PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivanov has chosen HINO RUSSO as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anthony
vs
Ivanov

184 cm
39
186 lbs
31 - 16 - 2

180 cm
34
182 lbs
23 - 16 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Justin Anthony!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergei Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A swing and a miss from Anthony.
Justin Anthony seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anthony misses with a wild body shot.
Anthony avoids the body shot from Ivanov.
Ivanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Anthony jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ivanov avoids the head kick by Anthony.
Anthony scores with a one two! Ivanov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Sergei Ivanov has been cut.
Anthony lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ivanov at a distance.
Ivanov tries to score with a low kick but Anthony moves his leg out of the way.
Anthony ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ivanov moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Ivanov. Those never looked like landing.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ivanov.

Ivanov pushes Anthony up against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anthony misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anthony tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
I was talking to Anthony's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ivanov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ivanov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Anthony throws a punch but it's blocked by Ivanov.
A left hand lands to the body for Ivanov.
Anthony stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Anthony misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anthony swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ivanov missing with knees to the body.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Anthony goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ivanov is trying to break the clinch but Anthony has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Anthony dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ivanov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Anthony seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ivanov can turn it around.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Anthony letting Ivanov take a breather here.
Nice body punch from Ivanov - that landed with a thud.
Anthony struggles to land a body shot inside as Ivanov controls his hands.
Anthony has Ivanov pressed against the cage.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ivanov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anthony. That did some damage!
Anthony swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ivanov counters with a two punch combo.
Anthony gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Ivanov counters by clinching up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony throws a low kick but Ivanov moves out of range easily.
Anthony swings for the body but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov cracks the inside of Anthony's front leg.
Ivanov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ivanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Anthony swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anthony tries to land a front kick but Ivanov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Anthony swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anthony throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ivanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Anthony circles away quickly and effectively.
Anthony misses with a wild combination.
Ivanov misses with a few strikes there.
Anthony scores with a one two! Ivanov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anthony walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ivanov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ivanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony scores with a head kick.
Ivanov checks a low kick from Anthony.
Ivanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Anthony throws a front kick aimed at Ivanov's knee but Ivanov avoids it well.
Ivanov misses with a wild combination.
A left and a right from Ivanov both land. Nice combination.
Ivanov throws a combination that misses
and Anthony counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anthony is looking to clinch but Ivanov is avoiding it.
Anthony misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ivanov tries to clinch up but Anthony circles away and keeps his distance.
Anthony looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivanov is just out of range.
Ivanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Anthony circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sergei Ivanov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergei Ivanov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ivanov misses with a series of wild punches.
Ivanov misses with a two punch combination.
Ivanov is looking to chop away at Anthony's legs.
Ivanov misses with a few strikes there.
Anthony throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ivanov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Anthony.
Anthony scores with a nice body kick.
Anthony lands a right hook to the body.
Ivanov tries to clinch there but Anthony circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anthony is looking to wear down Ivanov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ivanov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Anthony.
Justin Anthony is winning the standup battle so far.

Anthony has managed to clinch.
Ivanov letting Anthony take a breather here.
Anthony has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Ivanov breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony scores with a body shot.
Ivanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Anthony circles away quickly and effectively.
Anthony throws a body shot but no joy.
Anthony avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Anthony throws a body punch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Anthony tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Anthony lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ivanov takes a step back to recover.
Anthony avoids the body shot from Ivanov.
Ivanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Anthony.
Anthony throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Anthony lands a right hook to the body.
Ivanov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Anthony circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov ducks right into an uppercut from Anthony.
Anthony throws a head kick that misses
and Ivanov counters with an inside leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Anthony blocks the leg kick.
Anthony throws a right hand that Ivanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Ivanov also avoids with ease.
Ivanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anthony tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ivanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Anthony pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Anthony misses with the combination.
Anthony stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ivanov.
Anthony misses with a leg kick.
Anthony on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
That kick from Anthony tenderised Ivanov's leg. Ivanov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ivanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ivanov blocks a jab.

Ivanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Anthony tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Anthony tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ivanov's elbow.

Ivanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice combination there by Ivanov.
Anthony tries to clinch there but Ivanov circles away.
Anthony misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Anthony misses.
Ivanov looks to land a left hand but Anthony moved out of range nicely.
Anthony jabs Ivanov right on the nose. Ivanov blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ivanov connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ivanov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Anthony.
Ivanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Justin Anthony is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anthony stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ivanov.
Anthony throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anthony misses with a low kick.
Ivanov throws a nice looking combination but Anthony bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Anthony misses with the combination.
Anthony tried to score with a low kick but Ivanov checks it.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ivanov fails to land with a series of punches.
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 Justin Anthony will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergei Ivanov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Anthony rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Anthony showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ivanov.
Ivanov dodges the punch combination from Anthony.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Anthony.
Ivanov misses with a double jab
and Anthony makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ivanov misses with a wild body shot.
Anthony throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony throws a leg kick which misses Ivanov's front leg but catches the back leg as Ivanov tries to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anthony.
Anthony pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ivanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Anthony counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony throws a head kick but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov checks the leg kick.
Anthony tries a head kick but it misses.
Ivanov moves in looking to clinch but Anthony pushes him off.
Anthony lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ivanov blocks a low kick nicely.
Anthony scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ivanov doesn't seem bothered though.
Anthony jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Good leg kick by Anthony there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ivanov avoids a kick to the body.
Anthony throws the left hand but Ivanov avoids the punch easily.
Ivanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Anthony throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ivanov counters with a nice uppercut.
Ivanov misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Ivanov.
Ivanov scores with a jab to the body.
Anthony changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
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!
Anthony rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anthony takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ivanov misses with a looping right.
Ivanov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ivanov connects with an inside leg kick.
Anthony lands with a good body shot.
Anthony misses with a head kick.
Anthony misses with a shot to the body
and Ivanov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ivanov avoids the body shot from Anthony.
Ivanov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Anthony scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ivanov doesn't seem bothered though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony just misses with a punch to the body.
Anthony throws a half hearted mid kick.
Anthony misses with a low kick.
Ivanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Anthony throws a head kick that misses.
Ivanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Anthony looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Anthony jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ivanov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Anthony swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivanov.
Anthony avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anthony avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov throws a low kick but Anthony avoids it.
Ivanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Anthony circles away quickly and effectively.
Anthony misses the jab.
Anthony is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ivanov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Anthony digs a good hook to Ivanov's body.
Ivanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anthony misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anthony delivers a nice body kick.
Anthony throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Anthony ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ivanov moves away.

Ivanov gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Anthony showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Anthony 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Anthony!
Justin Anthony decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.