PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenalemodisa Mabogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Irhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mabogo comes to the cage accompanied by 3 Doors Down - Duck and Run. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mabogo
vs
Irhin

190 cm
30
215 lbs
23 - 22 - 0

180 cm
28
200 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 22 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kenalemodisa Mabogo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Irhin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mabogo pushes Irhin up against the cage in a clinch.
Irhin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mabogo.
Mabogo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Irhin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mabogo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mabogo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Irhin pushes Mabogo up against the cage in a clinch.
Irhin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Irhin tries a knee to the head but Mabogo blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mabogo.
Mabogo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mabogo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Irhin blocks the elbow strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Irhin.
Mabogo missing with knees to the body.
Irhin avoiding damage as Mabogo throws knees to the body.
Irhin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mabogo.
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!
Irhin avoiding damage as Mabogo throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Irhin missing with knees to the body.
Irhin misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Irhin.
Irhin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mabogo as Irhin tries to tie him up.

Mabogo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mabogo is pressing down on Irhin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Irhin is holding on for now.
Irhin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mabogo working Irhin over with strikes.
Mabogo is looking to take a break and control but Irhin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mabogo is really struggling to control Irhin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mabogo is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Mabogo is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo stands up over Irhin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mabogo wants to control from the top but Irhin keeps moving.
Irhin wants to sweep here but Mabogo controlling him for the moment.
Mabogo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mabogo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mabogo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mabogo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mabogo stays in close to Irhin's body and controls the position.
Mabogo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mabogo controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irhin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mabogo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mabogo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mabogo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Irhin looking for a guillotine here but Mabogo defends easily.
Mabogo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Irhin working for a triangle but Mabogo defends it easily.
Mabogo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Irhin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mabogo is pushing down on Irhin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Irhin is fighting to maintain full guard but Mabogo has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Irhin is not content to let Mabogo control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mabogo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Irhin is refusing to be controlled, as Mabogo sits in half guard.
Irhin is looking to improve his position.
Irhin is not content to let Mabogo control the position.
Still in half guard, Mabogo seems content to control.

Mabogo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Irhin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Irhin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mabogo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Irhin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Irhin manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenalemodisa Mabogo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mabogo pushes Irhin up against the cage in a clinch.
Irhin misses with the head strike.
Mabogo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mabogo lands a knee to the head.
Irhin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mabogo tries to throw a body punch but Irhin avoids it by throwing Mabogo back against the cage.
Mabogo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mabogo tries a knee to the head but Irhin blocks it.
Mabogo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Irhin backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mabogo backwards.
Irhin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mabogo throws an elbow that misses.
Irhin trying to land knees to the body.
Irhin misses with a knee to the head.

Mabogo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabogo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Mabogo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mabogo is taking a breather. Irhin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Mabogo prevents Irhin from improving his position.
Irhin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Irhin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mabogo is working away from the top position though.
Mabogo controlling the pace.
Irhin manages to get to full guard.

That's two 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.
Irhin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mabogo controls the pace.
Mabogo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Irhin is keeping the position for now.

Irhin has his foot on Mabogo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mabogo works his way back into a safe position though.
Mabogo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mabogo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Irhin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mabogo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Irhin looking for a guillotine here but Mabogo defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Irhin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Mabogo is trying to get an arm triangle but Irhin is defending well.
Mabogo is chipping away with strikes.
Irhin gets back to half guard.
Mabogo controlling the action here.
Irhin won't allow Mabogo to pass to mount.

Irhin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mabogo pulls his head out easily.
Irhin tries to roll over but Mabogo keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Irhin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mabogo pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Mabogo seems content to control.
Irhin gets back to full guard.
Mabogo trying to control but Irhin is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Irhin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Irhin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mabogo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Irhin looking for a sweep. Not yet Irhin, not yet.
Mabogo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mabogo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mabogo passes Irhin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mabogo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Irhin can do to turn this around?
Mabogo controlling the pace.
Mabogo is trying to control the action in half guard but Irhin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mabogo won't allow Irhin to sweep him here.
Mabogo is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabogo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Irhin keeping full guard, as Mabogo tries to pass.
Irhin trying to keep a closed guard but Mabogo is proving a slippery customer.
Mabogo trying to control the position from guard on top but Irhin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mabogo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Irhin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mabogo stopping the sweep attempt from Irhin.
Mabogo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mabogo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Irhin controls Mabogo momentarily but Mabogo frees himself.

