PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tito Ortiz (ranked 3937 p4p, 486 weight class) and Viktor Mikhailov (ranked 21595 p4p, 818 weight class). Tito Ortiz had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ortiz
vs
Mikhailov

190 cm
25
226 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
28
217 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tito Ortiz !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Viktor Mikhailov!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ortiz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mikhailov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ortiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mikhailov scoring with some ground and pound.
Ortiz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ortiz tries to get out of the position.

Ortiz has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mikhailov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ortiz .
Mikhailov tries to score with some ground and pound. Ortiz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mikhailov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ortiz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mikhailov trying to control the action but Ortiz 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 one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to buck Mikhailov off but Mikhailov is having none of it.

Mikhailov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ortiz can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mikhailov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ortiz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ortiz is trying to escape the position but Mikhailov is controlling the position.
Ortiz is trying to get back to half guard.
Mikhailov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ortiz keeps working.
Ortiz is looking to regain half guard here but Mikhailov keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is not content to let Mikhailov control the position.
Mikhailov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ortiz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ortiz can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ortiz throws a sloppy body shot

and Mikhailov counters with a single leg into guard. Ortiz didn't expect that.
Ortiz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mikhailov wants to stand but Ortiz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ortiz keeping moving, preventing Mikhailov from controlling successfully.
My spies in All Star Performance Institute inform me that Mikhailov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz pulls Mikhailov in close to his closed guard and prevents Mikhailov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet but Mikhailov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mikhailov wants to control from the top but Ortiz keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mikhailov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Mikhailov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mikhailov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tito Ortiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mikhailov feints and as Ortiz raises his hands in defense, Mikhailov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mikhailov wants to stand but Ortiz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Ortiz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mikhailov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mikhailov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mikhailov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz has control of Mikhailov's left arm, preventing Mikhailov from doing any damage.
Mikhailov scoring with some ground and pound.
Mikhailov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ortiz 's guard.
Mikhailov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mikhailov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ortiz defending well though.
Mikhailov prevents Ortiz from improving his position.
Viktor Mikhailov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ortiz is pressing down on Mikhailov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ortiz working for a triangle but Mikhailov defends it easily.
Mikhailov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mikhailov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ortiz wants to control but Mikhailov passes easily into half guard.
Mikhailov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ortiz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mikhailov counters by clinching up.
Mikhailov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ortiz is defending well.
Mikhailov can't get the takedown.
Tito Ortiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Mikhailov.
Mikhailov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mikhailov jumps guard but Ortiz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mikhailov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Mikhailov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov controlling the position.
Mikhailov trying to keep a closed guard but Ortiz is proving a slippery customer.
Ortiz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mikhailov wants to sweep here but Ortiz controlling him for the moment.
Ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Mikhailov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ortiz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mikhailov is proving hard to escape from.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Mikhailov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ortiz shoots in for a takedown but Mikhailov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ortiz misses with the combination.

Mikhailov closes the distance and clinches.

Mikhailov has clasped his hands together around Ortiz 's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Mikhailov wants to control but Ortiz is keeping him busy.
Ortiz manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikhailov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ortiz keeps working.
Ortiz has hold of Mikhailov's hands but Mikhailov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikhailov lands strikes from half guard.

Ortiz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ortiz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mikhailov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ortiz trying to hold on to Mikhailov's head to control him but Mikhailov postures up.

Mikhailov 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.
Mikhailov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ortiz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ortiz trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov dives in and grabs Ortiz 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ortiz pushes down on Mikhailov's head and hops out.
Ortiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Mikhailov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ortiz 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ortiz goes for a double leg but Mikhailov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mikhailov continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Ortiz . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikhailov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ortiz stuffs the takedown.
Mikhailov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ortiz dives in and grabs Mikhailov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mikhailov pushes down on Ortiz 's head and hops out.
Ortiz has his takedown stuffed

and Mikhailov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mikhailov.
Mikhailov is looking for a takedown.

Mikhailov manages to break the clinch.

Ortiz drives through and clinches with Mikhailov against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mikhailov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mikhailov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mikhailov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mikhailov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ortiz defends it well.
Ortiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mikhailov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Mikhailov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mikhailov 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Mikhailov!