PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonid Spartak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Dolbakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spartak
vs
Dolbakov

225 cm
27
302 lbs
6 - 14 - 0

193 cm
31
289 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
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 6 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonid Spartak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dolbakov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dolbakov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Spartak has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dolbakov uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Spartak working for a triangle but Dolbakov defends it easily.
Dolbakov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dolbakov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Spartak is proving hard to escape from.
Spartak on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Spartak tries to get out of the position.

Spartak has his foot on Dolbakov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dolbakov works his way back into a safe position though.
Spartak avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dolbakov wants to stand but Spartak is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dolbakov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolbakov wants to stand but Spartak is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dolbakov postures up.
Dolbakov tries to stand but Spartak is controlling from the bottom.
Dolbakov preventing the sweep.
Dolbakov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Dolbakov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Spartak, up you get!

Dolbakov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dolbakov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spartak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Spartak missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dolbakov stands up from half guard.

Dolbakov has Spartak up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spartak is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Dolbakov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

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

Dolbakov pulls guard effortlessly.
Spartak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dolbakov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spartak controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dolbakov is looking to stand up but Spartak isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartak showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Leonid Spartak wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Spartak fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Dolbakov closes the distance and clinches.

Spartak gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dolbakov regains guard.
Spartak won't allow Dolbakov to get back to his feet.
Spartak wants to control from the top but Dolbakov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov wants to stand but Spartak is controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Spartak gets to his feet - Dolbakov follows without any prompting.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spartak closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Spartak passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dolbakov!
Dolbakov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dolbakov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Dolbakov looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spartak wants to control the pace but Dolbakov is squirming around nicely.
Spartak controlling the pace for now.

Spartak is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Dolbakov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Dolbakov shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Dolbakov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Spartak is defended easily by Dolbakov.

Dolbakov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dolbakov prevents the takedown attempt.

Spartak manages to break the clinch.

Dolbakov rushes Spartak and presses him up against the cage.
Spartak avoids the elbow strike from Dolbakov, against the cage.

Dolbakov manages to pull guard.
Dolbakov tries to strike from the bottom.
Dolbakov wants to sweep but no luck.
Spartak trying to control but Dolbakov is working from the bottom.
Dolbakov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dolbakov is looking to stand back up but Spartak counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Dolbakov.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dolbakov looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartak slips a nice elbow through Dolbakov's hands, connecting with Dolbakov's forehead.
Spartak prevents Dolbakov from standing back up.
Spartak drops an elbow to the side of Dolbakov's head.
Spartak is looking to advance position but Dolbakov won't allow it.
Spartak stops Dolbakov from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dolbakov is breathing heavily.
Spartak takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Spartak decides to stand up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spartak misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dolbakov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartak is trying to pull guard but Dolbakov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonid Spartak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spartak.

Spartak breaks the clinch.

Spartak shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dolbakov is trying to defend but Spartak finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Leonid Spartak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spartak is trying to control the action in half guard but Dolbakov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dolbakov is trying to stand back up but Spartak is controlling him
Dolbakov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Spartak decides to stand up.

Dolbakov rushes Spartak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dolbakov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dolbakov working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spartak jumps guard and drags Dolbakov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Spartak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dolbakov defends well.
Dolbakov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Spartak's guard.
Dolbakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Spartak looking for a guillotine here but Dolbakov defends easily.
Spartak working a defensive guard here.
Spartak has a closed guard, preventing Dolbakov from standing up.
Dolbakov being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov looking to sit in guard and control but Spartak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Spartak slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Spartak stops Dolbakov from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spartak passes Dolbakov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Spartak lands strikes from half guard.
Spartak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!
Spartak wants to free his trapped foot but Dolbakov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Spartak 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Spartak dives in and grabs Dolbakov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dolbakov pushes down on Spartak's head and hops out.
Spartak tries a head kick but it misses.

Dolbakov darts in and clinches Spartak up against the cage.
Dolbakov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Spartak has Dolbakov pushed against the cage.
Spartak working aggressively here.
Spartak tries for a takedown. No joy.

Spartak is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dolbakov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Spartak to the mat. Spartak regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Spartak thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Dolbakov preventing the sweep.
Dolbakov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dolbakov throwing strikes from guard but Spartak blocks nicely.
Spartak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spartak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dolbakov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dolbakov gets to his feet - Spartak follows without any prompting.
Dolbakov looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Dolbakov has managed to clinch.
Dolbakov misses with some punches.
Spartak has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dolbakov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonid Spartak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolbakov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Dolbakov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dolbakov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Dolbakov jumps guard and drags Spartak to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartak won't allow Dolbakov to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spartak wants to pass the guard but Dolbakov is keeping the position.
Dolbakov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Spartak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spartak will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dolbakov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spartak's guard.
Dolbakov wanted to stand there but Spartak had control of the position.
Spartak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dolbakov throws a strike but Spartak rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov wants to stand but Spartak is controlling the position.
Spartak wants to control from the top but Dolbakov keeps moving.

Dolbakov has his feet on Spartak's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Spartak drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Spartak scores with a couple of short elbows.
Spartak moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Dolbakov is not content to let Spartak control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov is looking to regain half guard here but Spartak keeps moving and retains side control.

Spartak tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spartak has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Spartak tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Dolbakov pushes Spartak away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Spartak gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Dolbakov tries to buck Spartak off but Spartak is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dolbakov wants to get back to his feet but Spartak drags him back down.
Spartak works to advance to full mount. Dolbakov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Spartak tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Spartak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dolbakov is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Dolbakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dolbakov 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ivan Dolbakov!