|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Ignatiev (ranked 172 p4p, 145 weight class) and Bill River (ranked 22 p4p, 16 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ignatiev might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Beats That. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!
 |
|
 |
| 187 cm
32
186
17 - 10 - 1 |
|
188 cm
27
185
12 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick |
|
Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Nikolai Ignatiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bill River!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatiev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
River throws a leg kick but Ignatiev sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ignatiev misses with a looping left.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ignatiev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ignatiev is looking to land body kicks.
A clash of legs there as Ignatiev blocks the low kick.
River has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Ignatiev is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Ignatiev as he connects with a hook.
Bill River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
River attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
River moves in looking to clinch but Ignatiev pushes him off.
Ignatiev misses with a jab to the body
and River counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ignatiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ignatiev lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and River has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from River and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ignatiev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
River throws out a counter right but Ignatiev avoids it with no problem.
River throws a lazy head kick
and Ignatiev counters with a nice body kick.
Ignatiev has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Dr Hatsumi's Clinic in the buildup to the fight.
River throws a leg kick which misses Ignatiev's front leg but catches the back leg as Ignatiev tries to avoid it.
River looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
River lands a nice looking body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
River fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ignatiev, pushing him back against the cage.
River trying to land knees to the body.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ignatiev misses with an elbow over the top.
River is trying to stall.
River throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ignatiev lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
Ignatiev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ignatiev misses with a hook from the clinch.
River landing knees to the body.
River displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ignatiev up against the cage.
Ignatiev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Ignatiev fails to land.
Ignatiev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ignatiev.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River tries a knee to the head but Ignatiev blocks it.
Ignatiev trying to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ignatiev working aggressively here.
Knees to the body from River.
Ignatiev is breathing heavily.
River lands with a short punch from the clinch.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right hook to the body lands for River.
River lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ignatiev or not.
River lands with a left to the head.
River lands a hook to the side of the head.
River lands a nice knee to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for River.
Ignatiev avoiding damage as River throws knees to the body.
River lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
River lands with a light punch inside.
Ignatiev tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Ignatiev back against the cage.
Ignatiev misses with a hook from the clinch.
River scores with a shot to the side of Ignatiev's head.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River blocks a body shot from Ignatiev.
River missing with knees to the body.
Ignatiev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ignatiev throws a hook but River avoids it easily.
River misses with a wild body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! River crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ignatiev - the referee stops the clock and River gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ignatiev. River manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
River thumps Ignatiev with a low kick.
River misses with a lunging right hand
and Ignatiev counters with an inside leg kick.
River connects with a body shot.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ignatiev was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
A bone on bone clash there as River blocks the leg kick.
River throws a right and a left that Ignatiev avoids nicely.
River gets a clinch.
Ignatiev misses with a body punch.
A short right from River.
Ignatiev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ignatiev has a couple of punches blocked by River.
Ignatiev lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ignatiev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
River digs a right hand into Ignatiev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ignatiev's gas tank.
River throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ignatievs head.
Ignatiev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from River.
River missing with knees to the body.
A short left from River.
It looks like Nikolai Ignatiev has been cut.
Ignatiev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Ignatiev fails to land.
Ignatiev tries a body shot but River blocks it.
River is looking to control Ignatiev's arms but Ignatiev gets an underhook and turns him. Now River has his back to the cage.
River tries to throw a body punch but Ignatiev avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
River tries to throw a body punch but Ignatiev avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as River takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
River tries to throw a body punch but Ignatiev avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bill River dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Ignatiev's cut.
That's time! Ignatiev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
River has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ignatiev finds it's way round the side to connect with River's head.
Ignatiev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
River is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ignatiev rather than just go for the knockout.
Ignatiev throws a jab but it's blocked by River.
Both fighters circling a little - Ignatiev finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ignatiev tries to work over River's front leg with a kick but River checks it.
River throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ignatiev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ignatiev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling River to score with a decent uppercut.
River wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
River misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ignatiev counters with a body kick.
Ignatiev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
Ignatiev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from River.
A leg kick checked by River.
Ignatiev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ignatiev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ignatiev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ignatiev is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nikolai Ignatiev is winning the standup battle so far.
Ignatiev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
That's one minute gone in the round.
River sizes up Ignatiev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
River on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
River looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatiev is just out of range.
River with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
River looks to land a left hand but Ignatiev moved out of range nicely.
Ignatiev throwing a counter right hand but River manages to avoid it.
River connects with an inside leg kick.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
River misses with a straight left.
River shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ignatiev tried to counter with a leg kick but River avoided it.
Nice jab there from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev blocks a leg kick.
River ducks under a wild hook from Ignatiev.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by River!
River fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ignatiev is looking to slow River down with leg kicks.
