PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fred Bear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olexandr Borodach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bear comes to the cage accompanied by Keep rolling. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bear
vs
Borodach

193 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
201 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Fred Bear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Olexandr Borodach!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bear has his takedown stuffed
and Borodach counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Borodach's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Borodach's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Borodach rushes Bear and presses him up against the cage.
Bear is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Borodach gets control of Bear's arms and successfully pulls guard. Borodach will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Borodach is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bear trying to control but Borodach is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear looking to sit in guard and control but Borodach gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Borodach tries to free his leg and advance position but Bear is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borodach 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.
Borodach trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Borodach is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Borodach throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Borodach slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Borodach working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Borodach throwing strikes but Bear manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Borodach pushes Bear away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bear gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
You can see the frustration on Borodach's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Borodach pushes Bear away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bear gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Borodach tries to bench press Bear off him but Bear keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borodach tries to escape but Bear is in control.
Borodach is not content to let Bear control the position.
Borodach is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Borodach tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Borodach struggling a bit here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bear shoots in for a takedown but Borodach shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Borodach throws a series of punches but Bear moves out of range.
Bear appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Borodach is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bear sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bear shoots in looking for a takedown. Borodach tries to sprawl out of it but Bear keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Borodach manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Bear or perhaps it was just good defense by Borodach, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olexandr Borodach dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Borodach has a takedown stuffed.
A punch combination from Bear misses.
Bear takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Borodach has his takedown stuffed

and Bear counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Borodach has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Bear is on him like a limpet, forcing Borodach back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borodach is looking for a takedown.
Fred Bear has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olexandr Borodach.
Borodach fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Borodach is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stalling in the clinch from Borodach.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Borodach avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Borodach has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bear after a bit of a struggle.
Borodach has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bear is trying to drag Borodach to the mat but Borodach just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Borodach jumps guard but Bear turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Borodach has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bear after a bit of a struggle.

Bear has Borodach pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bear pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Borodach tumbling to the mat - Bear dives into Borodach's guard.
Bear slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borodach looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bear is keen to just control but Borodach is a slippery customer.
Borodach is trying to escape back to his feet but Bear uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Borodach sneaks out the side door and pushes Bear away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bear tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Borodach paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Borodach misses.
Borodach defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bear.
Bear fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Bear backs off Borodach throws a huge counter combo but Bear manages to avoid it all.

Borodach closes the distance and clinches.

Borodach decides to pull guard.
Bear stops Borodach from standing up.
Borodach wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Bear manages to pass to side control.
Borodach is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bear wants to take a breather but Borodach is having none of it.

Borodach manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Borodach looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Borodach looks to land a combination but Bear avoids it well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Borodach.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Olexandr Borodach will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A solid body kick from Bear.
Borodach tries for a takedown but Bear sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bear tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Borodach manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bear misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Borodach unleashes a big counter combination but Bear bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Borodach changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bear tries to avoid it but Borodach manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bear to the ground. Bear escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bear changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bear tries for a takedown but Borodach circles away easily
and Borodach counters with a three punch combo that has Bear backing up. Bear nods at Borodach to acknowledge the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Borodach gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Borodach manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borodach tries to pull guard but Bear won't allow it.
Fred Bear has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olexandr Borodach.
Borodach tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bear is working for takedown but Borodach is calmly controlling the position for now.
Borodach tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bear smiles and moves away.

Bear gets a clinch.

Borodach manages to break the clinch.
Borodach checks a leg kick nicely.
Borodach throws out a counter right but Bear avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bear goes for a double leg but Borodach avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Borodach continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borodach shoots in looking for a takedown but Bear manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Borodach's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Borodach shoots in but no luck this time.
Bear tries to counter with a takedown but Borodach is quick to defend against it.
Borodach shoots in and drives through. Bear sprawls well.
Borodach tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bear swivels and escapes.
Bear drops down looking for a counter takedown but Borodach sprawls and moves away.
Borodach shoots in looking for a takedown. Bear tries to sprawl out of it but Borodach keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bear manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Borodach stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Borodach wants it to stay on the feet.
Borodach is looking for the big counter here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borodach clinches with his opponent.
Bear jumps guard but Borodach stands there with Bear around his waist. Bear gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Borodach manages to break the clinch.
Bear misses with a series of wild punches.
Bear fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bear throws a right and a left that Borodach avoids nicely.
Borodach shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bear as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Borodach or perhaps it was just good defense by Bear, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Borodach has Bear up against the cage in a clinch.
Olexandr Borodach is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Borodach jumps guard and drags Bear to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Borodach wants to get back to his feet but Bear is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bear pushing down on Borodach's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fred Bear.
I think Borodach 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olexandr Borodach!
Fred Bear was interviewed post fight and said 'I had a bad hair day and it distracted me.'.