PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Deki Stankovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stankovic comes to the cage accompanied by Kosovo-Vidovdan. Ivanov has chosen Cowboys from Hell as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Stankovic
vs
Ivanov

173 cm
23
163 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

167 cm
24
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Resistance

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Deki Stankovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Ivanov closes the distance and clinches.
Stankovic tries to score a body lock takedown but Ivanov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ivanov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Stankovic has clasped his hands together around Ivanov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanov dodges the ground and pound from Stankovic.
Stankovic trying to control the position but Ivanov is working away.
A lull in the action here as Stankovic stalls from top position.
Ivanov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Stankovic tries for a kimura but Ivanov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankovic tries to advance to mount but Ivanov denies him.

Stankovic goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ivanov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Stankovic but great work by Ivanov.
Stankovic tries to bench press Ivanov off him but Ivanov keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stankovic is working hard here to advance position.
Ivanov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Stankovic is avoiding damage well.
Stankovic is trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ivanov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stankovic digs a good body shot into Ivanov's ribs.

Stankovic clinches.
Ivanov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stankovic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Stankovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ivanov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Stankovic has clasped his hands together around Ivanov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Stankovic lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ivanov down.
Stankovic in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Stankovic stands up.
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stankovic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ivanov thinking.
Ivanov looks gassed!
Ivanov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stankovic connects with a looping right hand.

Ivanov takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deki Stankovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stankovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ivanov prevents it.
Ivanov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stankovic is defending well for now.
Ivanov tries a body shot but Stankovic blocks it.
Stankovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ivanov prevents it.
Ivanov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stankovic gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Stankovic jumps into guard, dragging Ivanov to the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stankovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stankovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Stankovic pushes Ivanov off and gets back to his feet.
Stankovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
An inside leg kick from Stankovic misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stankovic.

Stankovic clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stankovic gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ivanov regains guard.
Stankovic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stankovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stankovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stankovic thows a big elbow that misses.
Stankovic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stankovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deki Stankovic dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stankovic darts in and clinches Ivanov up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stankovic.
Stankovic tries to pull guard but Ivanov won't allow it.
Ivanov misses with a knee to the head.

Stankovic has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ivanov is trying to keep an underhook but Stankovic manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Stankovic is working for a kimura but Ivanov is defending it quite comfortably.

Stankovic decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ivanov is breathing heavily.
Stankovic circles away from the clinch attempt

so Stankovic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Stankovic from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Stankovic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stankovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ivanov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stankovic looking to pass the guard.

Stankovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A punch combination from Ivanov misses.

Stankovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Stankovic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ivanov walks away with a smile on his face. Stankovic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stankovic moves into range and connects with a jab.

Stankovic darts in and clinches Ivanov up against the cage.
Stankovic tries for a takedown but Ivanov manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deki Stankovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stankovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ivanov prevents it.

Stankovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stankovic tries to bum rush Ivanov with a series of wild strikes but Ivanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ivanov tries to clinch but Stankovic moves away
and Stankovic counters with a two punch combo.
Stankovic uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Stankovic scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stankovic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stankovic thows a huge punch but Ivanov dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stankovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Stankovic stands up from half guard.
Stankovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A right-left combo lands from Stankovic.

Stankovic shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ivanov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stankovic working the head and body with strikes.
Stankovic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ivanov is not content to let Stankovic control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to get back to his feet.
Ivanov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Stankovic.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stankovic working the head and body with strikes.

Stankovic thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Stankovic stands up and beckons Ivanov to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deki Stankovic dominated that second round.
That's time! Stankovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stankovic looks to land a combination but Ivanov avoids it well.
Ivanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Stankovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stankovic stuns Ivanov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ivanov tries to clinch up
and Stankovic counters with a two punch combo.
Stankovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Stankovic scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ivanov tries to clinch up
and Stankovic counters with a two punch combo.
Stankovic thuds his right hand into Ivanov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Stankovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stankovic is looking to take a break and control but Ivanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stankovic wants to take a breather but Ivanov is having none of it.
Stankovic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ivanov!
Stankovic punching from mount but Ivanov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Stankovic with the ground and pound from mount.
Stankovic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ivanov is squirming around, avoiding Stankovic's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
BOOM! Stankovic connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Stankovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ivanov can do to turn this around?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stankovic cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Stankovic.
Deki Stankovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stankovic looking to control but Ivanov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stankovic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Stankovic 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.
Stankovic controlling the pace for now.
Stankovic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ivanov's face.
Stankovic lands with some strikes.
Stankovic lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Ivanov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stankovic scoring with strikes but Ivanov is staying in there.
Ivanov taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Ivanov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic landing strikes from the mount and Ivanov is in trouble!

Stankovic with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stankovic with shots to the head and body - Ivanov looks very uncomfortable down there.

Ivanov is rocked!
Stankovic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stankovic unloads with some shots from mount but Ivanov bucks and avoids them well.
Nikolai Ivanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stankovic unloading with bombs!

And that's the end of the fight!
Deki Stankovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stankovic, 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 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deki Stankovic!