PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oleh Zubar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scottie Ivanof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zubar
vs
Ivanof

183 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleh Zubar!
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, Scottie Ivanof!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zubar wants to clinch up but Ivanof keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ivanof.
Zubar misses with a looping left.
Zubar lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zubar stuffs the takedown.
Zubar lands a two punch combo.
Ivanof stuffs the takedown attempt from Zubar. Zubar gets slowly back to his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zubar.
Ivanof wants to clinch up but Zubar keeps it at a distance.
Ivanof misses with a takedown attempt
and Zubar counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ivanof is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Oleh Zubar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scottie Ivanof.

Zubar closes the distance and clinches.

Ivanof has picked Zubar up - he's going for a ride! Ivanof dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Zubar preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ivanof sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zubar defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zubar regains full guard. Nicely done.

Zubar working for a triangle but Ivanof defends it easily.
Zubar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ivanof throws a strike but Zubar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zubar wants to stand but Ivanof has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Zubar trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanof is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanof is looking to stand up but Zubar isn't so interested in that idea.
Zubar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ivanof is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zubar trying to control but Ivanof is working from the bottom.
Zubar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ivanof's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zubar is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ivanof doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zubar counters by moving into the clinch.
Zubar has Ivanof pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ivanof manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Ivanof pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zubar fails with a rather predictable takedown 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.
Nice cross by Zubar.
Ivanof keeps the fight on the outside.

Ivanof clinches up with Zubar and pushes him back against the cage.

Zubar manages to break the clinch.
Ivanof shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zubar makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Zubar tries to keep at a distance but Ivanof has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ivanof changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zubar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ivanof dives in and grabs Zubar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zubar pushes down on Ivanof's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleh Zubar dominated that round.
That's time! Zubar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zubar tries to keep at a distance but Ivanof has taken the fight into the clinch.

Zubar pulls Ivanof into guard.
Ivanof throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ivanof landing some decent shots from guard.
Ivanof distracts Zubar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ivanof pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zubar is keeping the position for now.

Ivanof avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ivanof is in close to Zubar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zubar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanof with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanof accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ivanof works over Zubar with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanof works over Zubar with some ground and pound from guard.
Ivanof postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ivanof working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zubar's head.
Ivanof landing with the ground and pound.
Ivanof won't allow Zubar to get back to his feet.
Ivanof won't allow Zubar to sweep him here.
Ivanof scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Ivanof got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zubar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ivanof has managed to get both his arms back between Zubar's legs - danger averted.
Ivanof keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zubar's head.

That's two 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.
Ivanof thows a big elbow that misses.
Ivanof stands up over Zubar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ivanof with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ivanof thows a big elbow that misses.
Zubar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Zubar looking for a guillotine here but Ivanof defends easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ivanof fails with the takedown.
Ivanof misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanof tries to close the distance and clinch but Zubar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ivanof has managed to clinch.
Ivanof wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zubar trying to control the position but instead, Ivanof has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zubar into the cage.
Ivanof slows down the pace here.
Ivanof wants to get back to striking at distance but Zubar won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zubar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ivanof is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ivanof tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ivanof is trying to force a seperation but Zubar has the dominant position.
Zubar tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ivanof just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zubar wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleh Zubar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanof wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ivanof lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zubar backwards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanof looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ivanof wants a takedown.
Ivanof tries for a takedown but Zubar manages to get underhooks.
Ivanof is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scottie Ivanof showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zubar darts in trying to clinch
and Ivanof counters with a three punch combo that has Zubar backing up. Zubar nods at Ivanof to acknowledge the strikes.
Ivanof misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zubar.
Zubar fails with the takedown.
Oleh Zubar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zubar lands with a slapping head kick.
Ivanof tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ivanof looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zubar!
Ivanof working Zubar over with strikes here.
Ivanof landing punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zubar tries to hold on but Ivanof pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zubar tries to reverse the position but Ivanof maintains control.
Ivanof is landing with some decent strikes but Zubar is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zubar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ivanof lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zubar hang on?
Zubar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ivanof unloading with bombs!
Zubar sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ivanof throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ivanof thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zubar wants to control but Ivanof is keeping busy.
Ground and pound from Ivanof.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Ivanof there.
Zubar pushes Ivanof off looking to stand but Ivanof dives back in and keeps control.
Zubar is trying to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ivanof connects with a nice short shot to Zubar's temple.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zubar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ivanof but Ivanof pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Ivanof moves into the clinch.
Ivanof stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zubar is trying to force a seperation but Ivanof has the dominant position.
Ivanof has Zubar pressed against the cage, preventing Zubar from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zubar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanof changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zubar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zubar dodges the punch combination from Ivanof.
Zubar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ivanof.
Zubar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ivanof swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleh Zubar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ivanof is defended easily by Zubar.
Ivanof misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zubar tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ivanof counters with a two punch combo.

Ivanof scores with a takedown into Zubar's guard.
Ivanof postures up.
Ivanof lands a couple of elbows.
Ivanof scoring with some ground and pound.
Ivanof throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zubar working a defensive guard here.
Ivanof works over Zubar with some ground and pound from guard.
Zubar controls Ivanof momentarily but Ivanof frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scottie Ivanof comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ivanof has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scottie Ivanof!