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.
Mabogo trying to control but Irhin is working from the bottom.
Mabogo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Irhin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mabogo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mabogo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've been told by Mabogo's head coaches at Russian Fighting Community Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Irhin wants to clinch
and Mabogo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Mabogo closes the distance and clinches.
Irhin misses with a knee to the head.
Mabogo throws a punch but it's blocked by Irhin.
Irhin has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Mabogo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Irhin can turn it around.
Mabogo gets through Irhin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mabogo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irhin stalling against the cage.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mabogo blocks a body shot from Irhin.
Irhin tries for a takedown but Mabogo manages to get underhooks.
Irhin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Irhin trying to land knees to the body.
Irhin throws an elbow that misses.

Irhin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Mabogo struggling a bit here.
Mabogo is looking to reverse the position.
Mabogo wants to control but Irhin postures up.
Mabogo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mabogo trying to control from the bottom.

Irhin seems to be working for a kimura but Mabogo defends the submission attempt.
Irhin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo tries to get to full guard but Irhin has control of the leg.
Mabogo is working hard here to advance position.
Irhin trying to control the action but Mabogo is working from the bottom.
Mabogo is trying to maintain the position but Irhin is very close to passing his half guard.
Mabogo is controlling Irhin's trapped leg to prevent Irhin from advancing to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Irhin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mabogo is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Kenalemodisa Mabogo did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Irhin clinches with his opponent.
Irhin blocks a body shot from Mabogo.
Irhin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mabogo backwards.
A hook to the body from Mabogo.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mabogo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mabogo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mabogo blocks an elbow strike.
Mabogo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Irhin pressing his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Irhin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mabogo blocks it with crossed arms.
Mabogo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mabogo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Irhin is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabogo looking to throw knees to the head but Irhin is blocking nicely.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mabogo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Irhin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irhin blocking some punches.
Irhin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mabogo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Irhin.
Mabogo misses with an elbow strike.
Irhin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Mabogo is trying to trip Irhin. He has hold of a leg but Irhin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mabogo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Mabogo wants to control from the top but Irhin keeps moving.
Mabogo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mabogo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Irhin is looking to control Mabogo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Irhin avoid being mounted?
Mabogo is trying to control. Irhin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Irhin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mabogo slips a nice elbow through Irhin's hands, connecting with Irhin's forehead.
Mabogo tries to pass to full mount but Irhin defends it.
Mabogo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Irhin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Irhin wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mabogo lands a nice short elbow.
Irhin trying to control but Mabogo postures up.
Mabogo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Irhin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mabogo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Irhin is not content to let Mabogo control the position.
Mabogo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four 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.
Mabogo trying to control the action but Irhin is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mabogo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mabogo trying to control from half guard but Irhin is working away.
Mabogo is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Irhin kicks Mabogo off and gets back to his feet.

Irhin moves into the clinch successfully.
Irhin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mabogo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Irhin avoids the elbow strike from Mabogo, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mabogo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Irhin throws a knee to the head but misses.

Irhin breaks from the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Irhin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Kenalemodisa Mabogo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mabogo moves into the clinch.
Irhin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Kenalemodisa Mabogo has been cut.
Mabogo struggles to land a body shot inside as Irhin controls his hands.
Irhin looking to throw knees to the head but Mabogo is blocking nicely.

Mabogo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Irhin regains guard immediately.

Irhin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mabogo is aware though and is defending well.

Irhin has his foot on Mabogo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mabogo works his way back into a safe position though.
Mabogo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mabogo works over Irhin with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mabogo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mabogo wants to control from the top but Irhin keeps moving.
Mabogo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mabogo is in close to Irhin's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irhin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mabogo wants to control from the top but Irhin keeps moving.
Mabogo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mabogo drops back looking for a leg! Irhin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Irhin manages to kick Mabogo off! Mabogo jumps back into Irhin's guard.
Mabogo throwing strikes but missing.
Mabogo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Irhin is looking to escape.
Mabogo is taking a breather. Irhin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Irhin is looking for a sweep. Mabogo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mabogo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Irhin wants to control but Mabogo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mabogo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Irhin actively working from the bottom here.

Irhin looking for submissions off his back.
Irhin is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Mabogo trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Irhin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irhin cracks Mabogo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Mabogo rushes Irhin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mabogo avoids it.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mabogo avoids it.
Irhin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Irhin tries to land knees in the clinch but Mabogo avoids the damage to the body.
Irhin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mabogo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Irhin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin misses with a knee strike.
Irhin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mabogo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Irhin.
Mabogo stops a takedown attempt from Irhin.
Artem Irhin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Irhin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A right handed body shot lands from Mabogo.
Irhin misses with a knee to the head.
Irhin throws an elbow but it misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mabogo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mabogo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mabogo managing to block the knees to the body from Irhin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenalemodisa Mabogo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mabogo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenalemodisa Mabogo!
Kenalemodisa Mabogo is the new super heavyweight champion!
Kenalemodisa Mabogo decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.