PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Afonso Henriques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Illianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Illianenko has chosen Only God Can Judge Me as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henriques
vs
Illianenko

200 cm
23
230 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
245 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Afonso Henriques!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Illianenko!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henriques tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Illianenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Illianenko as Henriques shoots in.

Henriques tries to keep at a distance but Illianenko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henriques goes for a takedown in the clinch but Illianenko prevents it.
Illianenko wants to stall.
Henriques is looking to control Illianenko's arms but Illianenko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Henriques has his back to the cage.
Illianenko has Henriques pressed against the cage, preventing Henriques from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Henriques is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Illianenko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Afonso Henriques. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Illianenko prevents the takedown attempt.

Illianenko manages to break the clinch.
Henriques tries for a takedown but Illianenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henriques darts in trying to clinch

and Illianenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Illianenko.
Henriques tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Illianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henriques with a poor takedown

so Illianenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Illianenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Henriques working for a triangle but Illianenko defends it easily.
Illianenko working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Illianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henriques swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Illianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Henriques is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Illianenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Illianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Henriques is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Illianenko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Henriques looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Henriques looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Henriques!
Illianenko tries to bench press Henriques off him but Henriques keeps the position.
Illianenko manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Henriques is looking to take a break and control but Illianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Illianenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Illianenko trying to control here.
Illianenko wants to get back to full guard.
Illianenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Illianenko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Illianenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Illianenko looks gassed!
Henriques is trying to control Illianenko's posture but Illianenko avoids it.
Illianenko scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illianenko is looking to take a break and control but Henriques is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Illianenko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Henriques tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Illianenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Illianenko grinds an elbow into Henriques's temple.
Henriques wants to control but Illianenko postures up.

Illianenko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Henriques is trying to control Illianenko's posture but Illianenko avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henriques is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Illianenko wants to control but Henriques is keeping him busy.
Henriques regains full guard. Nicely done.
Illianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Illianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henriques swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Illianenko stopping the sweep attempt from Henriques.
Illianenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Illianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Illianenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Illianenko passes Henriques's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Illianenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Henriques fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Illianenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Henriques goes for a takedown in the clinch but Illianenko prevents it.
Illianenko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Illianenko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Illianenko is working for takedown but Henriques is calmly controlling the position for now.
Illianenko slows down the pace here.
Illianenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Henriques avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Illianenko tries a body shot but Henriques blocks it.
Illianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Illianenko looking to stall.
Illianenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Illianenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Illianenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Henriques pulls his leg out and moves away.
Afonso Henriques has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Illianenko.
Henriques tries for a takedown but Illianenko circles away easily

so Illianenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Henriques looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Illianenko is defending well. Henriques quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Illianenko has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Henriques celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Afonso Henriques!