PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vixx Bubanja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitri Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bubanja
vs
Povetkin

175 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

201 cm
25
201 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vixx Bubanja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitri Povetkin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bubanja shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Povetkin but Povetkin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Povetkin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Vixx Bubanja has been cut.
Bubanja fails with the takedown
and Povetkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Povetkin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Povetkin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Povetkin postures up.
Povetkin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Povetkin wants to stand and escape but instead Bubanja has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Bubanja being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bubanja drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Povetkin dives on top into guard.

Povetkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bubanja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Povetkin pushing down on Bubanja's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Povetkin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Povetkin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bubanja could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Povetkin wants to get back to his feet.
Bubanja tries to roll over but Povetkin keeps him under control.
Bubanja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin working over Bubanja with some ground and pound. Bubanja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Povetkin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Povetkin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Povetkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Bubanja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin slows the pace down in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bubanja tries to get to full guard but Povetkin has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Povetkin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bubanja is looking to clinch.
Bubanja stuffs the takedown attempt from Povetkin. Povetkin gets slowly back to his feet.
Povetkin tries for a takedown but Bubanja sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vixx Bubanja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Povetkin.
Povetkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bubanja manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bubanja fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Povetkin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Bubanja scoring well with a low kick there.
Povetkin throws a jab when Bubanja was well out of range.
Povetkin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bubanja as he jumps to the side.
Bubanja throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Povetkin looks for a takedown but Bubanja sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bubanja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Povetkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bubanja is trying hard to land a takedown here. Povetkin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bubanja misses with a double jab

and Povetkin counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Povetkin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vixx Bubanja's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bubanja stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bubanja wants it to stay on the feet.
Povetkin tries to clinch but Bubanja moves out of range.
Bubanja throws a big counter combination but Povetkin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Povetkin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bubanja circles away.
Bubanja swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A head kick misses from Povetkin.
Povetkin misses with a double jab.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bubanja enables Povetkin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bubanja manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Povetkin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bubanja wants to stand up but Povetkin is controlling him.
Povetkin is looking to stand up but Bubanja won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povetkin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bubanja's head.
Bubanja is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Povetkin is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Povetkin pushing down on Bubanja's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bubanja is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Povetkin jumps into side control!
You can see the frustration on Bubanja's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Povetkin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bubanja is pushing Povetkin's head away, looking to escape. Povetkin manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bubanja trying to remain calm as Povetkin controls from the top position.
Bubanja struggling a bit here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bubanja. No joy for Povetkin on that attempt.
Vixx Bubanja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Povetkin.
Horrible takedown attempt by Povetkin or perhaps it was just good defense by Bubanja, which made it look bad.
Dmitri Povetkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Povetkin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Povetkin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bubanja pulls his leg out and moves away.
Povetkin stuffs the takedown.
Bubanja stuffs the takedown attempt from Povetkin. Povetkin gets slowly back to his feet.
Povetkin is breathing heavily.
Povetkin dives in and grabs Bubanja's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bubanja pushes down on Povetkin's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin moves out of range of the strikes.
Povetkin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bubanja defends well and Povetkin ends up having to push Bubanja into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bubanja jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bubanja has a takedown stuffed.
Povetkin stuffs the takedown attempt from Bubanja. Bubanja gets slowly back to his feet.
Povetkin lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bubanja blocks a head kick by Povetkin.
Bubanja seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Povetkin lands a jab-cross combination.
Bubanja throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Povetkin.
Bubanja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Povetkin just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBubanja.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bubanja shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Povetkin sprawls well. Povetkin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bubanja gets slowly back to his feet.

Povetkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Povetkin seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Povetkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vixx Bubanja's cut.
That's time! Bubanja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bubanja lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bubanja tries for a takedown but Povetkin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Povetkin misses with a looping left.
Povetkin dives in for a single leg takedown but Bubanja sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Povetkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bubanja wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povetkin is thwarting Bubanja's attempts to control the position.

Povetkin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Povetkin controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bubanja is looking to improve his position.
Povetkin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Povetkin passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bubanja is in all sorts of trouble here.
Povetkin lands a couple of good shots and Bubanja has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Povetkin is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Bubanja is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dmitri Povetkin!