PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sebastian Belousov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Strike Hearth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Sebastian Belousov has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sebastian Belousov seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Belousov
vs
Hearth

178 cm
25
150 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

160 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Sebastian Belousov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Strike Hearth!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belousov shoots in for a double leg but Hearth sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hearth ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Belousov tries to clinch but Hearth is having none of it.
Belousov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hearth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Belousov.

Belousov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Belousov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hearth is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Belousov is controlling him well.

Belousov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hearth is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Belousov taking a break here but Hearth is having none of it and regains half guard.
Hearth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Belousov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearth manages to get to full guard.
Hearth wants to sweep here but Belousov controlling him for the moment.
Belousov throws an elbow that misses. Hearth uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belousov's guard. Nice move by Hearth!
Hearth stops Belousov from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belousov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hearth can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Belousov wants to stand and escape but Hearth is having none of it.
Hearth must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belousov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hearth won't allow Belousov to get back to his feet.
Hearth controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Strike Hearth.
Hearth stuffs the takedown attempt from Belousov. Belousov gets slowly back to his feet.
Belousov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Belousov tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearth cracks Belousov with a right hand to the side of the head.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Belousov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Belousov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belousov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hearth is fending him off so far but Belousov persists. Nope, Hearth circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body punch from Hearth.
Hearth just misses with a punch to the body.
Belousov closes the distance looking to clinch
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Hearth counters with an outside leg kick.
Belousov looks for a takedown but Hearth sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belousov wants to clinch up but Hearth keeps it at a distance.
Hearth blocks a low kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Belousov dominated that round.
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.

Hearth keeps the fight on the outside.
Belousov dives in and grabs Hearth's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hearth pushes down on Belousov's head and hops out.
Hearth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Belousov was well out of range. Poor timing from Hearth.
Hearth throws a body punch but Belousov moves out of range.
Hearth loads up on a big right hand but Belousov slips the punch.
Hearth swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Belousov.
Hearth lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Belousov backs up against the cage.
Belousov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hearth swivels and escapes.
Hearth with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Good leg kick by Hearth there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hearth lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hearth cracks Belousov with an open hand slap.
Belousov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Belousov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belousov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sebastian Belousov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belousov closes the distance but Hearth moves to the side
and Hearth counters with a nice low kick that buckles Belousov's knee momentarily.
Hearth swats away the attempt to clinch by Belousov.
Hearth swings for the body but Belousov moves out of range.
Belousov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belousov shoots for a double leg takedown but Hearth sprawls well. He's pushed Belousov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Belousov fails with the takedown
and Hearth makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Belousov looks for a takedown but Hearth sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belousov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hearth throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Belousov.
Hearth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Belousov.
Sebastian Belousov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hearth works Belousov's body with a nice hook.
Hearth swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hearth moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A combination from Hearth does no damage.
Belousov misses with a takedown attempt - Hearth sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Belousov with a poor takedown
and Hearth counters with a left to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hearth!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belousov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hearth avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belousov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hearth clobbers Belousov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Belousov moves in looking to clinch but Hearth pushes him off.
Belousov goes for a double leg but Hearth avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hearth continues to drive forward.
Belousov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hearth gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hearth breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circling - Hearth throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hearth is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Belousov rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice defenses there by Belousov.
Hearth misses with a jab to the body
and Hearth takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belousov wants to clinch up but Hearth keeps it at a distance.
Hearth misses with a few strikes there.
Hearth throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Belousov.
Belousov dodges the punch combination from Hearth.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belousov.
Belousov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hearth just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from Hearth misses.
Hearth throws the left hand but Belousov avoids the punch easily.
Hearth lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Strike Hearth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Belousov shoots in for a takedown but Hearth shows good takedown defense.
Belousov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A jab from Hearth misses.
Hearth lands the left hand.
Hearth fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Belousov on the side of the head.
Hearth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hearth throws a hook to the side of Belousov's head but Belousov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hearth lands with a nice combination. Belousov backs away looking to recover.
Hearth is looking to chop away at Belousov's legs.
Strike Hearth seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Belousov dodges the punch combination from Hearth.
Hearth lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hearth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearth looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Belousov goes for a double leg but Hearth avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hearth continues to drive forward.

Hearth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A big left from Hearth misses.
Some wild striking there from Hearth.
Hearth fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Belousov on the side of the head.
Belousov shoots in looking for a takedown. Hearth tries to sprawl out of it but Belousov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hearth manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Belousov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hearth throws a leg kick but Belousov sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearth connects with a nice looking jab.
Strike Hearth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Hearth as Belousov shoots in.
Belousov shoots in looking for a takedown. Hearth tries to sprawl out of it but Belousov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hearth manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hearth tries to score with a low kick but Belousov moves his leg out of the way.
Belousov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hearth swivels and escapes.
Belousov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hearth throws a nice inside leg kick.
Belousov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belousov fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearth scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hearth wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Belousov darts in looking for a takedown but Hearth gets double underhooks and turns Belousov into the cage.
Belousov has had enough of the clinch but Hearth keeps him there for the moment.

Hearth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hearth takes a swing at Belousov's ribcage but misses.
Belousov dives in and grabs Hearth's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hearth pushes down on Belousov's head and hops out.
Belousov throws a head kick but Hearth moves out of range.
Hearth thows a left - swing and a miss!
Belousov checks a leg kick.
Hearth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hearth misses with a hook

and Belousov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hearth!

That's four 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!
You can see the frustration on Hearth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hearth is working to avoid the ground and pound but Belousov connects with a decent elbow.

Belousov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hearth, who protects the arm well.
Belousov throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hearth works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hearth trying to hold on to Belousov's head to control him but Belousov postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Strike Hearth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hearth has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Strike Hearth!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Strike Hearth!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Strike Hearth!

Strike Hearth wins by unanimous decision!