PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Denisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edson Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edson Garcia will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Denisov
vs
Garcia

174 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
30
142 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Denisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Edson Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Denisov's waist but Denisov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Garcia off to one side.
Denisov throws a right and a left that Garcia avoids nicely.

Garcia clinches.
Garcia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Denisov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Garcia's elbow.
Denisov stalling in the clinch but Garcia improves position.
Denisov takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Alexey Denisov has been cut.
A short uppercut from Garcia.
Garcia lands a hook that snaps the head of Denisov backwards.
Garcia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Denisov is rocked!
Garcia lands a shoulder strike.
Oh Denisov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Denisov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
Garcia stalls.
Garcia lands a body shot.
Garcia lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Garcia lands an elbow inside.
Garcia scores a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia lands a knee to the body.
Denisov seems to have got his legs back now.
Denisov is breathing heavily.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Garcia.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denisov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Denisov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garcia keeps working.
Denisov not doing much here.
Garcia is trying to maintain the position but Denisov is very close to passing his half guard.

Garcia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov is just content to waste time from the top position. Garcia takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Denisov is aware though and is defending well.
Denisov wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexey Denisov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Denisov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Denisov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Denisov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garcia, who protects the arm well.
Denisov wants to take a breather but Garcia manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Denisov.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcia has a closed guard, preventing Denisov from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.

Garcia throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Denisov escapes and throws Garcia's legs to the side, diving into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Denisov wants to control but Garcia is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Edson Garcia will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexey Denisov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Garcia gets a clinch.
A short right from Garcia.
Garcia lands a right hand that snaps the head of Denisov backwards.
Garcia stalls.

Denisov wants the takedown. Garcia is fighting it off but Denisov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Garcia's guard against the cage.
Denisov wants to stand and escape but instead Garcia has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Denisov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Garcia looking to sit in guard and control but Denisov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Denisov stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Denisov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Garcia is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Denisov, into his guard.
Alexey Denisov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Denisov wants to stand up but Garcia is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Denisov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Garcia escapes and throws Denisov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Denisov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garcia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Denisov is trying to control Garcia's posture but Garcia avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov is looking for a sweep.
Garcia prevents Denisov from escaping the position.
Denisov defending against the ground and pound.
Denisov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Denisov tries to get out of the position.
Garcia trying to control the action but Denisov is working from the bottom.
Denisov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Denisov.
Garcia throws a sloppy strike and Denisov uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Denisov has ended up in Garcia's guard.
Denisov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denisov throws a strike but Garcia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Garcia postures up.
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 Alexey Denisov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexey Denisov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Garcia is looking to clinch but Denisov is avoiding it.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Garcia has Denisov up against the cage in a clinch.
Garcia displaying some good clinch control by pressing Denisov up against the cage.
Garcia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Denisovs head.

Denisov jumps guard.
Garcia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Garcia trying to control but Denisov is working from the bottom.

Garcia gets to his feet. Denisov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Denisov is proving a slippery customer.

Garcia is looking for a triangle but Denisov pushes his legs off easily.
Denisov trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexey Denisov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Denisov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Denisov wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Garcia looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Denisov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denisov is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Denisov wants to pass the guard but Garcia is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Denisov jumps into side control!
Denisov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Garcia is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Garcia is not content to let Denisov control the position.
Garcia prevents Denisov from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Garcia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Denisov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Denisov is trying to get an arm triangle but Garcia is defending well.
Denisov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garcia looking for a sweep but Denisov has passed into full mount! Oh no!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexey Denisov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Denisov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexey Denisov!