PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeny Izov (ranked 4062 p4p, 4060 weight class) and Hard Hitter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Izov
vs
Hitter

183 cm
18
170
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
200
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Evgeny Izov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hard Hitter!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izov fails with the takedown.

Hitter has Izov up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Izov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hitter is working for takedown but Izov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Izov misses with a body punch.

Izov jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Izov has an active guard here but Hitter has managed to pass into half guard.
Izov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hitter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Izov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hitter sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Izov controlling the position well.
Izov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hitter prevents Izov from standing back up.
Hitter prevents Izov from improving his position.

Hitter 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.
Izov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hitter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitter seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hitter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Izov landing small, sideways elbows.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Izov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hitter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hitter closes the distance and pushes Izov back into the cage.

Izov pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hitter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hitter stays in close to Izov's body and controls the position.
Izov controls Hitter momentarily but Hitter frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitter controlling from the top position.
Izov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Izov working a defensive guard here.
Izov being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hitter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hard Hitter dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hitter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Izov looking for a sweep. Not yet Izov, not yet.
Izov is looking to stand up but Hitter isn't so interested in that idea.
Izov keeping moving, preventing Hitter from controlling successfully.
Izov looking for a sweep. Not yet Izov, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izov wants to stand up but Hitter is controlling him.
Hitter is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Izov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hitter doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hitter manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hitter's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hitter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Izov trying to control the position.
Izov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Izov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hitter on his heels. He'll look to pass Hitter's guard now, I'm sure.
Hitter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hitter looking for a guillotine here but Izov defends easily.
Izov wants to stand but Hitter is controlling his posture from full guard.
Izov looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitter trying to control the position here.

Izov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hitter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Izov has managed to get both his arms back between Hitter's legs - danger averted.

Hitter is looking for a triangle but Izov pushes his legs off easily.
Izov wants to control from the top but Hitter keeps moving.
Izov cracks Hitter with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hitter seems keen to control Izov's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Izov lands a jab to the head.

Izov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hitter to the ground. Izov is now in Hitter's guard.
Hitter is pulling down on Izov's head. It's preventing any offense from Izov, at least for the moment.
Izov wants to control from the top but Hitter keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hitter is looking to stand up but Izov isn't so interested in that idea.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Evgeny Izov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hitter misses with a few strikes there.
As Hitter looks to move away, Izov throws a big counter combo but Hitter just gets out of the way.
Hitter throws a head kick but Izov moves out of range.
Izov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hitter raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Izov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hitter as he jumps to the side.
Hitter is looking for the big counter here.
Hitter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Izov tries to counter with a takedown but Hitter is quick to defend against it.

Izov gets tackled into the cage by Hitter. Hitter maintains the clinch.

Hitter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hitter throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Izov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hitter is in Izov's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izov keeping moving, preventing Hitter from controlling successfully.
Izov controlling Hitter's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izov keeping moving, preventing Hitter from controlling successfully.

Izov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hitter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hitter sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Let's hope that Hitter has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hitter scores with a hook to the body. Izov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hitter shoots in for a takedown but Izov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Izov forces Hitter back against the cage and clinches.
Hitter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Izov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Izov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Izov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hitter has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izov is trying to pull guard but Hitter has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeny Izov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hitter jumps guard but Izov stands there with Hitter around his waist. Hitter gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Izov wants to break free but Hitter has control.
Hitter pressing his opponent against the cage.
Izov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hitter to keep the fight standing.
Izov is looking for a takedown.
Hitter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Izov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hitter pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hitter pulls guard.
Izov won't allow Hitter to sweep him here.
Hitter keeping moving, preventing Izov from controlling successfully.
Hitter looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hitter looking for a sweep. Not yet Hitter, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Izov postures up in Hitter's guard and throws a big left but Hitter blocks it.
Evgeny Izov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hard Hitter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hitter pulls Izov in to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hard Hitter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hitter has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Hard Hitter!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Hard Hitter!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Hard Hitter!

Hard Hitter wins by unanimous decision!