PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilman Vagabov (ranked 2823 p4p, 4541 weight class) and Kiano Rivels (ranked 0 p4p, 536 weight class). Kiano Rivels will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Vagabov
vs
Rivels

185 cm
25
275
2 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
249
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilman Vagabov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiano Rivels!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vagabov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vagabov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Vagabov has closed the distance and engaged Rivels in a clinch.
Rivels prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vagabov avoiding damage as Rivels throws knees to the body.
Rivels tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vagabov stalling against the cage.
Rivels prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilman Vagabov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivels gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vagabov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivels working aggressively here.
Rivels trying to land knees to the body.
Rivels using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vagabov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vagabov stalls.
Vagabov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivels gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivels misses with a punch to the body.
Vagabov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rivels up against the cage.
Rivels misses with a punch to the body.
Vagabov slowing the pace effectively.
Vagabov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vagabov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rivels misses with some punches.
Vagabov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vagabov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ilman Vagabov.
Vagabov misses with a body shot.
Kiano Rivels is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vagabov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rivels paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivels avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rivels tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vagabov throws a jab when Rivels was well out of range.
Rivels changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vagabov throws a body punch but Rivels moves out of range.
Vagabov shoots for a takedown but Rivels saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And Rivels tries to counter it with a takedown but Vagabov pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Vagabov closes the distance and clinches.
Rivels is trying to break the clinch but Vagabov has him pressed against the cage.
Rivels tries to work over Vagabov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivels misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vagabov has Rivels pushed against the cage.
Rivels tries to work over Vagabov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vagabov is pushing Rivels up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rivels can't find room to land a body shot as Vagabov controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivels misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivels trying to land knees to the body.
Vagabov is stalling here.
Vagabov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vagabov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rivels as Vagabov tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ilman Vagabov.

Vagabov gets a double leg takedown into Rivels's guard.
Rivels really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vagabov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vagabov distracts Rivels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rivels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vagabov.
Vagabov landing with the ground and pound.
Vagabov works over Rivels with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vagabov works over Rivels with some ground and pound from guard.
Vagabov postures up and lands a big shot to Rivels's brow.
Vagabov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rivels looks winded!
Vagabov stands up over Rivels, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vagabov lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vagabov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vagabov works over Rivels with some ground and pound from guard.
Vagabov lands a couple of elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ilman Vagabov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vagabov instigates a clinch.
Vagabov has Rivels pressed against the cage.
Vagabov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rivels can't find room to land a body shot as Vagabov controls the action.
Rivels being controlled against the cage.
Vagabov managing to block the knees to the body from Rivels.
Rivels misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivels wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vagabov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vagabov prevents Rivels from breaking the clinch.
Vagabov taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivels goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vagabov stalling.
Vagabov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Vagabov for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ilman Vagabov.
Vagabov swings for the body but Rivels moves out of range.
Rivels feints the counter takedown.
Ilman Vagabov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vagabov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Vagabov moves into the clinch successfully.
Vagabov is pushing Rivels up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Vagabov stalling.
Vagabov stalling in the clinch.
Rivels missing with knees to the body.
Rivels misses with a punch to the body.

Vagabov tightens his grip and picks Rivels up, before dumping him to the ground. Rivels manages to land in guard.
Rivels wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Vagabov manages to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vagabov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rivels is breathing heavily.
Vagabov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ground and pound from Vagabov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vagabov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Vagabov 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.
Rivels wants to control but Vagabov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vagabov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivels can do to turn this around?
Vagabov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Vagabov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vagabov working the head and body with strikes.
Vagabov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Rivels is rocked!
Vagabov sitting in half guard here. He lands a big elbow that has hurt Rivels! Oh, Rivels is in big trouble! Vagabov lands more strikes and the ref dives in to save him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ilman Vagabov!