PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Brown (ranked 6038 p4p, 3924 weight class) and Ivan Ivanov (ranked 551 p4p, 438 weight class). Brown comes to the cage accompanied by Hail Mary Tupac. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Brown
vs
Ivanov

176 cm
28
166
10 - 10 - 0

170 cm
26
155
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brown stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brown wants it to stay on the feet.
Ivanov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brown circles away.
Ivan Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ivanov works over Brown's head and body with a nice combination.

Ivanov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Brown to the mat! Brown manages to get full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Brown wants to hit a sweep here but Ivanov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Brown there!
Ivanov with good strikes from the mount here!
Ivanov working Brown over with strikes here.
Brown is squirming around, avoiding Ivanov's attempts to control the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brown gets back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ivanov lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown is pressing down on Ivanov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brown is on top in guard.

Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanov trying to keep a closed guard but Brown is proving a slippery customer.
Brown won't allow Ivanov to sweep him here.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Brown from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brown is pushing down on Ivanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ivanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Brown has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ivanov wants to control but Brown is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ivanov wants to get back to full guard.
Ivanov has his hands clasped together around Brown's back. He's all about the action.
Brown works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Brown.
Ivanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ivanov tries to lock up and control but Brown gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ivanov tries to reverse the position but Brown maintains control.
Brown controlling the position easily from mount.
Ivanov wants to control but Brown is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown looking to control but Ivanov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ivanov has given up his back. Will we see Brown going for some submissions?
Ivanov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brown. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ivanov trying to control the action but Brown just sinks the hooks in.

Ivanov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Brown.
Ivanov trying to control but not successfully.

Ivanov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Brown's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brown working for a choke but Ivanov is defending well.
Ivanov trying to get back to his feet but Brown is in full control for now.

Brown working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Ivanov is doing well to defend. Brown seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Ivanov is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joshua Brown!
Joshua Brown was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.