PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksei Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Dantas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Ivanov
vs
Dantas

183 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksei Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eduardo Dantas!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ivanov clinches.
Ivanov avoiding damage.

Ivanov has Dantas pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ivanov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dantas tumbling to the mat - Ivanov dives into Dantas's guard.
Dantas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ivanov.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Ivanov defends easily.
Ivanov distracts Dantas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ivanov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ivanov trying to control but Dantas is working from the bottom.
Ivanov thows a big elbow that misses.
Ivanov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov stopping the sweep attempt from Dantas.
Ivanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ivanov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ivanov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Dantas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ivanov moves into the clinch.

Ivanov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ivanov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ivanov misses with a head shot. Dantas uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dantas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Dantas keeps moving.
Dantas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov is working Dantas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ivanov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ivanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivanov trying to control but Dantas is working from the bottom.
Ivanov won't allow Dantas to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Dantas keeps moving.
Dantas being controlled here, momentarily.
Ivanov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dantas on the ground.
Dantas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

Ivanov pushes Dantas up against the cage in a clinch.
Ivanov tries a knee to the head but Dantas blocks it.
Ivanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Ivanov.
Ivanov works on Dantas's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Ivanov.
Dantas looks gassed!
Ivanov prevents the takedown attempt.
Ivanov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ivanov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dantas's face.

Ivanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ivanov closes the distance and pushes Dantas back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov stops a takedown attempt from Dantas.

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

Ivanov closes the distance and pushes Dantas back into the cage.
Ivanov lands a hook that snaps the head of Dantas backwards.
Ivanov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dantas's defenses.

Ivanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ivanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ivanov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ivanov lands a shoulder strike.

Ivanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aleksei Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dantas shoots in looking for a takedown. Ivanov tries to sprawl out of it but Dantas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ivanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aleksei Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Dantas.

Ivanov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dantas did well to prevent Ivanov getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ivanov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dantas is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksei Ivanov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ivanov forces Dantas back against the cage and clinches.
Ivanov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ivanov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ivanov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dantas's face.
Ivanov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ivanov stalling in the clinch.
Dantas takes an elbow to the temple.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ivanov.

Ivanov breaks from the clinch.

Ivanov closes the distance and clinches.
Ivanov gets underhooks to prevent Dantas's takedown attempt.

Ivanov is trying to trip Dantas. He has hold of a leg but Dantas is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ivanov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Dantas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ivanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ivanov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ivanov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Ivanov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Ivanov gets a clinch.
Dantas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ivanov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Ivanov has picked Dantas up - he's going for a ride! Ivanov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ivanov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ivanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dantas trying to hold on to Ivanov's head to control him but Ivanov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov throwing shots but Dantas is blocking nicely.
Ivanov lands strikes from half guard.
Ivanov thows a huge punch but Dantas dodges it nicely.
Ivanov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dantas wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ivanov has managed to clinch.
Knees to the body from Ivanov.
Dantas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ivanov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Aleksei Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Dantas.
Ivanov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dantas lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ivanov scores with a knee to the head.

Dantas is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ivanov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dantas to the mat. Dantas regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dantas wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dantas's head.
Ivanov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dantas trying to control the position.
Ivanov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ivanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ivanov looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dantas circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four 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.
Dantas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ivanov counters with an outside leg kick.

Ivanov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dantas is trying to defend but Ivanov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dantas is looking to control Ivanov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dantas avoid being mounted?
Ivanov tries to pass to full mount but Dantas defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dantas is looking to control Ivanov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dantas avoid being mounted?
Ivanov prevents Dantas from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksei Ivanov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ivanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ivanov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dantass head.
A right hook to the body lands for Ivanov.

Ivanov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Dantas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ivanov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ivanov grinds an elbow into Dantas's temple.
Ivanov trying to control the position but Dantas is working away.

Ivanov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dantas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dantas is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ivanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dantas can't do much from the bottom here.

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

Ivanov clinches with his opponent.
Ivanov lands an uppercut.
Dantas is working for takedown but Ivanov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Come on Ivanov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ivanov crunches a lovely knee into Dantas's ribcage.
Ivanov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Ivanov gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov decides to return to a standing position.
Dantas shoots and misses

and Ivanov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dantas won't be happy with that.
Dantas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ivanov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ivanov wants to control but Dantas is keeping him busy.
Ivanov throws a strike aimed at the side of Dantas's head but Dantas avoids it well.
Dantas manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dantas is thwarting Ivanov's attempts to control the position.
Ivanov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dantas looking to pass the guard.
Aleksei Ivanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dantas trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov 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.

Ivanov manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Ivanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ivanov lands a damaging elbow.
Dantas takes an elbow to the temple.
Dantas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Aleksei Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Dantas.

Ivanov successfully pulls guard.
Ivanov is trying to control the position but Dantas postures up.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Dantas from controlling successfully.
Ivanov controls Dantas momentarily but Dantas frees himself.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Dantas from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is pulling down on Dantas's head to control his posture.
Dantas trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.
Ivanov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ivanov closes the distance and clinches.
Dantas is working for takedown but Ivanov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ivanov has hold of one of Dantas's legs. Dantas is fighting the takedown attempt but Ivanov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Eduardo Dantas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksei Ivanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dantas is looking for a triangle but Ivanov pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksei Ivanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ivanov 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksei Ivanov!