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ford throws a hook but Petrovs blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford scores with a crisp jab that stopped Petrovs in his tracks.
Ford misses with a looping right.
Ford works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ford keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ford was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Ford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Petrovs.
Ford lands a jab to the nose.
Ford tries to move into range but Petrovs moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ford throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ford keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Petrovs.

Ford moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Petrovs.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ford misses with a punch to the body.
Petrovs makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Petrovs lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ford lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Petrovs backwards.
Ford is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Petrovs throws a head punch that misses.
Ford misses with some punches.
Petrovs lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Petrovs is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Petrovs swings wildly with an uppercut but Ford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Petrovs softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ford swings wildly with an uppercut but Petrovs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Petrovs lands with a right to the head.
Ford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Petrovs swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ford tries to throw a body punch but Petrovs avoids it by throwing Ford back against the cage.
Petrovs with a knee to the head.

It looks like Gnarls Ford has been cut.
Petrovs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Petrovs lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs misses with a punch on the inside.
Petrovs taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short left from Petrovs.
Petrovs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ford throws a punch but it's blocked by Petrovs.
Petrovs softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ford lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Ford.
Petrovs scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Petrovs backwards.
A short uppercut from Petrovs.
Petrovs misses with the head strike.
Ford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ford can't find room to land a body shot as Petrovs controls the action.
Petrovs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ford avoids it.
Petrovs lands with a light punch inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ford.
Petrovs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ford scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ford misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford managing to block the knees to the body from Petrovs.
Petrovs blocks an uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Petrovs.
Petrovs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ford takes a knee to the side of the body.
Petrovs misses with a hook from the clinch.
Petrovs blocking some punches.
Ford misses with some punches.
Ford misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Petrovs tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ford's elbow.
Petrovs lands a hook to the side of the head.
Petrovs working aggressively here.
Petrovs lands an uppercut.
Ford lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Petrovs utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petrovs makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Petrovs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ford.
Ford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kaspars Petrovs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gnarls Ford's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ford staying out of range there.
Ford appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ford slips under a jab from Petrovs.
Petrovs misses with a few strikes there.
Ford throwing a counter right hand but Petrovs manages to avoid it.
Ford throws a poor cross that misses
and Petrovs counters with a nice uppercut.

Ford clinches with his opponent.
Petrovs blocking some punches.
Petrovs blocks an uppercut.
Ford misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Petrovs.
Ford blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Petrovs takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ford lands a right hand that snaps the head of Petrovs backwards.
Ford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Petrovs doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ford's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Petrovs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ford backwards.
Petrovs lands a good knee to the midsection. Ford won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovs misses with the head strike.
Petrovs working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Petrovs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ford.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ford creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Petrovs is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Petrovs pushes Ford back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ford makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Petrovs misses with some punches.
Ford misses with the head strike.
Ford misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ford.
Ford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ford lands with a right to the head.
Ford digs a right hand underneath Petrovs's ribcage. Petrovs let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Petrovs is trying to stall.
Petrovs lands a hook that snaps the head of Ford backwards.
Petrovs misses with a punch on the inside.
Petrovs working aggressively here.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ford lands a right hand.
Petrovs misses with a punch on the inside.
Ford tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Ford on the inside.
Ford has a couple of punches blocked by Petrovs.
A short right from Petrovs on the inside.
Ford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ford misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Petrovs.
A short uppercut from Ford.
Petrovs is trying to maintain a safe position but Ford gets an underhook and turns Petrovs into the cage.
Ford's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Petrovs throws a head punch that misses.
Ford misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Petrovs stalling against the cage.
Petrovs trying to stall but Ford improves his position.
Ford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Petrovs prevents a body shot from Ford.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford throws a punch but it's blocked by Petrovs.
Petrovs working aggressively here.
Petrovs avoiding damage.
A nice left hand lands by Ford.
Petrovs scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ford tries to throw a body punch but Petrovs avoids it by throwing Ford back against the cage.
Ford misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Petrovs.
Petrovs scores with a shot to the side of Ford's head.
A head punch on the inside from Ford fails to land.
A short left from Ford.
Ford lands a shoulder strike.
Petrovs tries to land a knee to the head but Ford blocks with his arms.
Ford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Petrovs blocking some punches.
Ford throws a punch but it's blocked by Petrovs.
Ford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ford.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Petrovs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs blocks an uppercut.
Ford avoiding damage as Petrovs throws knees to the body.
Ford scores with a hook to the body.
Ford lands a hook to the side of the head.
Petrovs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Petrovs crunches a lovely knee into Ford's ribcage.
Ford working aggressively here.
Ford misses with the head strike.
Petrovs throws a punch but it's blocked by Ford.
Ford has a couple of punches blocked by Petrovs.
Ford working aggressively here.
Petrovs tries to work over Ford's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Petrovs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ford backwards.
Petrovs lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ford backwards.
Ford misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Ford - that landed with a thud.
Kaspars Petrovs seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A left hand lands to the body for Ford.
Petrovs scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kaspars Petrovs will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gnarls Ford's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Petrovs avoids the body shot from Ford.
Petrovs looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gnarls Ford is winning the standup battle so far.
Petrovs swings widly with a right hand
and Ford counters with a left to the body.
Ford misses with a body shot.
Petrovs throws a nice looking combination but Ford bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ford lands a nice hook to Petrovs's body. Petrovs takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ford misses with a right hand
and Petrovs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ford throws a sloppy body shot
and Petrovs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Petrovs might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ford slips a straight right by Petrovs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ford throws a hook but Petrovs avoids it easily.
Petrovs darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Petrovs misses with a hook to the body
and Ford cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ford works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice shot by Petrovs.
Petrovs ducks under a wild hook from Ford.
Nice shot by Petrovs.

Ford is rocked!
Petrovs misses with a looping left.
Ford misses with a hook to the body
and Petrovs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Oh Ford is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Petrovs throws a big shot that misses.
The fighters circling - Petrovs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ford takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ford gets tagged by a hook that puts him to sleep! Petrovs points and yells something to his unconcious foe before strutting off. Ford wakes up just in time to hear Petrovs thank his coaches in the post fight interview.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kaspars Petrovs!
An out of breath Kaspars Petrovs thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.