PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Mikhail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Munoz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mikhail
vs
Munoz

183 cm
25
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
213 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Mikhail!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grant Munoz!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Munoz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Ivan Mikhail has been cut.
Munoz connects with a body shot.
Munoz slaps away a takedown attempt from Mikhail, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Munoz punishes Mikhail's body with a nice straight punch.
Mikhail on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Mikhail closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Mikhail prevents Munoz from standing back up.
We've been hearing good reports from Mikhail's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Mikhail is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mikhail thows a huge punch but Munoz dodges it nicely.
Mikhail 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.
Munoz is trying to get back to full guard.
Munoz regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikhail is looking to work some ground and pound but Munoz has wrist control.
Munoz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mikhail is one step ahead there.
Mikhail throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Munoz has his foot on Mikhail's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mikhail works his way back into a safe position though.
Mikhail missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Munoz trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munoz has Mikhail pulled in close to control his posture.
Munoz wants to stand but Mikhail is controlling the position.
Munoz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mikhail.

Grant Munoz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A shot to the liver by Munoz. Beautiful body shot.
Mikhail fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mikhail showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Munoz.
No joy there for Munoz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Munoz pinned against the cage. Munoz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Mikhail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Munoz darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Munoz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mikhail circles away quickly and effectively.
Mikhail closes this distance looking for a takedown but Munoz circles away.
Munoz is looking to clinch.
Good work by Mikhail as he checks the leg kick.
Munoz scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Munoz as he avoids it easily.
Mikhail shoots in but Munoz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mikhail closes this distance looking for a takedown but Munoz circles away.
Munoz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mikhail manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Munoz feints a jab promting Mikhail to slip. Munoz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Mikhail slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
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!
Munoz darts in trying to clinch

and Mikhail counters by clinching up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mikhail changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Munoz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Munoz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Mikhail's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Munoz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grant Munoz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Munoz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mikhail moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ivan Mikhail is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mikhail tries to score a power double leg takedown but Munoz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mikhail somewhat.
Munoz wants to clinch up but Mikhail keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munoz misses with a low kick as Mikhail jumps back.

Mikhail looking to score a takedown here. Munoz is defending well but Mikhail drives through and ends up in Munoz's guard.
Mikhail is pushing down on Munoz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Munoz is fighting to maintain full guard but Mikhail has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munoz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mikhail stalling away here and it's allowed Munoz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Mikhail throws a big right hand that misses.
Mikhail advances position into side control!
Mikhail staying calm.
Munoz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mikhail's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail throwing shots but Munoz is blocking nicely.
Munoz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mikhail's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mikhail's back!
Mikhail looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Mikhail covering up well and avoiding damage.
Mikhail is trying to stand back up.
Mikhail covering up well under a series of strikes from Munoz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Munoz looking to break Mikhail's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Mikhail remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Munoz will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Mikhail has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Munoz.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Munoz throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Munoz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mikhail defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Mikhail is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Mikhail showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Munoz.
Munoz tries to clinch

and Mikhail moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munoz has had enough of the clinch but Mikhail keeps him there for the moment.
Mikhail has Munoz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Munoz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mikhail keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Munoz's efforts to push away.
Mikhail wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Mikhail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikhail has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Munoz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Munoz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Munoz lands a jab-cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mikhail shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Munoz pinned against the cage. Munoz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mikhail shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Munoz as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ivan Mikhail will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ivan Mikhail's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Munoz tries to work over Mikhail's front leg with a kick but Mikhail checks it.
Mikhail has a takedown stuffed.
Munoz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Munoz instigates a clinch.
Mikhail changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Munoz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Munoz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Mikhail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikhail fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munoz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Munoz lands a glancing blow to the side of Mikhail's head.
Mikhail dives in and grabs Munoz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Munoz pushes down on Mikhail's head and hops out.
Munoz misses with a wild combination.
Mikhail fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Munoz avoids it really well and circles away.
Munoz pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail fails to land the takedown.
Mikhail is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Munoz.
Mikhail is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Munoz.
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!
Munoz lands a jab-cross combination.

Ivan Mikhail's cut is getting worse.
Munoz misses with a series of wild punches.
Ivan Mikhail seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Munoz misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail closes this distance looking for a takedown but Munoz circles away.
Munoz misses with a low kick.

Mikhail throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Munoz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mikhail is in Munoz's guard.
Mikhail is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mikhail prevents Munoz from getting back to his feet.

Munoz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mikhail escapes and throws Munoz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ivan Mikhail overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mikhail content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Munoz is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhail throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mikhail is trying to ground and pound but Munoz uses the momentary lack of control by Mikhail to regain half guard.
Mikhail working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Munoz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mikhail is working away from the top position though.
Still in half guard, Mikhail seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Munoz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Munoz 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Munoz!