PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Ivanov (ranked 1768 p4p, 234 weight class) and Kaz Okada (ranked 21877 p4p, 520 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ivanov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Waka Flocka Flame - Workin. Kaz Okada has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Andrey Ivanov's chin.

Ivanov
vs
Okada

190 cm
22
220 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
220 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrey Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaz Okada!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ivanov gets a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Okada.
Okada tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ivanov jumps guard but Okada stands there with Ivanov around his waist. Ivanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ivanov jumps guard but Okada turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Okada can't find room to land a body shot as Ivanov controls the action.
Ivanov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Ivanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okada scores with a shoulder strike.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Okada just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Okada holds him up against the ropes and eventually Ivanov drops back down to his feet.
Ivanov blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ivanov jumps guard.
Ivanov tries to strike from the bottom.
Okada wants to pass the guard but Ivanov is keeping the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to strike from the bottom.
Ivanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Ivanov, not yet.

Ivanov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Okada has passed into half guard!
Ivanov tries to roll over but Okada keeps him under control.
Okada sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ivanov is looking for a sweep. Okada is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two 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.
Ivanov missing with punches from the bottom.
Ivanov is not content to let Okada control the position.
Ivanov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Okada trying to control from half guard but Ivanov is working away.
Ivanov tries to roll over but Okada keeps him under control.
Ivanov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ivanov.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Okada from controlling successfully.
Ivanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Okada manages to get himself to full guard.

Okada not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ivanov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ivanov postures up in Okada's guard and throws a big left but Okada blocks it.
Ivanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Ivanov throwing strikes but missing.
Ivanov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Okada not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ivanov with a nice head shot there.
Ivanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Okada keeps moving.
Ivanov with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ivanov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ivanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ivanov 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ivanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ivanov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ivanov landing some decent shots from guard.
Okada has control of Ivanov's left arm, preventing Ivanov from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Ivanov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ivanov is looking to clinch.
Okada looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ivanov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Okada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Okada scores with a hook.
Ivanov wants to clinch
enabling Okada to counter with a crisp jab.
Ivanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Okada paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ivanov closes the distance and clinches.
Ivanov jumps guard but Okada stands there with Ivanov around his waist. Ivanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ivanov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Okada holds him up against the ropes and eventually Ivanov drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Ivanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Okada to keep the fight standing.
Ivanov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Okada walks away with a smile on his face. Ivanov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ivanov rushes Okada and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Ivanov jumps guard but Okada stands there with Ivanov around his waist. Ivanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Okada lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ivanov jumps guard but Okada turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Ivanov jumps guard but Okada turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.

Ivanov pulls guard effortlessly.
Okada works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ivanov is trying to get back to full guard.
Ivanov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Okada trying to control from half guard but Ivanov is working away.
Okada frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ivanov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ivanov manages to get to full guard.
Okada really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ivanov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Okada trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ivanov wants to hit a switch here but Okada passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ivanov there!
Ivanov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to hold on but Okada postures up.
Okada tries to control but Ivanov wriggling away.
Ivanov is desperately trying to improve his position but Okada has a good base and remains in mount.
Ivanov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ivanov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Okada perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ivanov is pressing down on Okada's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ivanov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Okada must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okada wants to control from the top but Ivanov keeps moving.
Ivanov 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.
Ivanov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Okada preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Ivanov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Okada can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ivanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaz Okada showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Okada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ivanov.
Okada misses with the combination.
Ivanov moves in looking to clinch but Okada pushes him off.
Okada misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ivanov tries to clinch
and Okada counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Ivanov moves into range and clinches up with Okada.
Ivanov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Okada to keep the fight standing.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Okada just stands there and leans against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Ivanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Okada smiles and moves away.
Okada keeps the fight on the outside.

Ivanov clinches up with Okada and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ivanov jumps guard.
Ivanov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ivanov trying to control the position.
Okada wants to control from the top but Ivanov keeps moving.
Ivanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Ivanov pushes a forearm under Okada's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Okada is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andrey Ivanov!
A determined Andrey Ivanov didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!