PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vatslav Borisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giant John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borisov comes into the arena with Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky blaring out of the sound system. Giant John will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Borisov
vs
John

192 cm
26
289 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
27
323 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vatslav Borisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Giant John!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
John scores with a punch to the head.
John throws a series of punches but Borisov avoids them all with ease.
John jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Borisov tries for a takedown but John sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Borisov walks into a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
John shoots in and drives through. Borisov sprawls well.

Borisov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into John's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Borisov throwing strikes from guard but John blocks nicely.
Borisov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
John really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Borisov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
John has his hands on Borisov's head, controlling the position.
John working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Borisov.
Borisov wants to control from the top but John keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vatslav Borisov.
John digs a good body shot into Borisov's ribs.
John lands with a right hand.
Borisov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
John lands with a right hand.
Borisov is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
John will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
John misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
John lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
John tries to score a power double leg takedown but Borisov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten John somewhat.
Vatslav Borisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giant John.
Borisov defending well as John loads up on a big left hand.

Borisov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
John seems keen to control Borisov's posture.

Borisov drops back looking for a leg! John is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and John manages to kick Borisov off! Borisov jumps back into John's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if John can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
John keeping moving, preventing Borisov from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borisov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
John manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Borisov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. John manages to get himself to full guard.
John is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Borisov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Borisov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
John controls Borisov momentarily but Borisov frees himself.
Borisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Borisov 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as John works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Borisov is looking to work some ground and pound but John has wrist control.
Borisov is pushing down on John's leg trying to pass to half guard. John is fighting to maintain full guard but Borisov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Borisov wants to take a breather but John is having none of it.
John has hold of Borisov's hands but Borisov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Borisov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Borisov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
John avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Borisov.
Borisov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Giant John will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

John gets caught flat footed, as Borisov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
John controls Borisov momentarily but Borisov frees himself.
Borisov landing with the ground and pound.
Borisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Borisov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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

Borisov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
John wants to stand and escape but Borisov is having none of it.

Borisov drops back looking for a leg! John is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and John manages to kick Borisov off! Borisov jumps back into John's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Borisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov advances to half guard.
Borisov stalling.
John wants to control but Borisov passes into side.

Borisov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borisov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
John avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Borisov.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
John is not content to let Borisov control the position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Borisov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Borisov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but John is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
John is looking for a sweep.
Borisov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
You can see the frustration on John's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Borisov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Borisov lands a nice forearm strike.
Borisov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
John taking a bit of punishment here - Borisov scoring with strikes.
The strikes coming from Borisov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Borisov lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Borisov decides to stand back up.
Giant John seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Borisov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Borisov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics John uses from the top position.
Borisov is controlling John's posture.
John looking to sit in guard and control but Borisov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borisov advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vatslav Borisov dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

John gets caught napping as Borisov dives in and scores a takedown. John manages to retain guard.
Borisov trying to control but John is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Borisov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Borisov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Borisov moves in looking to clinch but John pushes him off.
Borisov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Borisov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and John connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Borisov scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
John tests Borisov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
John does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Borisov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A head kick misses from John.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borisov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Borisov tries for a takedown but John sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
John throws a series of punches but Borisov avoids them all with ease.
Borisov fails with a takedown attempt.
John stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sloppy strikes from John. Those never looked like landing.

Borisov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. John manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Borisov is looking to work some ground and pound but John has wrist control.
Borisov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Borisov scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Borisov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vatslav Borisov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Borisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Borisov trying to control but John is working from the bottom.
John utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Borisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Borisov wants to control from the top but John keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Borisov distracts John with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is stalling in the full guard.
Borisov postures up in John's guard and throws a big left but John blocks it.
Borisov is pushing down on John's leg trying to pass to half guard. John is fighting to maintain full guard but Borisov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Borisov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Borisov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Borisov moves into full mount! John won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Borisov landing strikes from the mount and John is in trouble!
Borisov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Borisov raining down hammerfists from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Borisov has control of John's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and John regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
John tries to hold on but Borisov postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vatslav Borisov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Borisov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vatslav Borisov!
Vatslav Borisov really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Next Level Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.