PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hiroki Tomori (ranked 1904 p4p, 4659 weight class) and Ivan Ivanov (ranked 197 p4p, 402 weight class). Ivan Ivanov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tomori
vs
Ivanov

171 cm
32
142
18 - 12 - 1

170 cm
29
155
10 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

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 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Tomori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tomori moves into range and clinches up with Ivanov.
Ivanov is looking for a takedown.
Ivanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tomori smiles and moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Tomori clinches up with Ivanov and pushes him back against the cage.
Ivanov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ivanov missing with knees to the body.
Tomori taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tomori throws a series of punches but Ivanov avoids them all with ease.

Ivanov clinches up with Tomori and pushes him back against the cage.
Tomori avoiding damage.
Ivanov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tomori prevents it.
Hiroki Tomori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ivanov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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 Tomori walks away with a smile on his face. Ivanov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tomori swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivanov.

Tomori moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tomori wants the takedown. Ivanov is fighting it off but Tomori persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ivanov's guard against the cage.
Tomori trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanov seems keen to control Tomori's posture.
Tomori controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tomori preventing the sweep.
Tomori engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Ivanov looking for a guillotine here but Tomori defends easily.
Ivanov being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomori tries to stand but Ivanov is controlling from the bottom.
Ivanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tomori manages to get himself to full guard.

Tomori wants to get back to his feet but Ivanov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tomori is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tomori tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tomori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tomori haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ivanov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tomori has Ivanov pulled in close to control his posture.
Ivanov throwing strikes from guard but Tomori blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tomori has managed to clinch.
Tomori lands a nice uppercut.
Tomori scores with a shoulder strike.
Ivanov has had enough of the clinch but Tomori keeps him there for the moment.
Ivanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tomori smiles and moves away.
Tomori misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to clinch up but Tomori circles away and keeps his distance.
Tomori half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Tomori darts in and clinches Ivanov up against the cage.
Tomori leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tomori prevents the takedown attempt.
I was talking to Tomori's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ivanov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tomori is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ivanov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ivanov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tomori pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tomori misses with the head strike.
Tomori stalling the fight.

Tomori escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ivanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tomori clinches with his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tomori lands with a light punch inside.
Ivanov goes for a takedown attempt but Tomori pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Ivanov moves into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroki Tomori dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ivanov instigates a clinch.

Tomori tightens his grip and picks Ivanov up, before dumping him to the ground. Ivanov manages to land in guard.
Ivanov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tomori is controlling him.
Tomori stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ivanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivanov managing to control the position.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Tomori from controlling successfully.
Ivanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Ivanov, not yet.
Tomori is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ivanov can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tomori preventing the sweep.
Ivanov is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tomori closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ivanov blocks a body shot from Tomori.
Tomori managing to block the knees to the body from Ivanov.
Ivanov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Tomori tightens his grip and picks Ivanov up, before dumping him to the ground. Ivanov manages to land in guard.
Tomori controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tomori tries to stand but Ivanov is controlling from the bottom.
Tomori stays in close to Ivanov's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to stand but Tomori is controlling the position.
Tomori with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ivanov controls Tomori momentarily but Tomori frees himself.
Tomori won't allow Ivanov to get back to his feet.
Hiroki Tomori overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tomori pushing down on Ivanov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ivanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ivanov trying to control here.
Ivanov is controlling Tomori's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Tomori trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tomori.
Ivanov manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tomori accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tomori trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tomori is fighting to break Ivanov's control of his arms but Ivanov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Tomori moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ivanov tries to circle away but Tomori has him pinned against the cage.
Tomori working aggressively here.
Tomori misses with a punch to the body.
Ivanov tries for a takedown but Tomori manages to get underhooks.
Ivanov tries to break free but Tomori pushes him back against the cage.
Tomori is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hiroki Tomori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ivanov.
Tomori gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ivanov.
Ivanov fails to pull guard.
Tomori is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tomori gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ivanov.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tomori can't find room to land a body shot as Ivanov controls the action.
Tomori trying to land knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroki Tomori dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tomori has closed the distance and engaged Ivanov in a clinch.
Ivanov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tomori fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tomori moves into range and clinches up with Ivanov.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tomori misses with a knee to the head.
Tomori stops a takedown attempt from Ivanov.
Hiroki Tomori has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tomori lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ivanov backwards.
Ivanov looking for a takedown.
Hiroki Tomori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ivanov.
A short uppercut from Tomori.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ivanov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Tomori pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tomori stuffs the takedown attempt from Ivanov. Ivanov gets slowly back to his feet.

Tomori closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori lands a left hand.
Ivanov looking for a takedown.
Tomori lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tomori misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tomori can't find room to land a body shot as Ivanov controls the action.

Tomori breaks from the clinch.

Tomori forces Ivanov back against the cage and clinches.
Tomori's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Tomori holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivanov drops back down to his feet.
Ivanov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tomori pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ivanov taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tomori - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ivanov blocks an elbow strike from Tomori.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.

Tomori breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tomori misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tomori as he avoids it easily.

Tomori closes the distance and pushes Ivanov back into the cage.
Ivanov jumps guard but Tomori stands there with Ivanov around his waist. Ivanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tomori effectively controlling the action here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomori lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tomori pushes Ivanov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ivanov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ivan Ivanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tomori scores with a shot to the side of Ivanov's head.
Ivanov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tomori can't find room to land a body shot as Ivanov controls the action.
Tomori softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tomori lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ivanov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Tomori breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tomori lands a right hook to the body.

Tomori closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ivanov quickly recovers to half guard.
Tomori is taking a breather. Ivanov 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.
Ivanov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tomori.
Tomori is thwarting Ivanov's attempts to control the position.
Tomori is controlling the pace.
Tomori seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ivanov for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiroki Tomori is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ivanov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Tomori stops Ivanov from getting back to his feet.
Tomori is trying to control the action in half guard but Ivanov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tomori is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ivanov closes the distance and clinches up with Tomori, looking for a takedown. Ivanov pushes Tomori against the cage but Tomori circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tomori sprawls well. Tomori wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ivanov gets slowly back to his feet.

Tomori gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroki Tomori showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tomori has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:26
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroki Tomori!