PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Koko Glavata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Work (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Glavata
vs
Work

191 cm
25
233 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
26
275 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Koko Glavata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steven Work!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Work avoids a punch combination nicely.
Work looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Work is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Glavata's half guard.
Glavata is looking for a sweep. Work is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Glavata is controlling Work's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Glavata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Glavata wants to control but Work is keeping busy.
Glavata gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Work postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Work trying to control but Glavata is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Work accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Work is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Glavata.

Work has Glavata up against the cage in a clinch.

Work has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Glavata uses from the top position.
Work is pulling down on Glavata's head to control his posture.
Glavata wants to control from the top but Work keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Glavata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Work works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Glavata wanted to stand there but Work had control of the position.
Work keeping full guard, as Glavata tries to pass.
Work wants to get back to his feet but Glavata passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Glavata seems content to control.
Glavata passes to side control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Work showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Glavata.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Glavata is defended easily by Work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Work clinches with his opponent.

Work manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Glavata trying to control the position from guard on top but Work is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Glavata tries to free his leg and advance position but Work is retaining full guard.
Work really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Glavata. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Glavata avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Glavata is fighting to break Work's control of his arms but Work is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Glavata slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Glavata decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Glavata has a takedown stuffed.
Glavata shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koko Glavata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Glavata is breathing heavily.
Work avoids a punch combination nicely.

Work changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Glavata looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Glavata's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ground and pound from Work seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Work dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Glavata throws a series of punches but Work moves out of range.
Work connects with a looping right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Work is defended easily by Glavata.

Work closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Glavata tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Glavata tries to reverse the position but Work maintains control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Work has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Glavata's face.
Glavata is looking to improve his position but Work isn't that keen on the idea.
Work tries to control but Glavata wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Work working Glavata over with strikes here.
Work avoids the attempt from Glavata to control.
Work with the ground and pound from mount.
Glavata is squirming around, avoiding Work's attempts to control the action.
Glavata is trying desperately to improve position.

Work is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Glavata fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Work closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Work tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Work has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Work tries to move to mount but Glavata blocks the move with his legs.
Glavata wants to control but Work postures up.
Glavata is working to avoid the ground and pound but Work connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Glavata's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Glavata is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Work moves into the clinch successfully.
Work is pressed up against the cage. Glavata has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Work down to the mat. Work avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Glavata fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Work to the ground. Glavata is now in Work's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Work manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Work putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Glavata in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Work pulls Glavata into guard.
Work looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Work pulls Glavata in close to prevent any damage.
Work will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Work looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Work pulls Glavata in close to prevent any damage.

Glavata gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Glavata throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Work.
Glavata sets himself, and Work steps forward looking for the clinch! Glavata avoids it this time.
Koko Glavata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Work showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Work shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Glavata napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Glavata throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Work closes the distance and clinches.

Work manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Glavata passes Work's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Work is refusing to be controlled, as Glavata sits in half guard.
Glavata tries to pass the half guard into mount. Work knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Glavata moves nicely into side control.
Work struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Work stops Glavata from passing to mount.

Glavata tries for a kimura but Work is defending well.

Glavata stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Work shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Glavata as he jumps to the side.
Glavata slaps away a takedown attempt from Work, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Work takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Work looks for a takedown but Glavata sprawls well.
It looked like Glavata was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Koko Glavata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Work.
Work shoots in for a double leg but Glavata sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Some wild striking there from Glavata.
Work circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Work.

Work throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Glavata was covering up waiting for the punch and Work finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Glavata is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Work is trying to pull guard but Glavata turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Glavata jumps guard and drags Work to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Work postures up in Glavata's guard and throws a big left but Glavata blocks it.
Glavata has control of Work's left arm, preventing Work from doing any damage.
Glavata trying to keep a closed guard but Work is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Koko Glavata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Work tries to free his leg and advance position but Glavata is retaining full guard.
Work preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Glavata is on top in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Work keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Glavata.
Work tries to counter by closing the distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Glavata throws a body punch but Work moves out of range.
Glavata misses with a double jab
and Work counters with a three punch combo that has Glavata backing up. Glavata nods at Work to acknowledge the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koko Glavata showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Work 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Work!