PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Artem Blinovs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viggo Viola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Blinovs
vs
Viola

192 cm
21
177 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

200 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Blinovs!
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, Viggo Viola!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Blinovs misses.
Blinovs throws a lazy right hand but Viola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blinovs tests Viola's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Blinovs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Blinovs tries to bum rush Viola with a series of wild strikes but Viola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Viola moves out of range of the strikes.
Blinovs throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Viola.

It looks like Viggo Viola has been cut.

Blinovs gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Blinovs wants to stand up but Viola is controlling him.
Blinovs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viola throws a strike but Blinovs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Blinovs would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Viola seems keen to control Blinovs's posture.
Blinovs tries to stand but Viola is controlling from the bottom.
Blinovs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Viola working a defensive guard here.

Blinovs stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Viola misses with the combination.

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.
Sloppy strikes from Blinovs. Those never looked like landing.
Sloppy strikes from Blinovs. Those never looked like landing.
Viola misses with a low kick.
Viola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blinovs.
Viola steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blinovs.
Viola motions for Blinovs to come forward. Viola throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Viola throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Viola scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Blinovs blocking the ground and pound attempt from Viola.
Viola scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blinovs missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viola throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Viola sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blinovs defending well though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Viola working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Blinovs moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Viola postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Viola trying to control the position from guard on top but Blinovs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blinovs working a defensive guard here.
Viola scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viola lands a couple of elbows.
Blinovs keeping moving, preventing Viola from controlling successfully.
Blinovs is breathing heavily.
Viola throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Viola's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Viola throws a strike but Blinovs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Viola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Blinovs is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Viola pulls his head out easily.
Blinovs is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Viola scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Viggo Viola will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Viggo Viola's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blinovs moves out of range as Viola strikes.
Viola checks a leg kick nicely.
Viola slips under a jab from Blinovs.
Blinovs misses with a series of wild punches.
Viola defending well as Blinovs loads up on a big left hand.
Viola throws the left hand but Blinovs avoids the punch easily.
Blinovs misses with a hook. Viola ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viola on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Blinovs misses with a body kick.
Viola throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Artem Blinovs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viola throws a hook but Blinovs blocks it.
Blinovs misses with a double jab.
Blinovs ducks under a wild hook from Viola.
A looping hook to the body misses from Viola. Blinovs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blinovs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Viola moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blinovs moves out of range as Viola strikes.
Blinovs thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blinovs misses with a looping left.
Blinovs misses the shot to the body.
Viola keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blinovs.
Viola showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blinovs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blinovs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Viola misses with a straight right.
Viola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blinovs.
Blinovs throws a looping overhand right but Viola ducks down to avoid it.
Blinovs blocks a jab.
Viola fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blinovs avoids it really well and circles away.
Viola rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blinovs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blinovs moves out of range as Viola strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blinovs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blinovs misses with a straight right.
Blinovs lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Viola misses the jab.
A combination from Blinovs does no damage.
Viola throws a hook but Blinovs blocks it.
Viola thows a leg kick but Blinovs checks it
and Blinovs counters with a nice uppercut.
Blinovs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Viola.
Blinovs misses with a double jab.
Blinovs throws a lazy right hand but Viola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Viola throws a shot from downtown. Blinovs moves away and avoids it.

That's four 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.

Viola looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Violais looking to pass into half guard but Blinovs pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Blinovs is in guard.
Blinovs would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Viola wants to sweep here but Blinovs controlling him for the moment.
Viola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blinovs's guard.
Viola landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blinovs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Viola.
Viola thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Artem Blinovs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Viggo Viola's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Viola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blinovs staying out of range there.
Blinovs cracks Viola with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Blinovs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Viola.
Viola throws a leg kick that misses.
Viola misses with an uppercut.
Artem Blinovs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blinovs throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Viola looks to land a left hand but Blinovs moved out of range nicely.
Blinovs scores with a jab to the head.
Blinovs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Viola.
Viola throws a looping overhand right but Blinovs ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blinovs displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Viola throws out the jab.
Blinovs loads up on a big right hand but Viola slips the punch.
Blinovs blocks a jab.
Blinovs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blinovs wants it to stay on the feet.
Blinovs swings for the body but Viola moves out of range.
Viola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Viola avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blinovs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Viola.
Blinovs scores with a jab.

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.
Blinovs throws a series of punches but Viola moves out of range.
Blinovs throws a body punch but Viola moves out of range.
Blinovs misses with a series of wild punches.
Blinovs avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blinovs looks to throw the jab but Viola is out of range.
Viola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Viola drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Blinovs is looking for a sweep.
Viola cracks Blinovs with a big right hand but Blinovs just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blinovs struggling a bit here.
Viola trying to control the position but Blinovs is working away.
Blinovs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Viola landing a few strikes.
Viggo Viola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blinovs is working to avoid the ground and pound but Viola connects with a decent elbow.
Viola cracks Blinovs with a big elbow.
Blinovs is looking for a sweep.
Viola lands some shots froms side control.
Viola trying to control the position but Blinovs is working away.
Viola cracks Blinovs with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viola working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Viola lands a decent elbow from side control.
Viola scores with a couple of short elbows.
Blinovs wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Viola connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Blinovs some visible discomfort.
Blinovs prevents Viola from moving into mount.
Blinovs is trying to get back to half guard.
Viola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blinovs keeps working.
Viola scoring with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viggo Viola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Viola 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Viggo Viola!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Viggo Viola!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Viggo Viola!

Viggo Viola wins by unanimous decision!