PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Denis Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitrii Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dmitrii Roman is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Petrov
vs
Roman

180 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Petrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitrii Roman!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roman misses with a takedown attempt - Petrov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Roman's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Roman duly obliges.
Petrov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Roman counters with a good low kick that Petrov was not able to check.
Petrov fails to land with a series of punches.
Roman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Petrov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Roman really felt that one!

Petrov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Roman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petrov has him pressed against the cage.

Petrov pulls Roman into guard.
Petrov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Petrov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Roman's guard.
Petrov trying to control but Roman is working from the bottom.
Roman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Petrov stays in close to Roman's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov looking to sit in guard and control but Roman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman wants to stand but Petrov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Roman looks gassed!
Petrov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Petrov working for submissions but it's allowed Roman to get to half guard.
Petrov trying to control from the bottom.
Roman sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Petrov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Roman is working away from the top position though.
Roman is stalling here. Petrov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Roman seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Petrov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Petrov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Petrov lands a few punches from side control.
Petrov controlling the position.

Petrov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Roman has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Petrov but great work by Roman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roman decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A head kick by Petrov misses
and Roman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Petrov is looking to clinch.
Roman tries for a takedown but Petrov circles away easily

and Petrov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Roman trying to keep a closed guard but Petrov is proving a slippery customer.
Petrov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Petrov is looking to stand up but Roman won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roman keeping busy on the bottom but Petrov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Petrov is just content to waste time from the top position. Roman takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Roman is looking to stand up but Petrov isn't so interested in that idea.
Petrov trying to control but Roman is working from the bottom.
Petrov wants to stand but Roman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

An inside leg kick lands from Petrov.
Petrov looks to clinch
and Roman counters with a good low kick that Petrov was not able to check.

Petrov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Roman is looking to improve his position.
Petrov uses his free foot to push down on Roman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roman.
Petrov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Roman is looking to escape.
Roman is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Roman is breathing heavily.
Petrov controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Roman tries to free his leg and advance position but Petrov is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Petrov controlling Roman's posture.
Roman wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.
Petrov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Roman manages to get himself to full guard.

Roman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Roman has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Petrov has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman is trying to buck Petrov off.
You can see the frustration on Roman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Roman regains half guard.
Roman is trying to stand.
Roman trying to hold on to Petrov's head to control him but Petrov postures up.

Roman manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Roman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Petrov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Petrov scores a takedown into full mount!
Petrov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Roman is looking to escape.
Roman doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?

Petrov get's back to his feet.

Petrov drives through and clinches with Roman against the cage.
Roman tries to score a body lock takedown but Petrov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stalling in the clinch from Petrov.
Roman wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Petrov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Petrov closes the distance and clinches.
Petrov scores with a hook to the body.
Petrov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Roman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Petrov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Petrov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Petrov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Petrov trying to control the pace.

Petrov gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Petrov moves into range and clinches up with Roman.
Roman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Petrov drags the fight down to the ground.
Petrov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman tries to lock up and control but Petrov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Petrov working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Roman slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Roman tries to roll over but Petrov keeps him under control.
Petrov prevents Roman from standing back up.
Denis Petrov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Petrov is looking to take a break and control but Roman 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.
Roman is looking to control Petrov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roman avoid being mounted?

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.
Roman wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Roman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A cross from Roman lands.
Roman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Petrov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Petrov.
Petrov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Petrov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Roman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petrov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Petrov gets to his feet - Roman follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov shoots for a double leg takedown but Roman sprawls well. He's pushed Petrov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Petrov tries for a takedown but Roman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Petrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Roman counters with a low kick, right behind Petrov 's knee.
Petrov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Petrov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Roman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Petrov moves into the clinch.
Petrov prevents Roman from breaking the clinch.
Roman missing with knees to the body.
Roman tries to score a body lock takedown but Petrov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Petrov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Petrov.
Roman controls Petrov momentarily but Petrov frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov throws and elbow that misses. Roman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Petrov's guard. Nice move by Roman!

Roman gets to his feet. Petrov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Roman with a poor takedown

and Petrov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Roman wants to break free but Petrov has control.

Roman breaks the clinch.
Dmitrii Roman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roman throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Roman scores with a leg kick.
Petrov with a poor takedown

and Roman counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Roman decides to take the fight back to the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Petrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Roman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Petrov feints and as Roman raises his hands in defense, Petrov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dmitrii Roman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petrov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Petrov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Petrov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Petrov!