PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Izet Sadikovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Voronkoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Voronkoff has chosen System of a Down-Aerials as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sadikovic
vs
Voronkoff

205 cm
25
281 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
24
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Izet Sadikovic!
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, Andrey Voronkoff!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sadikovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Voronkoff is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sadikovic can't fight it off and eventually Voronkoff manages to take the fight to the floor. Sadikovic looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sadikovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Voronkoff is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Voronkoff stands up over Sadikovic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Voronkoff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Voronkoff wants to pass the guard but Sadikovic is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronkoff is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andrey Voronkoff hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sadikovic tries to clinch but Voronkoff moves away

and Voronkoff counters by clinching up.
Sadikovic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Voronkoff is defending well for now.
Voronkoff fails to pull guard.
Sadikovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Voronkoff avoids the damage to the body.
Voronkoff avoiding damage as Sadikovic throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Voronkoff breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Izet Sadikovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Voronkoff has Sadikovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Voronkoff fails to pull guard.
Voronkoff wants a takedown but no success here.
Izet Sadikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Voronkoff.
Voronkoff managing to block the knees to the body from Sadikovic.
Voronkoff holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Voronkoff changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sadikovic fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Sadikovic gets caught flat footed, as Voronkoff shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sadikovic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sadikovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sadikovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Voronkoff.
Sadikovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Voronkoff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sadikovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Voronkoff controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Izet Sadikovic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Voronkoff closes the distance and pushes Sadikovic back into the cage.
Sadikovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Voronkoff avoids the damage to the body.
Voronkoff just leaning against Sadikovic, taking a breather.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Voronkoff is trying to pull guard but Sadikovic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Voronkoff 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.

Voronkoff pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Voronkoff misses with a jab to the body

and Sadikovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Voronkoff is trying to break free.
Voronkoff working hard to break the clinch.
Voronkoff drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sadikovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Voronkoff tries to pull guard but Sadikovic won't allow it.
Sadikovic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Voronkoff is defending well for now.
Voronkoff's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronkoff drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sadikovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Izet Sadikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Voronkoff.

Voronkoff breaks from the clinch.
Sadikovic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Voronkoff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sadikovic won't be happy with that.
Sadikovic tries to buck Voronkoff off but Voronkoff is having none of it.
Sadikovic is trying to control Voronkoff's posture but Voronkoff avoids it.
Voronkoff is staying tight to Sadikovic's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sadikovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Voronkoff moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Voronkoff trying to control the action but Sadikovic is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Andrey Voronkoff wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sadikovic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Voronkoff counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Voronkoff.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronkoff wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sadikovic has him pressed against the cage.
Voronkoff lands with a left to the head.
Sadikovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Voronkoff avoids the damage to the body.
Voronkoff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Voronkoff jumps guard but Sadikovic stands there with Voronkoff around his waist. Voronkoff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sadikovic avoiding damage as Voronkoff throws knees to the body.
Sadikovic trying to land knees to the body.
Sadikovic trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voronkoff has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sadikovic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Voronkoff is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sadikovic can't fight it off and eventually Voronkoff manages to take the fight to the floor. Sadikovic looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Voronkoff working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sadikovic controls Voronkoff momentarily but Voronkoff frees himself.
Voronkoff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sadikovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sadikovic trying to keep a closed guard but Voronkoff is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Voronkoff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sadikovic darts in trying to clinch

and Voronkoff counters by clinching up.
Sadikovic prevents a takedown attempt there.
Voronkoff tries to break free but Sadikovic pushes him back against the cage.

Voronkoff tightens his grip and picks Sadikovic up, before dumping him to the ground. Sadikovic manages to land in guard.
Voronkoff trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sadikovic's guard.
Voronkoff engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronkoff trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sadikovic's guard.
Sadikovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Voronkoff circles away from the clinch attempt.
Voronkoff looks for a takedown but Sadikovic sprawls well.
Sadikovic closes the distance looking to clinch

and Voronkoff counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Voronkoff.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voronkoff can't break the clinch.
Sadikovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Voronkoff avoids the damage to the body.
Voronkoff has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sadikovic after a bit of a struggle.
Izet Sadikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Voronkoff.
Voronkoff leaning his opponent against the cage.
Voronkoff is trying to force a seperation but Sadikovic has the dominant position.
Sadikovic dodges an elbow strike from Voronkoff.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronkoff pressing his opponent against the cage.
Voronkoff can't break the clinch.
Sadikovic prevents Voronkoff from breaking the clinch.
Sadikovic lands a nice knee to the body.
Sadikovic keeps control of Voronkoff as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Voronkoff is trying to pull guard but Sadikovic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sadikovic trying to land knees to the body.
Sadikovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Voronkoff.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Voronkoff is trying to pull guard but Sadikovic has him pressed against the cage.
Voronkoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Voronkoff on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Voronkoff is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Voronkoff with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Voronkoff tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sadikovic smiles and moves away.
Sadikovic tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Voronkoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Voronkoff 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Voronkoff!
Our winner, Andrey Voronkoff, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.