PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benito Hurley (ranked 22865 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yaroslav Ivan (ranked 6110 p4p, 0 weight class). Benito Hurley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hurley
vs
Ivan

191 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

193 cm
18
222 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benito Hurley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yaroslav Ivan!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ivan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ivan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hurley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hurley breaks the clinch.
Ivan circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ivan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hurley was covering up waiting for the punch and Ivan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hurley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hurley throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hurley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hurley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hurley stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Ivan darts in and clinches Hurley up against the cage.
Ivan taking a breather.
Ivan wants to get back to striking at distance but Hurley won't allow it.
Hurley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ivan after a bit of a struggle.
Hurley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hurley tries to score a body lock takedown but Ivan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benito Hurley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hurley fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ivan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hurley smiles and moves away.
Ivan looks winded!

Hurley moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ivan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hurley has him pressed against the cage.

Hurley pulls guard effortlessly.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hurley holds on and takes a little breather.
Hurley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hurley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hurley is pulling down on Ivan's head to control his posture.
Ivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Hurley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivan takes a decent strike to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hurley is on top in guard.

Hurley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hurley gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hurley wants to take the fight to the mat but Ivan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ivan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hurley.
Hurley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ivan walks away with a smile on his face. Hurley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hurley tries to clinch but Ivan is having none of it.
Ivan shoots for a double leg takedown but Hurley sprawls well. He's pushed Ivan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Hurley has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benito Hurley dominated that round.
That's time! Hurley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hurley instigates a clinch.
Hurley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ivan can do to turn this around?
Hurley keeps control of Ivan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hurley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ivan walks away with a smile on his face. Hurley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hurley clinches.
Ivan tries to pull guard but Hurley forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hurley dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Hurley successfully pulls guard.
Hurley has control of Ivan's left arm, preventing Ivan from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivan is breathing heavily.
Ivan wants to control from the top but Hurley keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurley has his hands on Ivan's head, controlling the position.
Hurley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hurley seems keen to control Ivan's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Hurley closes the distance and pushes Ivan back into the cage.
Hurley is trying to push Ivan away but Ivan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hurley has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ivan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hurley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ivan pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benito Hurley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hurley darts in and clinches Ivan up against the cage.
Hurley misses with a punch on the inside.
Hurley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hurley has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ivan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hurley gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ivan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivan tries to stall but Hurley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hurley jumps guard but Ivan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hurley is trying to break free.
Hurley drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hurley is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ivan pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Ivan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ivan tries a quick counter leg kick but Hurley is wise to it.
Ivan swats away the attempt to clinch by Hurley.
Ivan feints a counter leg kick.

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.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ivan feints a counter leg kick.
Ivan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hurley throws a nice looking combination but Ivan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benito Hurley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ivan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ivan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ivan pushes Hurley up against the cage in a clinch.
Hurley tries to pull guard but Ivan won't allow it.
Ivan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hurley lands a left hand.
Hurley is trying to pull guard but Ivan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hurley keeps control of Ivan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Benito Hurley will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hurley swings for the body but Ivan moves out of range.
Ivan was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ivan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hurley sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ivan somewhat.

Ivan moves into range and clinches up with Hurley.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hurley is trying to push Ivan away but Ivan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ivan keeps control of Hurley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ivan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hurley is trying to push Ivan away but Ivan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ivan tries to circle away but Hurley has him pinned against the cage.

Hurley jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivan wants to control from the top but Hurley keeps moving.
Ivan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hurley scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hurley wants to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Hurley.
Hurley tries to clinch but Ivan moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurley tries to clinch up but Ivan circles away and keeps his distance.
Hurley slaps away a takedown attempt from Ivan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hurley moves in looking to clinch but Ivan pushes him off.
Hurley tries to clinch but Ivan moves out of range.
Hurley wants to clinch.
Hurley is looking to clinch but Ivan is avoiding it.
Hurley tries to clinch but Ivan moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurley tries to clinch but Ivan is having none of it.
Hurley doesn't manage to clinch there - Ivan circles away.

Ivan tries to keep at a distance but Hurley has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ivan takes a shot to the head.
Hurley is working for takedown but Ivan is calmly controlling the position for now.

Hurley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hurley tries to clinch but Ivan is having none of it.
Hurley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hurley wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurley tries to clinch up.
Hurley moves in looking to clinch but Ivan pushes him off.
Ivan tries a quick counter leg kick but Hurley is wise to it.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ivan paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hurley forces Ivan back against the cage and clinches.
Hurley is working for takedown but Ivan is calmly controlling the position for now.

Hurley gets control of Ivan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hurley will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ivan trying to control but Hurley is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hurley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ivan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ivan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benito Hurley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hurley, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benito Hurley!