IFL 12 PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Ermak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boba Mininkoph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ermak
vs
Mininkoph

185 cm
21
189 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Ermak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boba Mininkoph!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mininkoph moves out of range of the leg kick from Ermak.
No luck for Mininkoph with that takedown attempt.
Ermak throws a series of punches but Mininkoph moves out of range.

Mininkoph looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ermak!
Mininkoph fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Andrey Ermak has been cut.
Mininkoph unloads with some shots from mount but Ermak bucks and avoids them well.
Mininkoph can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ermak is looking to escape.
Mininkoph with good strikes from the mount here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ermak is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ermak is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ermak really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ermak tries to buck Mininkoph off but he can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ermak is looking to improve his position but Mininkoph isn't that keen on the idea.
Mininkoph controlling the position easily from mount.
Ermak is squirming around, avoiding Mininkoph's attempts to control the action.
Ermak is looking to get to half guard.
Ermak is squirming around, avoiding Mininkoph's attempts to control the action.
Ermak is working to get back to half guard.
Mininkoph has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mininkoph looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mininkoph has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ermak's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ermak tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Ermak bucks Mininkoph off and manages to get back to his feet!
Mininkoph dives in and grabs Ermak's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ermak pushes down on Mininkoph's head and hops out.
Mininkoph moves out of range of the body kick.
Ermak moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mininkoph shoots in looking for a takedown. Ermak tries to sprawl out of it but Mininkoph keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ermak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Andrey Ermak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boba Mininkoph.
Ermak dodges the punch combination from Mininkoph.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mininkoph misses with a head kick.
Mininkoph shoots in and drives through. Ermak sprawls well.
Mininkoph looks gassed!
Mininkoph avoids the head kick by Ermak.
Mininkoph throws a series of punches but Ermak moves out of range.
Ermak misses with a few strikes there.
Ermak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ermak leaves Mininkoph with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Boba Mininkoph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ermak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mininkoph has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mininkoph there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice uppercut there from Ermak.
Andrey Ermak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mininkoph fails with a takedown attempt.
Ermak wants to clinch.
Ermak lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mininkoph is defended easily by Ermak.
Ermak jabs Mininkoph right on the nose. Mininkoph blinks but takes it well.
Mininkoph shoots for a double leg takedown but Ermak sprawls well. He's pushed Mininkoph's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ermak lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Ermak. Those never looked like landing.
Mininkoph shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Ermak.

Mininkoph is rocked!
Ermak Throws a clean left jab. Ermak Twirls his body and connects with a Spinning Back Fist that connects flush with Mininkoph's chin! Mininkoph crumbles to the ground and Ermak follows up with some unanswered strikes. It's all over!! Nice standup skills displayed by Ermak!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Andrey Ermak!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
37%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mongo Mongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Guererro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mongo
vs
Guererro

185 cm
20
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mongo Mongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leon Guererro!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guererro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Guererro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mongo scores with a kick to the midsection.
Mongo misses with the combination.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Mongo.
Mongo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mongo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Guererro finds it's way round the side to connect with Mongo's head.

It looks like Mongo Mongo has been cut.
Mongo scores with a leg kick.
Mongo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Guererro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mongo scrambles back to his feet.
Guererro misses with a right hand
and Mongo counters with a right hand to the body.
Guererro looks gassed!
Guererro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mongo.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Mongo.
Guererro circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mongo lands a big head kick that sends Guererro tumbling to the mat! Mongo takes a step backwards and waves Guererro back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Leon Guererro has been cut.
Mongo scores with a body shot.
Mongo throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Guererro's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Mongo dives in looking to finish as Guererro flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Mongo's strikes! Mongo is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Guererro's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Guererro was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mongo Mongo!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
100%

Co-main event

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aslambek Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jurmas Uusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uusisto has chosen System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B. as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Uusisto

185 cm
25
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aslambek Cruz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jurmas Uusisto!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Uusisto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cruz tries to advance to mount but Uusisto denies him.
Uusisto tries to bench press Cruz off him but Cruz keeps the position.

Cruz swings around for an armbar but Uusisto sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cruz's guard.
Uusisto trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Uusisto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Uusisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Uusisto defends easily.
Uusisto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz working for a triangle but Uusisto defends it easily.
Uusisto's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Uusisto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cruz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Uusisto has picked Cruz up and slammed him! Cruz can't keep hold of the triangle and Uusisto manages to pass to side control!
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uusisto remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Uusisto is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jurmas Uusisto was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Uusisto scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Uusisto lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Aslambek Cruz has been cut.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Uusisto is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Cruz hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jurmas Uusisto! Jurmas Uusisto retains his welterweight title!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
53%

Main event

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diego Salvador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Salvador
vs
Thai

180 cm
25
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

MadDogs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Salvador!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Thai!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salvador.
Thai throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Salvador moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salvador is defended easily by Thai.
Salvador avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thai throws a head kick that Salvador semi-blocks.
Thai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salvador.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Salvador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Thai.
Salvador closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thai circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvador thows a body shot but no joy.
Salvador fails with a takedown attempt.
Thai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salvador.
Thai tries to score with a low kick but Salvador moves his leg out of the way.
Thai scores with a head kick.
Thai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salvador shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Thai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salvador on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thai. Thai obviously looking to wear him down.
Thai throws a chopping leg kick but Salvador manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Salvador tries for a takedown but Thai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Salvador moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvador avoids the head kick by Thai.
Salvador walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thai.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salvador has his takedown stuffed
and Thai counters with a good low kick that Salvador was not able to check.
Salvador shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thai as he avoids it easily.
Salvador takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thai throws a leg kick which misses Salvador's front leg but catches the back leg as Salvador tries to avoid it.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Salvador. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Salvador looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thai!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Salvador looking for a guillotine from mount but Thai is having none of it.
Salvador is breathing heavily.
Thai can't escape the position.
Thai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Salvador has hold of Thai's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thai manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salvador with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvador lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Salvador 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.
Thai working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salvador wants to finish this one by submission but Thai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salvador.
Thai is looking to get to half guard.
Salvador avoids the attempt from Thai to control.
Thai is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Salvador raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Salvador working for a guillotine from mount but Thai is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thai?

Salvador is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thai is surviving well by controlling Salvador's body position as best he can.
Salvador pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Salvador with good strikes from the mount here!
Salvador working Thai over with strikes here.

Salvador is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thai is surviving well by controlling Salvador's body position as best he can.
Salvador working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Thai is rocked!
Salvador thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Salvador unloading with bombs!

Salvador looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Thai wants to hold on but Salvador pushes him away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Salvador punishing his opponent with strikes.
Thai wants to hold on but Salvador pushes him away.
Salvador throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Thai because Salvador loaded up on that one.

Thai defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Salvador.

Salvador wants to finish this one by submission but Thai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salvador.
Salvador fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Salvador landing punches.
Thai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salvador. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salvador thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Salvador is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thai is surviving well by controlling Salvador's body position as best he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Salvador looking to secure an arm triangle but Thai defends it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thai tries to lock up and control but Salvador gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Salvador thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thai takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thai working to try and regain half guard.

Salvador is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Thai is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Diego Salvador!
Diego Salvador retains his middleweight title!