PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Milford Cote (ranked 4874 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vikentiy Ismaylov (ranked 4528 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Vikentiy Ismaylov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cote
vs
Ismaylov

184 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Milford Cote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vikentiy Ismaylov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cote lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ismaylov circles away quickly and effectively.
Ismaylov with the counter takedown but Cote avoids it easily.

Ismaylov has managed to clinch.
Cote prevents the takedown attempt.
Cote just leaning against Ismaylov, taking a breather.
Ismaylov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cote's elbow.
Ismaylov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cote to keep the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ismaylov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Cote clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cote manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ismaylov's guard. Nice work there by Cote.
Ismaylov controlling the position.
Cote is working Ismaylov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cote lands a couple of elbows.
Cote preventing the sweep.
Ismaylov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ismaylov prevents Cote from standing back up.
Ismaylov controlling the pace.
Cote is trying to stand up here but Ismaylov is controlling him well.
Ismaylov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismaylov winds up and cracks Cote with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cote blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ismaylov.
Ismaylov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ismaylov is taking a breather. Cote says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ismaylov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cote wants to get back to full guard.
Cote wants to get back to his feet.
Ismaylov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cote wants to get back to his feet.
Ismaylov trying to pass the guard but Cote defending well.
Cote pushes Ismaylov off looking to stand but Ismaylov dives back in and keeps control.
Ismaylov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Ismaylov is looking for a kimura here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cote fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.
Cote misses with a double jab.
Vikentiy Ismaylov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ismaylov dives in for a single leg takedown but Cote sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cote is looking for a counter combo.
Milford Cote has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vikentiy Ismaylov.
Ismaylov shoots in and drives through. Cote sprawls well.

Cote clinches with his opponent.
Ismaylov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cote will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ismaylov up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ismaylov stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vikentiy Ismaylov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ismaylov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cote tries to avoid it but Ismaylov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cote to the ground. Cote escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cote really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cote throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Cote. Those never looked like landing.

Ismaylov feints and as Cote raises his hands in defense, Ismaylov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cote is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ismaylov dives into side control.

Cote wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee asks Ismaylov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ismaylov prefers to stall for the moment though.
Ismaylov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ismaylov trying to control the position but Cote is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ismaylov tries for a kimura but Cote is defending well.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Ismaylov cracks Cote with a big right hand but Cote just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ismaylov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cote keeps working.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ismaylov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cote down.
Cote tries to bench press Ismaylov off him but Ismaylov keeps the position.
Cote trying to remain calm as Ismaylov controls from the top position.
You can see the frustration on Cote's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ismaylov slows the pace down.
Ismaylov tries to advance to mount but Cote denies him.
Cote can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismaylov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cote dodges the ground and pound from Ismaylov.
Ismaylov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Ismaylov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cote takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cote takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cote is looking to regain half guard here but Ismaylov keeps moving and retains side control.

Ismaylov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ismaylov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ismaylov controlling from side mount.
Cote is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ismaylov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cote's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vikentiy Ismaylov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cote dives in for a single leg takedown but Ismaylov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ismaylov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Ismaylov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cote is in close to Ismaylov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismaylov pulls Cote in close to prevent any damage.
Ismaylov is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismaylov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cote stands up over Ismaylov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cote missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ismaylov is adopting a defensive guard.
Ismaylov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cote.
Cote with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ismaylov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cote in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ismaylov pulls Cote in close to his closed guard and prevents Cote from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cote scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cote is looking to work some ground and pound but Ismaylov has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cote throwing strikes but missing.
Ismaylov has his hands on Cote's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ismaylov dives in for a single leg takedown but Cote sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ismaylov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cote pinned against the cage. Cote gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Milford Cote has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vikentiy Ismaylov.
Ismaylov dives in and grabs Cote's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cote pushes down on Ismaylov's head and hops out.
Ismaylov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ismaylov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ismaylov.

Cote manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ismaylov on his heels. He'll look to pass Ismaylov's guard now, I'm sure.
Cote cracks Ismaylov with a solid left hand.
Ismaylov has momentary wrist control but Cote slips an elbow through the middle.
Cote is working Ismaylov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cote lands a couple of digs.
Cote landing with the ground and pound.
Ismaylov has momentary wrist control but Cote slips an elbow through the middle.
Cote throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cote lands a couple of digs.
Ismaylov wants to sweep but no luck.
Cote throwing strikes from guard but Ismaylov blocks nicely.
Cote throws a big right hand that misses.
Cote in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cote accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cote stopping the sweep attempt from Ismaylov.
Cote keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ismaylov's head.
Cote has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cote postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cote loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cote throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ismaylov has momentary wrist control but Cote slips an elbow through the middle.
Milford Cote has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vikentiy Ismaylov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cote is in close to Ismaylov's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Milford Cote showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ismaylov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Milford Cote!