PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renat Boldyrev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renat Boldyrev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Raphael Davis's chin.

Boldyrev
vs
Davis

188 cm
25
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renat Boldyrev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raphael Davis!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boldyrev tries to bum rush Davis with a series of wild strikes but Davis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Boldyrev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boldyrev wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
Davis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Boldyrev stops Davis from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boldyrev controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Renat Boldyrev.
Boldyrev tries to clinch up but Davis circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boldyrev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Davis throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Boldyrev tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Davis is in Boldyrev's guard.

Davis gets to his feet - Boldyrev follows without any prompting.
Boldyrev tries to clinch

and Davis counters with a single leg into guard. Boldyrev didn't expect that.
Boldyrev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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!

Boldyrev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Davis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Davis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boldyrev looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Davis shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Boldyrev working a defensive guard here.
Boldyrev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Davis is one step ahead there.
Davis tries to stand but Boldyrev is controlling from the bottom.
Davis wants to control from the top but Boldyrev keeps moving.
Boldyrev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Davis is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Boldyrev throwing strikes but Davis bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Davis stands and throws Boldyrev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boldyrev is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis wants to control but Boldyrev is keeping him busy.
Davis tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Davis throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Davis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Boldyrev's legs.

Davis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Davis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The strikes coming from Davis are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boldyrev wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Davis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Boldyrev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Davis counters by clinching up.
Boldyrev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Davis to keep the fight standing.
Davis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Boldyrev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renat Boldyrev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boldyrev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Davis smiles and moves away.

Davis throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Boldyrev tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Davis is in Boldyrev's guard.
Davis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boldyrev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Davis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boldyrev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boldyrev has his foot on Davis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Davis works his way back into a safe position though.
Boldyrev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Davis is controlling him.
Davis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Davis postures up.

Davis has gone for a leg lock! Boldyrev slips out almost immediately though and dives into Davis's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Davis has an active guard here but Boldyrev has managed to pass into half guard.
Davis controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis wants to get back to his feet.

Boldyrev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Davis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Boldyrev.
Davis gets full guard.
Davis has a closed guard, preventing Boldyrev from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boldyrev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Davis wants to sweep here but Boldyrev controlling him for the moment.
Boldyrev wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
Davis keeping full guard, as Boldyrev tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Renat Boldyrev.
Boldyrev throws a right hand that Davis ducks under and follows up with a left that Davis also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Davis closes the distance and clinches.
Boldyrev wants to take the fight to the mat but Davis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Davis successfully pulls guard.
Raphael Davis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boldyrev trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Davis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Davis trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Davis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Davis is controlling Boldyrev's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Raphael Davis.
Boldyrev avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Davis 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. This is the final round!

Boldyrev tries to clinch up.
Davis attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Davis throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Boldyrev tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Davis is in Boldyrev's guard.
Boldyrev is trying to control the position but Davis postures up.
Davis preventing the sweep.

Davis stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Boldyrev has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Davis manages to get his head free but now Boldyrev has transitioned to an armbar! Davis grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Boldyrev! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Renat Boldyrev!