PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tricolor Paulista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivanov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mad World kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Artem Ivanov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Paulista
vs
Ivanov

181 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
28
150 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tricolor Paulista!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Artem Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ivanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ivanov is defended easily by Paulista.

Ivanov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Paulista wants to get back to full guard.
Ivanov is looking to advance position but Paulista won't allow it.
Ivanov moves into full mount! Paulista won't be happy about that!
Paulista is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Ivanov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ivanov content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulista is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulista is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Ivanov avoids the attempt from Paulista to control.
Paulista tries to reverse the position but Ivanov maintains control.
Ivanov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Paulista is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Ivanov controlling from the full mount.
Paulista can't escape the position.
Ivanov controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Ivanov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulista is trying desperately to improve position.
Ivanov content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paulista is desperately trying to improve his position but Ivanov has a good base and remains in mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paulista regains half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ivanov in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Artem Ivanov.

Ivanov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Paulista to the ground. Ivanov is now in Paulista's guard.

Paulista looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paulista looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paulista is breathing heavily.
Ivanov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Artem Ivanov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Paulista tries to close the distance and clinch but Ivanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ivanov shoots and misses
letting Paulista counter with a right hand.
Tricolor Paulista has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Ivanov.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown but Paulista shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Ivanov clinches.
Paulista is trying to push Ivanov away but Ivanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ivanov.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Paulista creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Paulista is looking to break free of the clinch but Ivanov has double underhooks.

Ivanov drags the fight down to the ground.
Ivanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paulista manages to get himself to full guard.

Paulista is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ivanov controls from within his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ivanov forces his way into half guard.
Ivanov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Paulista actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ivanov throws a hook to the side of Paulista's head but Paulista sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ivanov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Paulista to the ground. Ivanov is now in Paulista's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ivanov is stalling in the full guard.

Paulista escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ivanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Paulista is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Paulista escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ivanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ivanov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov shoots in for a double leg but Paulista sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ivanov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Paulista defends it nicely.
Paulista tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ivanov is defended easily by Paulista.
Tricolor Paulista has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Ivanov.
Paulista stuffs the takedown.
Ivanov is breathing heavily.
Paulista looks to clinch

and Ivanov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Paulista's guard now.

Ivanov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paulista has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ivanov has managed to get both his arms back between Paulista's legs - danger averted.

Paulista is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ivanov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ivanov won't allow Paulista to sweep him here.

Paulista is looking for a triangle but Ivanov pushes his legs off easily.
Ivanov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Artem Ivanov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Paulista wants to clinch.
Paulista jabs Ivanov to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paulista gets caught flat footed, as Ivanov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ivanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ivanov controlling from the top position.
Ivanov passes into half guard.
Ivanov content to control rather than advance.

Paulista looking for submissions off his back.
Ivanov trying to control the pace.
Artem Ivanov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Artem Ivanov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ivanov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Paulista avoids it really well and circles away.
Ivanov shoots in and drives through. Paulista sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ivanov rushes Paulista and presses him up against the cage.
Paulista prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ivanov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paulista avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Ivanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Paulista's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ivanov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Paulista but Paulista pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paulista tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ivanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paulista paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ivanov misses with a looping left.

Ivanov takes the fight into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Paulista.
Ivanov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ivanov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Paulista gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Paulista misses with the head strike.
Ivanov is trying to drag Paulista to the mat but Paulista just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tricolor Paulista has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Ivanov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulista misses with a knee to the head.
Ivanov looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Ivanov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ivanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ivanov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ivanov trying to control but Paulista is working from the bottom.

Paulista looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paulista keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Artem Ivanov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ivanov tries to clinch there but Paulista circles away.
Ivanov dives in and grabs Paulista's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paulista pushes down on Ivanov's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulista swinging wildly here.
Paulista scores with a hook to the body. Ivanov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ivanov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ivanov looks for a takedown but Paulista sprawls well.
Paulista misses with a two punch combination.
Ivanov shoots in for a double leg but Paulista sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ivanov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ivanov fails with the takedown.
Paulista fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov has a takedown stuffed.
Paulista tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paulista as he jumps to the side.
Paulista scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Paulista lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Paulista tries to clinch there but Ivanov circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ivanov.
Paulista tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ivanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paulista lands with a nice combination. Ivanov backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulista fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ivanov has his takedown stuffed
letting Paulista counter with a right hand.
Tricolor Paulista is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulista changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Paulista tries to clinch up but Ivanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Ivanov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paulista sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paulista throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Tricolor Paulista is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paulista throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ivanov.
Ivanov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Paulista swivels and escapes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paulista displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Paulista.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Tricolor Paulista did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Paulista is looking to clinch.
Ivanov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Ivanov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Paulista keeping full guard, as Ivanov tries to pass.
Ivanov stays in close to Paulista's body and controls the position.

Paulista is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Paulista is looking for a triangle but Ivanov pushes his legs off easily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Paulista looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Ivanov is defending well. Paulista quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Ivanov has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Paulista celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tricolor Paulista!
Tricolor Paulista is the new featherweight champion!