PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Boiko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boiko comes to the cage accompanied by shinedown - diamond eyes. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Boiko
vs
Phoenix

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Boiko!
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, Paul Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phoenix closes the distance and clinches.
Boiko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Boiko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice left hand lands by Phoenix.
Boiko is trying to break the clinch but Phoenix is controlling him.

Phoenix successfully pulls guard.

Phoenix has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Boiko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Phoenix is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Phoenix controlling Boiko's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boiko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Phoenix had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Boiko defends it easily.
Boiko postures up in Phoenix's guard and throws a big left but Phoenix blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boiko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boiko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Boiko trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boiko throws a big right hand that misses.
Phoenix managing to control the position.
Boiko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boiko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Boiko wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.
Phoenix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boiko trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
Boiko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Boiko tries to free his leg and advance position but Phoenix is retaining full guard.

Boiko drops back looking for a leg! Phoenix is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Phoenix manages to kick Boiko off! Boiko jumps back into Phoenix's guard.
Boiko is breathing heavily.
Boiko trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phoenix is adopting a defensive guard.
Boiko scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Phoenix has Boiko up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Phoenix is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Boiko's half guard.
Phoenix missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boiko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Boiko is trying to stand back up but Phoenix is controlling him
Boiko is trying is best to control the position here.
Phoenix keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nice strikes from Phoenix there.
Phoenix looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Phoenix working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Boiko's thigh. Boiko counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Phoenix postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Phoenix dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Phoenix is defended easily by Boiko.
Phoenix avoids a kick to the body.
Boiko fakes the leg kick and cracks Phoenix in the body.

Phoenix rushes Boiko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but Boiko holds him up against the cage and eventually Phoenix drops back down to his feet.
Phoenix looking to slow down the pace here.
Boiko is trying to break free.
Boiko wants to get back to striking at distance but Phoenix won't allow it.
Boiko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Phoenix breaks the clinch.
Boiko misses with a body kick.
Boiko moves in looking to clinch but Phoenix pushes him off.
Boiko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Phoenix moves in looking to clinch but Boiko pushes him off.
Ivan Boiko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phoenix fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boiko circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix doesn't manage to clinch there - Boiko circles away.
Boiko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Boiko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phoenix throws a push kick but Boiko slaps the foot to one side.
Boiko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boiko throws a head kick that misses.
Boiko gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Phoenix counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but Boiko won't allow it.
Ivan Boiko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Phoenix.

Phoenix successfully pulls guard.
Phoenix lands a decent shot there.
Boiko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phoenix is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Boiko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Boiko from controlling successfully.
Phoenix is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Boiko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boiko wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

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

Phoenix drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phoenix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Phoenix stands up and waves to Boiko to follow him.
Boiko throws a sloppy head kick

and Phoenix counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Phoenix wants to stand up but Boiko manages to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix postures up in Boiko's guard and throws a big left but Boiko blocks it.
Boiko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Phoenix sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Boiko scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Boiko moves in looking to clinch but Phoenix pushes him off.

Phoenix looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Boiko controls Phoenix momentarily but Phoenix frees himself.
Phoenix stops Boiko from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Phoenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Phoenix gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Phoenix is pressed up against the cage. Boiko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Phoenix down to the mat. Phoenix avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Phoenix tries to clinch but Boiko is having none of it.
Boiko gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Phoenix counters by moving into the clinch.
Boiko with a knee to the head.

Phoenix jumps guard and drags Boiko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Boiko is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Boiko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Boiko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Phoenix controlling Boiko's posture.
Boiko looking to pass the guard.
Phoenix pulls Boiko in to control the position.
Paul Phoenix has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boiko throwing strikes from guard but Phoenix blocks nicely.
Boiko trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a decent elbow from side control.
Boiko struggling a bit here.
Phoenix controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boiko tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Phoenix landing punches.
Boiko gets back to half guard.

Boiko is defending against the submission attempts here by Phoenix.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boiko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boiko wants to stand up but Phoenix is controlling him.

Phoenix decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Boiko, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Boiko catches Phoenix with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Phoenix looks to land a combination. Boiko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Phoenix closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Boiko breaks from the clinch.
Ivan Boiko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix is looking to clinch but Boiko is avoiding it.
Boiko throws a lazy body kick

and Phoenix counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Phoenix is stalling here. Boiko is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Phoenix seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Boiko has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Boiko working the ground and pound.
Ivan Boiko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Phoenix can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boiko landing strikes.
Phoenix tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Boiko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Phoenix is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Paul Phoenix is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boiko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Phoenix winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Phoenix!