PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudi Kardi (ranked 2881 p4p, 3532 weight class) and Ivan Petrov (ranked 371 p4p, 426 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kardi
vs
Petrov

200 cm
20
213
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
210
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter
Nutritional Shaved Ice

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸
Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rudi Kardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kardi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Petrov.
Kardi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Petrov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kardi at a distance.

Kardi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kardi works his way into side control.

Kardi is trying to get an arm triangle but Petrov is defending well.

Kardi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Petrov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kardi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Petrov has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kardi tries for a kimura but Petrov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov is looking for a sweep.
Petrov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petrov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kardi asserts his dominance and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Petrov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Petrov is looking to reverse the position.

Kardi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kardi tries to score with some ground and pound. Petrov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

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.

Kardi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kardi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Petrov gets back to half guard.
Kardi throws a strike but Petrov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kardi tries to free his leg and advance position but Petrov is retaining full guard.
Petrov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kardi missing with punches from the bottom.
Kardi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Kardi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kardi keeping moving, preventing Petrov from controlling successfully.

Kardi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petrov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kardi keeping full guard, as Petrov tries to pass.

Kardi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kardi wants to sweep here but Petrov controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kardi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Petrov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kardi.
Petrov avoids the strikes from the bottom by Kardi.
Petrov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kardi tries to improve position but can't.
Kardi is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petrov trying to control the action but Kardi is working from the bottom.
Kardi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rudi Kardi dominated that round.
That's time! Kardi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kardi shoots in for a takedown but Petrov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Petrov throws out a counter right but Kardi avoids it with no problem.
Kardi wants to clinch.
Petrov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Rudi Kardi has been cut.
Petrov throws an overhand right that lands on Kardi's shoulder, as Kardi tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kardi throws a leg kick
and Petrov counters with a straight right hand.
Kardi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kardi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Kardi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kardi seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kardi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Petrov won't allow Kardi to pass to mount.

Kardi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kardi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ivan Petrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kardi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kardi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Petrov gets back to full guard.
Rudi Kardi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kardi looking to pass the guard.

Kardi has gone for a leg lock! Petrov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kardi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Kardi is looking for a triangle but Petrov pushes his legs off easily.

Kardi working for a triangle but Petrov defends it easily.
Petrov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kardi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petrov is looking to stand up but Kardi won't let him.
Petrov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kardi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kardi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kardi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kardi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kardi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Petrov is aware though and is defending well.
Petrov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Petrov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kardi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrov wants to stand but Kardi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Petrov trying to control but Kardi is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kardi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petrov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Petrov.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 19:19
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 19:19
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 20:18

The fight is ruled a majority draw!