PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oj Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivanov has chosen HINO RUSSO as his entrance music. 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.

Simpson
vs
Ivanov

179 cm
32
183 lbs
24 - 7 - 1

180 cm
28
182 lbs
13 - 8 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 24 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Oj Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergei Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Ivanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ivanov just leaning against Simpson, taking a breather.
Ivanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Simpson misses with the head strike.
Ivanov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Simpson.
Ivanov lands with a left to the head.
Simpson slowing the pace effectively.
Ivanov tries to throw a body punch but Simpson avoids it by throwing Ivanov back against the cage.
Ivanov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Simpson blocks an uppercut.
Ivanov lands a right hand.
Ivanov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ivanov misses with a punch to the body.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson has a couple of punches blocked by Ivanov.
Simpson trying to stall but Ivanov improves his position.

Simpson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Simpson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson won't allow Ivanov to get back to his feet.
Ivanov trying to control the position here.
Simpson stops Ivanov from standing up.
Ivanov is controlling Simpson's posture.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sergei Ivanov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Simpson tries to clinch up but Ivanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Simpson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ivanov.
Simpson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ivanov moves away.
Ivanov swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Simpson blocks a body shot from Ivanov.
Come on Simpson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ivanov has Simpson pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ivanov avoiding damage as Simpson throws knees to the body.
Ivanov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Simpson's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Simpson.
Simpson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ivanov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Simpson struggles to land a body shot inside as Ivanov controls his hands.
Simpson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ivanov working aggressively here.
Ivanov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Simpson tries to throw a body punch but Ivanov avoids it by throwing Simpson back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Simpson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ivanov's brow.
Simpson tries a body shot but Ivanov blocks it.
Ivanov misses with the head strike.
Simpson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Simpson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ivanov is defending well for now.
A bit of stalling here from Ivanov.
A frustrated look appears on Ivanov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ivanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Simpson controls his hands.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ivanov's elbow.
Ivanov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ivanov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Simpson.
Ivanov has a couple of punches blocked by Simpson.
Ivanov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simpson can't find room to land a body shot as Ivanov controls the action.
Ivanov tries a body shot but Simpson blocks it.
Simpson tries to work over Ivanov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ivanov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ivanov misses with some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Simpson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ivanov's brow.
Simpson is leaning against Ivanov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ivanov is working Simpson over against the cage.
Simpson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ivanov after a bit of a struggle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Ivanov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Simpson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Simpson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Simpson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Ivanov rushes Simpson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ivanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Ivanov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ivanov.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ivanov.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ivanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Simpson controls his hands.
Ivanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Simpson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov has had enough of the clinch but Simpson keeps him there for the moment.
Simpson pushes off an throws an elbow but Ivanov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ivanov has had enough of the clinch but Simpson keeps him there for the moment.
Ivanov tries a body shot but Simpson blocks it.
Simpson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ivanov.
Ivanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Simpson has a couple of punches blocked by Ivanov.
Good body shot from Ivanov.
Simpson tries to land a knee to the head but Ivanov blocks with his arms.
Simpson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov trying to stall but Simpson improves his position.
Ivanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ivanov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Simpson up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Ivanov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ivanov.
Ivanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Simpson.
A right hand to the body from Ivanov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ivanov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ivanov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Simpson.
Simpson misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ivanov.
Simpson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to break the clinch but Simpson is controlling the position.
Ivanov lands a shot to the body.

Ivanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Ivanov.

Ivanov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ivanov avoids a wild elbow strike from Simpson.
Simpson keeps control of Ivanov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ivanov is struggling to control the position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ivanov.

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

Ivanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ivanov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Simpson is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to work over Simpson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Simpson struggles to land a body shot inside as Ivanov controls his hands.
Ivanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov can't break the clinch.
Ivanov is trying to break the clinch but Simpson is controlling him.
Simpson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simpson prevents a body shot from Ivanov.
Ivanov takes a shot to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ivanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Ivanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Simpson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ivanov misses with a wild combination.
Ivanov swings for the body but Simpson moves out of range.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Ivanov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ivanov avoids a wild elbow strike from Simpson.
Simpson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ivanov avoids it.
Simpson being controlled against the cage.
Ivanov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ivanov is trying to push Simpson away but Simpson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Simpson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ivanov's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov lands with a left to the head.
Ivanov'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.
Sergei Ivanov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Simpson digs a right hand into Ivanov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ivanov's gas tank.
Ivanov prevents the takedown attempt.
Simpson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Simpson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ivanov is defending well for now.
Ivanov lands a right hand.
Ivanov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Oj Simpson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson prevents a body shot from Ivanov.
Ivanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Simpson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Simpson misses with a hook to the ribs.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Simpson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Simpson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ivanov is defending well for now.
Ivanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Simpson controls his hands.

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

Ivanov closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Simpson blocks a body shot from Ivanov.
Simpson blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov taking a breather.
Simpson being controlled against the cage.
Simpson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ivanov blocks a body shot from Simpson.
Sergei Ivanov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ivanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Simpson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ivanov lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov leaning against his opponent.
Simpson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Simpson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ivanov is defending well for now.
Nice body punch from Ivanov - that landed with a thud.
Simpson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Simpson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivanov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Simpson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ivanov is defending well for now.
Simpson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Ivanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ivanov 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Ivanov!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Sergei Ivanov made sure he mentioned Hellraiser Fightgear ($10 and above), along with how happy he was to win his fight.