PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Hendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iosif Vissarionovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vissarionovich has chosen National Anthem of USSR as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hendo
vs
Vissarionovich

188 cm
19
187 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gerald Hendo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iosif Vissarionovich!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hendo gets a clinch.

Vissarionovich pulls guard successfully.
Hendo stopping the sweep attempt from Vissarionovich.
Vissarionovich has a closed guard, preventing Hendo from standing up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vissarionovich holds on and takes a little breather.
Vissarionovich has a closed guard, preventing Hendo from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vissarionovich looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hendo postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendo preventing the sweep.

Vissarionovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hendo is aware though and is defending well.

Hendo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vissarionovich trying to keep a closed guard but Hendo is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendo wanted to stand there but Vissarionovich had control of the position.
Hendo stays in close to Vissarionovich's body and controls the position.

Vissarionovich looking for a guillotine here but Hendo defends easily.
Hendo wanted to stand there but Vissarionovich had control of the position.
Vissarionovich trying to keep a closed guard but Hendo is proving a slippery customer.
Hendo tries to stand but Vissarionovich is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vissarionovich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vissarionovich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hendo's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hendo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hendo wants to get back to his feet but Vissarionovich is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hendo looking for a sweep. Not yet Hendo, not yet.

Vissarionovich drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hendo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Vissarionovich has Hendo in his guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hendo is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vissarionovich's guard.
Hendo wants to pass the guard but Vissarionovich is keeping the position.
Vissarionovich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hendo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vissarionovich on the ground.
Hendo wants to pass the guard but Vissarionovich is keeping the position.

Vissarionovich looking for a guillotine here but Hendo defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hendo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vissarionovich looks winded!
Vissarionovich trying to keep a closed guard but Hendo is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vissarionovich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hendo defends it easily.
Hendo wants to stand but Vissarionovich has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hendo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Vissarionovich trying to keep a closed guard but Hendo is proving a slippery customer.
Vissarionovich might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hendo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Vissarionovich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Vissarionovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hendo is aware though and is defending well.
Vissarionovich has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hendo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendo controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendo wants to stand but Vissarionovich has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vissarionovich goes for a double leg but Hendo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hendo continues to drive forward.
Vissarionovich misses with a takedown attempt - Hendo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vissarionovich is breathing heavily.
Hendo throws a chopping leg kick but Vissarionovich manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vissarionovich fails with a takedown attempt.
Gerald Hendo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iosif Vissarionovich.

Hendo has Vissarionovich up against the cage in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Hendo.

Hendo pulls Vissarionovich into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Vissarionovich postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hendo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vissarionovich, into his guard.

Hendo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hendo trying to control the position from guard on top but Vissarionovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendo wanted to stand there but Vissarionovich had control of the position.
Hendo is stalling in the full guard.
Vissarionovich has a closed guard, preventing Hendo from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vissarionovich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hendo as he jumps to the side.
Hendo is looking for a counter combo.
Hendo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vissarionovich fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Hendo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hendo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hendo wants to stand but Vissarionovich is controlling his arm.
Vissarionovich wants to control but Hendo postures up.
Hendo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vissarionovich is looking to regain half guard here but Hendo keeps moving and retains side control.
Vissarionovich is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hendo is looking to take a break and control but Vissarionovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Hendo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vissarionovich looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vissarionovich shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hendo sprawls well. Hendo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vissarionovich gets slowly back to his feet.
Hendo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hendo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gerald Hendo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iosif Vissarionovich.
Vissarionovich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hendo circles away.
Vissarionovich blocks a head kick by Hendo.
Hendo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vissarionovich.

Hendo clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hendo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gerald Hendo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vissarionovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hendo is on top in guard.

Vissarionovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hendo is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Vissarionovich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hendo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hendo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hendo wants to stand but Vissarionovich is controlling his posture from full guard.

Vissarionovich looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hendo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hendo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Vissarionovich is looking for a triangle here but Hendo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Vissarionovich being controlled for a moment.
Hendo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vissarionovich can do to turn this around?
Vissarionovich is looking to regain half guard here but Hendo keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendo wants to stand but Vissarionovich has his arm trapped.
Hendo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hendo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hendo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hendo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Hendo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vissarionovich!
Vissarionovich is looking to regain half guard here but Hendo keeps moving and retains side control.
Vissarionovich can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Vissarionovich's face as Hendo controls the position.
Hendo tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Vissarionovich gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Vissarionovich moves into full guard.
Vissarionovich is trying to control the position but Hendo postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hendo controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerald Hendo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hendo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerald Hendo!
The defeated Iosif Vissarionovich had this to say: 'Go to the Gulag'.