PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Owen (ranked 8493 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blagoy Ivanov (ranked 5961 p4p, 558 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Blagoy Ivanov enters the cage!

Owen
vs
Ivanov

160 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
251 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maximo Owen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blagoy Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Owen clinches up with Ivanov and pushes him back against the cage.

Owen pulls guard.
Ivanov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Owen wants to stand but Ivanov is controlling the position.
Owen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Owen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owen pulls Ivanov in close to prevent any damage.
Ivanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Owen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owen is looking to stand up but Ivanov isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blagoy Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ivanov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Owen looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Ivanov throws a head kick that misses.
Ivanov looks for the body kick but Owen saw that one coming.

Ivanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Owen decides to pull guard.
Owen has his hands on Ivanov's head, controlling the position.
Owen has a closed guard, preventing Ivanov from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Owen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Owen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ivanov advances position into side control!
Owen is pushing Ivanov's head away, looking to escape. Ivanov manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Owen is avoiding damage well.
Owen stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Owen is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owen struggling a bit here.
Ivanov trying to control the position but Owen is working away.
Owen struggling a bit here.
Ivanov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Owen is not content to let Ivanov control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ivanov thumps Owen with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ivanov fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Owen looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivanov is just out of range.
Ivanov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Owen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ivanov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ivanov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Owen counters by moving into the clinch.
Ivanov tries for a takedown but Owen manages to get underhooks.
Maximo Owen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blagoy Ivanov.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Owen tries to pull guard but Ivanov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Owen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ivanov.
Nice body punch from Ivanov - that landed with a thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maximo Owen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Owen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Owen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Owen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ivanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Owen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Owen tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owen tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.

Owen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ivanov is trying to get back to his feet.
Owen tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov is trying to control Owen's posture but Owen avoids it.

Owen stands up and beckons Ivanov to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Owen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ivanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Owen circles away.
Ivanov looks to clinch
and Owen counters with a nice uppercut.
Blagoy Ivanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Owen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ivanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Owen shoots in looking for a takedown but Ivanov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Owen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Owen but Owen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown but Owen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ivanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maximo Owen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blagoy Ivanov.
A bone on bone clash there as Owen blocks the leg kick.
Owen wants to clinch.
Ivanov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Owen avoids a kick to the body.
Owen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to clinch up but Owen circles away and keeps his distance.
Owen keeps the fight on the outside.
Owen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ivanov is breathing heavily.
Ivanov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Owen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Owen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ivanov jumps guard.
Owen wants to get up but he can't break Ivanov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Owen stands up and waves to Ivanov to follow him.
Ivanov is looking to clinch but Owen is avoiding it.
Owen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Owen moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is trying to drag Owen to the mat but Owen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Owen wants a takedown.
Owen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ivanov can do to turn this around?

Owen jumps guard.
Owen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owen wants to control but Ivanov passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Owen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ivanov shoots in and drives through. Owen sprawls well.

Ivanov drives through and clinches with Owen against the cage.
Owen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Owen is trying to pull guard but Ivanov has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanov missing with knees to the body.
Owen is struggling to control the position.
Ivanov managing to block the knees to the body from Owen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov fails to pull guard.
Maximo Owen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blagoy Ivanov.
Owen has Ivanov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ivanov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Owen jumps into guard, dragging Ivanov to the mat.
Ivanov stands and throws Owen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Owen trying to control from the bottom.
Owen is looking for a sweep. Ivanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Owen is doing well to control the position and prevent Ivanov from advancing to side control.
Well, if Ivanov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ivanov is keen to just control but Owen is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Owen controlling the position well.
Owen trying to control here.

Ivanov stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to clinch there but Owen circles away.
Ivanov fails with a takedown attempt.
Owen throws a counter high kick but Ivanov was just alert enough to avoid it.
Owen slaps away a takedown attempt from Ivanov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ivanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Owen misses with an uppercut.
Ivanov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Owen.
Ivanov dives in and grabs Owen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Owen pushes down on Ivanov's head and hops out.
Ivanov misses with a kick to the body

so Owen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ivanov's guard.
Owen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ivanov has a closed guard, preventing Owen from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ivanov is working an open guard so Owen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maximo Owen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Owen 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximo Owen!