PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Davide Longo (ranked 2777 p4p, 277 weight class) and Alex Polyanskiy (ranked 3884 p4p, 373 weight class). Polyanskiy has chosen Oxxxymiron - Signs of life as his entrance music. Davide Longo had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Longo
vs
Polyanskiy

175 cm
23
153 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

169 cm
23
150 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Davide Longo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Polyanskiy!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Longo swings for the body but Polyanskiy moves out of range.
Longo works over Polyanskiy's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Alex Polyanskiy has been cut.
Polyanskiy has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Longo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Polyanskiy's hands.
Polyanskiy throws a body punch but Longo moves out of range.

Polyanskiy closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Longo quickly recovers to half guard.
Polyanskiy trying to control the action but Longo is working from the bottom.
Longo is trying to get back to full guard.
Polyanskiy wants to take a breather but Longo is having none of it.
Longo is looking to improve his position.

Polyanskiy is working for a kimura but Longo is defending it quite comfortably.

Polyanskiy is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longo tries to get to full guard but Polyanskiy has control of the leg.
Longo is trying is best to control the position here.

Longo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Polyanskiy pulls his head out easily.
Longo wants to control but Polyanskiy is keeping busy.
Longo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Longo is looking to improve his position.
Longo is controlling Polyanskiy's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Polyanskiy is keen to just control but Longo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Polyanskiy is stalling here. Longo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Polyanskiy seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Longo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Longo scoring with punches and elbows.
Polyanskiy is trying to control Longo's posture but Longo avoids it.
Longo working the ground and pound from side control.
Polyanskiy is looking for a sweep.
Polyanskiy wants to control but Longo postures up.
Longo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Polyanskiy can't do much from the bottom here.
Polyanskiy is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polyanskiy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Polyanskiy wants to control but Longo postures up.
Polyanskiy being controlled for a moment.
Longo landing a few strikes.
Polyanskiy can't do much from the bottom here.
Polyanskiy gets back to half guard.
Longo wants to free his trapped foot but Polyanskiy is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've been hearing that Longo has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Polyanskiy is squirming around, avoiding Longo's attempts to control the action.
Longo raining down hammerfists from mount.
Longo is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Polyanskiy tries to lock up and control but Longo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Longo trying to control but Polyanskiy is having none of it.
Longo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Polyanskiy wants to control but Longo is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davide Longo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Polyanskiy's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Longo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Polyanskiy slips a jab from Longo.

Polyanskiy scores with a takedown into Longo's guard.
Longo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Polyanskiy manages to get himself to full guard.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Longo distracts Polyanskiy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Longo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Longo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Polyanskiy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Polyanskiy keeping full guard, as Longo tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longo pushing down on Polyanskiy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Polyanskiy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Polyanskiy has his foot on Longo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Longo works his way back into a safe position though.

Polyanskiy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Longo defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Polyanskiy has an active guard here but Longo has managed to pass into half guard.
Longo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Polyanskiy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Longo pulls his head out easily.
Polyanskiy trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Longo controlling the action here.
Longo is stalling here. Polyanskiy is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Longo seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Polyanskiy has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Longo struggling a bit here.
Longo holds on to Polyanskiy's head and controls the position momentarily.
Longo is trying to improve his position.

Polyanskiy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Polyanskiy trying to control the action but Longo is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Polyanskiy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Polyanskiy is keen to just control but Longo is a slippery customer.
Longo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Polyanskiy can do to turn this around?
Longo controlling the position well.
Polyanskiy prevents Longo from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Polyanskiy is looking to take a break and control but Longo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Polyanskiy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Polyanskiy trying to control the action but Longo is working from the bottom.

Polyanskiy is trying to work for a kimura but Longo is defending well.

Polyanskiy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Longo is just riding it out for now. Polyanskiy eventually gives up the hold.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Longo is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Polyanskiy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alex Polyanskiy's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Polyanskiy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Longo.
Alex Polyanskiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Longo keeps the fight on the outside.
Longo misses with a two punch combination.
Longo leaves Polyanskiy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Polyanskiy feints and as Longo raises his hands in defense, Polyanskiy changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Longo trying to keep a closed guard but Polyanskiy is proving a slippery customer.
Longo keeping moving, preventing Polyanskiy from controlling successfully.
Longo controlling Polyanskiy's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polyanskiy trying to control the position from guard on top but Longo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Longo controlling the position.
Polyanskiy wants to control from the top but Longo keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Polyanskiy drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Longo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Polyanskiy has Longo in his guard.

Polyanskiy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Polyanskiy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longo is trying is best to control the position here.
Longo is trying to maintain the position but Polyanskiy is very close to passing his half guard.
Longo tries to roll over but Polyanskiy keeps him under control.
Longo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Longo.
Longo keeping moving, preventing Polyanskiy from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Polyanskiy is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Longo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Longo has escaped and now he's on top!

Longo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Polyanskiy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Polyanskiy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Polyanskiy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Longo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Longo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Longo scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longo trying to control the position from guard on top but Polyanskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Longo passes Polyanskiy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Polyanskiy looking for subs from the bottom but Longo mounts him!
Longo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Polyanskiy tries to hold on but Longo postures up.
Polyanskiy is squirming around, avoiding Longo's attempts to control the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Longo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Longo cracks Polyanskiy with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davide Longo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Longo 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Davide Longo!