PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Phol Boxaaja (ranked 2413 p4p, 3367 weight class) and Knut Brovold (ranked 85 p4p, 0 weight class). Knut Brovold told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Boxaaja
vs
Brovold

180 cm
40
169
38 - 26 - 0

181 cm
28
164
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 38 - 26 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phol Boxaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Knut Brovold!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boxaaja stuffs the takedown attempt from Brovold. Brovold gets slowly back to his feet.

Boxaaja closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Boxaaja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Brovold is just riding it out for now. Boxaaja eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boxaaja controlling the action here.
Brovold trying to hold on to Boxaaja's head to control him but Boxaaja postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brovold is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Boxaaja pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxaaja keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Brovold defends it well.

Boxaaja is trying to work for a kimura but Brovold is defending well.
Boxaaja is taking a breather. Brovold 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.

Brovold looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Brovold is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brovold sees it coming and defends easily.
Brovold wants to control but Boxaaja is keeping busy.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura here.

Boxaaja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boxaaja content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Brovold wants to improve his position but Boxaaja is controlling well.
It looks like Boxaaja is going to stand back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Boxaaja looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Boxaaja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Brovold controlling the position well.
Boxaaja controlling the pace.

Brovold actively working from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boxaaja controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Boxaaja dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Boxaaja shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Brovold is trying to defend but Boxaaja finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Phol Boxaaja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brovold trying to control but Boxaaja postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boxaaja sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Brovold actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boxaaja tries to stand and escape but Brovold is controlling the position.
Brovold is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've been informed that Brovold has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brovold sees it coming and defends easily.
Boxaaja trying to control the action but Brovold is working from the bottom.

Brovold looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boxaaja is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Brovold is trying to control but can't.

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.
Boxaaja perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Boxaaja dives in and scores a takedown into Brovold's guard.

Brovold looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Boxaaja passes into side control.
The referee asks Boxaaja politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Boxaaja prefers to stall for the moment though.
Brovold can't do much from the bottom here.

Boxaaja is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Brovold knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Brovold is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja just content to control the position.

Boxaaja tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Boxaaja has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boxaaja has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Brovold!

That's four 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.
Boxaaja fails to move to back control.
Brovold is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boxaaja avoids the attempt from Brovold to control.
Brovold is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boxaaja moves to his opponent's back but Brovold bucks him off and ends up in guard. A bit of a disaster there for Boxaaja.

Brovold is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Boxaaja is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Boxaaja has escaped and now he's on top!

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Boxaaja 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!

Brovold gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Brovold working for submissions but it's allowed Boxaaja to get to half guard.

Boxaaja is working for a submission of some sort.
Boxaaja prevents Brovold from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brovold actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxaaja controlling the pace.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brovold sees it coming and defends easily.
Brovold is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Boxaaja seems to be working for a kimura but Brovold defends the submission attempt.
Brovold wants to control but Boxaaja is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boxaaja stalling.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brovold sees it coming and defends easily.
Boxaaja perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Brovold looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boxaaja tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Brovold.
Boxaaja content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Phol Boxaaja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boxaaja wants to work for an arm triangle but Brovold is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brovold sees it coming and defends easily.
Boxaaja controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Knut Brovold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Boxaaja shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Boxaaja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brovold can do to turn this around?
Boxaaja controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja is trying to control the action in half guard but Brovold is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boxaaja performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Brovold looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Brovold is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Boxaaja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Boxaaja's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brovold throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Boxaaja trying to control the hands but Brovold breaks the grip.
Brovold missing with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phol Boxaaja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Boxaaja 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phol Boxaaja!
A relieved looking Phol Boxaaja thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.