Ignatiev throws a right hand that misses
and River counters with a straight right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev misses with a looping left.
River throws the left hand but Ignatiev avoids the punch easily.
Ignatiev scores with a jab to the body.
River throws a poor cross that misses
and Ignatiev counters with a stiff right hand.
Ignatiev throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
Ignatiev lands a jab to River's midsection.
A swing and a miss from River.
River scores with a sloppy right hand. Ignatiev should have avoided that one.
River throws a low kick but Ignatiev avoids it.
Ignatiev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
Ignatiev works River's body with a nice hook.
Ignatiev attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
River swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ignatiev throws a leg kick which misses River's front leg but catches the back leg as River tries to avoid it.
River feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ignatievs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ignatiev throws a low kick but River avoids it.
River moves away from the strike by Ignatiev.
River looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Ignatiev.
River throws a leg kick which misses Ignatiev's front leg but catches the back leg as Ignatiev tries to avoid it.
River looks to throw the jab but Ignatiev is out of range.
River lands a jab to Ignatiev's midsection.
River stuns Ignatiev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
River misses with a hook
and Ignatiev counters with a body kick.
River stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
River slips a straight right by Ignatiev.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River misses with a wild body shot.
Ignatiev connects with an inside leg kick.
River throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ignatiev counters with a nice leg kick.
River swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ignatiev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
River looks to land a left hand but Ignatiev moved out of range nicely.
Ignatiev jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
River fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ignatiev checks it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
River rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ignatiev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy body shot
and River counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by River.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ignatiev.
Ignatiev moves out of range as River strikes.
Ignatiev misses the jab.
A leg kick checked by Ignatiev.
River throws a hook to the side of Ignatiev's head but Ignatiev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
River fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
River motions for Ignatiev to come forward. River throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick
and River counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ignatiev connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed River momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ignatiev throws out a powerful jab.
River misses with a right hand
and Ignatiev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
River thuds his right hand into Ignatiev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bill River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Ignatiev's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
River shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
River swings for the body but Ignatiev moves out of range.
Ignatiev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A shot to the liver by Ignatiev. Beautiful body shot.
River misses with a looping left.
River checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ignatiev explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ignatiev pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
River misses with a lunging right hand
and River takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ignatiev misses with a looping left.
Ignatiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatiev loads up on a big right hand but River slips the punch.
River is looking to clinch but Ignatiev is avoiding it.
Ignatiev checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Ignatiev.
River avoids a kick to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Ignatiev.
River has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev lands a front kick.
River takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
River wants to clinch up but Ignatiev keeps it at a distance.
River scores with the left hand. Ignatiev knows he should have avoided that one.
River slips under a jab.
River looks to throw a body kick
and River takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A good leg kick by River.
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.
River scores with a sloppy right hand. Ignatiev should have avoided that one.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ignatiev checks a leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Ignatiev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
River ducks right into an uppercut from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev avoids the body shot from River.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ignatiev.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ignatiev misses with an uppercut.
Ignatiev throws out a leg kick but River moves out of range and Ignatiev only half commits.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
River lands with a nice body punch.
Ignatiev lands a jab to the nose.
Nikolai Ignatiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River connects with a crisp jab.
Ignatiev swats away the attempt to clinch by River.
River takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
River ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
River doesn't manage to clinch there - Ignatiev circles away.
River fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ignatiev is out of range.
River connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ignatiev takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Some bone on bone action there as Ignatiev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ignatiev takes one to the side of the head.
Ignatiev misses with a kick to the body.
River swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
An inside leg kick lands from River.
River lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
River is looking to slow Ignatiev down with leg kicks.
River swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A slow jab from River misses its intended target.
Ignatiev appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
River scores with a jab to the jaw.
A slapping leg kick lands for River.
Ignatiev scores with a push kick.
Ignatiev looks to land a left hand but River moved out of range nicely.
River misses with an uppercut.
Ignatiev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ignatiev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ignatiev throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ignatiev throws a body shot but no joy.
River swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ignatiev counters with a straight right hand.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatiev slips a jab from River.
An attempted straight right counter from Ignatiev misses the target.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Ignatiev misses.
River swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Ignatiev.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
River takes a jab right on the kisser.
That kick from River tenderised Ignatiev's leg. Ignatiev is trying to keep his angry face on.
River motions for Ignatiev to come forward. River throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ignatiev.
Ignatiev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
River throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
River rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ignatiev counters with a nice uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Ignatiev misses the target.
Ignatiev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big left from River misses.
River throws a sloppy head kick and Ignatiev moves out of range easily.
River throws a sloppy head kick and Ignatiev moves out of range easily.
A little feinted left hand from Ignatiev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nikolai Ignatiev.
Well River 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill River!
An out of breath Bill River thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
77% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
