PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erik Ironson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladmir Ivanova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ironson
vs
Ivanova

181 cm
20
173 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

[GTI] Divine Clothing

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Erik Ironson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladmir Ivanova!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ironson moves into the clinch.

Ironson successfully pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ironson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ironson, not yet.
Ivanova missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ironson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ivanova is aware though and is defending well.
Ivanova is stalling in the full guard.
Ironson is trying to control the position but Ivanova postures up.
Ironson keeping moving, preventing Ivanova from controlling successfully.
Ivanova stays in close to Ironson's body and controls the position.
Ivanova pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ironson is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vladmir Ivanova was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ivanova takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A good leg kick by Ironson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ivanova shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ironson is trying to defend but Ivanova finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ivanova missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ivanova content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ironson trying to control here.

Ironson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Ironson instigates a clinch.
Ivanova is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ironson wants to break the clinch but can't.
A nice left hand lands by Ivanova.

Ironson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ivanova duly obliges.
Vladmir Ivanova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ivanova closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ironson did well to prevent Ivanova getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Ironson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ironson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ivanova.
Ivanova thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ironson's head.
Ivanova scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ivanova sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ironson defending well though.
Ivanova scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ivanova is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ivanova wants to stand but Ironson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ironson trying to control from the bottom.
Ivanova scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ivanova wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ironson keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova working Ironson over with strikes.
Ivanova trying to control the pace.
Ivanova not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ivanova missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ivanova lands strikes from half guard.
Ivanova is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ivanova is looking to take a break and control but Ironson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ivanova lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ironson missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova 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.
Ivanova slows the pace down in half guard.
Ironson wants to get back to his feet.
Ironson moves into full guard.
Ironson keeping moving, preventing Ivanova from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ironson wants to get back to his feet but Ivanova is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanova accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ironson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ivanova.

Ironson moves into the clinch successfully.
Ironson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ivanova avoids it.
Ivanova lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ironson or not.

Ironson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ivanova shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ironson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ivanova controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ivanova working some strikes from top position.
Ivanova throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ironson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ivanova in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ivanova advances to half guard.
Ivanova not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanova tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ivanova landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ironson wants to get back to full guard.
Ivanova not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ivanova perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ivanova lands strikes from half guard.
Ironson is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ivanova trying to control the action but Ironson is working from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ivanova lands a nice short elbow.
Ivanova takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ivanova looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ironson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ironson trying to hold on to Ivanova's head to control him but Ivanova postures up.
Ivanova winds up and cracks Ironson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ivanova is trying to control the action in half guard but Ironson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ivanova is looking to stall here but Ironson recovers full guard.
Ironson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ivanova passes Ironson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ivanova working over Ironson with some ground and pound. Ironson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ironson has hold of Ivanova's hands but Ivanova slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ironson is refusing to be controlled, as Ivanova sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ironson's head.
Ivanova drops an elbow to the side of Ironson's head.
Ivanova takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ironson wants to control but Ivanova is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ivanova in particular looking to stall.
Ivanova is just content to waste time from the top position. Ironson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ivanova trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanova accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ivanova prevents Ironson from getting back to his feet.
Ivanova is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova distracts Ironson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ivanova trying to control but Ironson is working from the bottom.
Ivanova landing with the ground and pound.
Ivanova throws a big right hand that misses.
Ivanova chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ivanova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ironson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivanova with a nice head shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ironson keeping moving, preventing Ivanova from controlling successfully.
Ivanova is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladmir Ivanova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ivanova drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ivanova is trying to move to mount but Ironson reverses beautifully and ends up in Ivanova's guard.

Ironson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Ivanova shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ivanova thows a huge punch but Ironson dodges it nicely.
Ivanova seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ironson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ivanova pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ironson is keeping the position for now.
Ironson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ivanova is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ironson is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ivanova is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ironson is aware though and is defending well.
Ironson prevents Ivanova from getting back to his feet.
Ironson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova wants to stand and escape but Ironson is having none of it.
Ironson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ivanova is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ivanova wants to control but Ironson passes easily into half guard.
Ironson looks to land a strike but Ivanova avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ivanova is trying to hold Ironson in close to prevent damage but Ironson has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ironson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ivanova wants to control but Ironson is keeping busy.
Ivanova pushes Ironson off but Ironson dives into side control.
Ironson is looking to take a break and control but Ivanova is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ivanova is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanova is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ironson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ivanova is concentrating on defense, preventing Ironson from advancing position.

Ivanova manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nice takedown defense from Ivanova. No joy for Ironson on that attempt.
Ironson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ivanova is fending him off so far but Ironson persists. Nope, Ivanova circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ironson keeps the fight on the outside.

Ivanova shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Erik Ironson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladmir Ivanova is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Ironson can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladmir Ivanova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ivanova 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladmir Ivanova!
A relieved looking Vladmir Ivanova thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.