PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ian McCluskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Lobanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McCluskey
vs
Lobanov

187 cm
18
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ian McCluskey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sasha Lobanov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lobanov takes the fight into the clinch.
McCluskey has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lobanov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lobanov goes for a takedown attempt but McCluskey pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McCluskey misses with a head kick.
McCluskey tries to clinch there but Lobanov circles away.
Lobanov keeps the fight on the outside.
McCluskey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lobanov.

McCluskey scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lobanov looks gassed!

McCluskey tries for a kimura but Lobanov is defending well.
McCluskey is looking to take a break and control but Lobanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCluskey tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McCluskey is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lobanov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
McCluskey in side control, throwing shots but Lobanov defends.

McCluskey tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

McCluskey looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two 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.
McCluskey laying and praying for a moment but Lobanov takes advantage and regains half guard.
Lobanov trying to control from the bottom.
McCluskey moves into full mount! Lobanov won't be happy about that!
McCluskey trying to control but Lobanov is having none of it.

McCluskey working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCluskey looking for a guillotine from mount but Lobanov is having none of it.
McCluskey wants to control the pace but Lobanov is squirming around nicely.
Lobanov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

McCluskey wants to finish this one by submission but Lobanov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McCluskey.
Lobanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
McCluskey trying to control but Lobanov is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lobanov can't escape the position.
McCluskey working away from the top, dropping strikes.

McCluskey looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Lobanov stops McCluskey from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lobanov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lobanov is in trouble now - McCluskey has advanced to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian McCluskey 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.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lobanov.

McCluskey has Lobanov up against the cage in a clinch.

McCluskey pulls guard.
Lobanov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McCluskey working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCluskey wants to stand but Lobanov is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCluskey has a closed guard, preventing Lobanov from standing up.
McCluskey controlling Lobanov's posture.
McCluskey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lobanov's 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.
McCluskey working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McCluskey trying to control but Lobanov is working from the bottom.
McCluskey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lobanov is keeping the position for now.
McCluskey passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lobanov is looking to reverse the position.
Lobanov prevents McCluskey from improving position.
McCluskey is looking to take a break and control but Lobanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

McCluskey tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McCluskey has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobanov wants to control but McCluskey postures up.
McCluskey tries to move to mount but Lobanov blocks the move with his legs.
Lobanov can't do much from the bottom here.

McCluskey is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lobanov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCluskey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lobanov sprawls well. Lobanov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCluskey gets slowly back to his feet.

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.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lobanov.
McCluskey shoots and misses

and Lobanov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lobanov.
Lobanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lobanov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lobanov looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCluskey is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sasha Lobanov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lobanov feints and as McCluskey raises his hands in defense, Lobanov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McCluskey is looking to stand up but Lobanov isn't so interested in that idea.
Lobanov tries to stand but McCluskey is controlling from the bottom.
McCluskey is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lobanov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCluskey wants to stand but Lobanov is controlling the position.
McCluskey is controlling Lobanov's posture.
McCluskey is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lobanov is controlling him.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lobanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McCluskey counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lobanov's guard now.
McCluskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Lobanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lobanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but McCluskey is one step ahead there.
McCluskey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McCluskey wants to control from the top but Lobanov keeps moving.
McCluskey slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCluskey tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lobanov's legs.

McCluskey is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lobanov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lobanov trying to remain calm as McCluskey controls from the top position.
McCluskey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lobanov keeps working.
Lobanov struggling a bit here.
Ian McCluskey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lobanov tries to bench press McCluskey off him but McCluskey keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

McCluskey is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lobanov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lobanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McCluskey misses with a knee to the head.

McCluskey jumps into guard, dragging Lobanov to the mat.
Lobanov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McCluskey is proving hard to escape from.
McCluskey wants to stand and escape but Lobanov is having none of it.
Lobanov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ian McCluskey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCluskey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian McCluskey!