PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alphonzo Mirage (ranked 507 p4p, 85 weight class) and Kaspars Petrovs (ranked 849 p4p, 140 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mirage
vs
Petrovs

191 cm
25
212 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

IniTech Nutrition

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alphonzo Mirage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaspars Petrovs!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mirage throws a body punch but Petrovs moves out of range.
Petrovs lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A bone on bone clash there as Petrovs blocks the leg kick.
Mirage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Petrovs.
Petrovs darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Mirage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mirage has a couple of punches blocked by Petrovs.
Petrovs throws a head punch that misses.
Petrovs tries a knee to the head but Mirage blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrovs lands a right hand.
Petrovs misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mirage tries a body shot but Petrovs blocks it.
Petrovs digs a right hand underneath Mirage's ribcage. Mirage let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A shot in the inside from Petrovs.
Petrovs lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mirage backwards.
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!

Petrovs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovs checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Mirage misses
and Petrovs counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Petrovs misses with a few strikes there.
Petrovs moves out of range of the leg kick from Mirage.
Mirage lands a head kick!

It looks like Kaspars Petrovs has been cut.
Mirage misses with a right hand
and Petrovs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mirage looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Petrovs takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Petrovs checks a leg kick.
Petrovs tries to clinch up.
Mirage delivers a nice body kick.
Petrovs throws a hook to the side of Mirage's head but Mirage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirage throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Mirage swings widly with a right hand
and Petrovs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirage looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Petrovs looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mirage scores with a jab. Petrovs acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Petrovs changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Petrovs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mirage.
Some bone on bone action there as Petrovs checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Petrovs moves forwards but Mirage connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mirage shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Petrovs unleashes a big counter combination but Mirage bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mirage cracks a nice hook into Petrovs's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mirage.
Mirage cracks Petrovs with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Alphonzo Mirage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrovs checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Mirage throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Mirage has closed the distance and engaged Petrovs in a clinch.
Mirage struggles to land a body shot inside as Petrovs controls his hands.
Petrovs blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Petrovs.
Petrovs lands a nice uppercut.
Petrovs prevents a body shot from Mirage.
Petrovs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mirage tries to circle away but Petrovs has him pinned against the cage.
Mirage misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mirage's elbow.
Mirage looking to stall.
Petrovs scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrovs throws a head punch that misses.
Mirage tries to work over Petrovs's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mirage blocking some punches.
Petrovs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mirage stalling.
Petrovs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Petrovs.
Still in the clinch, Petrovs scores with a nice short uppercut.
Petrovs trying to land knees to the body.
Petrovs swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Petrovs has a couple of punches blocked by Mirage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Petrovs.
Petrovs presses Mirage against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mirage.
Mirage lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kaspars Petrovs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaspars Petrovs's cut.
That's time! Mirage's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Petrovs falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mirage counters with a nice kick to the body.
Mirage misses with a kick to the body.
Petrovs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Petrovs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Petrovs swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mirage. Petrovs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alphonzo Mirage is winning the standup battle so far.
Mirage 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrovs throws a hook but Mirage avoids it easily.
Mirage lands with a kick to the ribs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mirage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage throws a body kick that misses
and Petrovs counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Petrovs pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mirage back to the cage. Petrovs follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kaspars Petrovs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mirage uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petrovs.
Mirage cracks the inside of Petrovs's front leg.
Petrovs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mirage circles away quickly and effectively.
Mirage ducks under a wild hook from Petrovs.
Petrovs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mirage tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Petrovs manages to circle out of the way.
Mirage throws a low kick but Petrovs avoids it.
Good exchange - Mirage coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
Petrovs tries to counter by closing the distance.
Petrovs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mirage sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mirage fires out a quick counter leg kick but Petrovs just manages to avoid it.
Petrovs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mirage throws a body shot but no joy.
Mirage sizes up Petrovs with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mirage is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mirage connects with a solid leg kick.
Mirage throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Petrovs counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mirage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Petrovs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mirage lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Petrovs throws out the jab.
Mirage appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Petrovs takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nice jab there from Mirage.
Mirage scores with a kick to the midsection.

Mirage takes the fight into the clinch.
Mirage scores with a shot to the side of Petrovs's head.
A head punch on the inside from Petrovs fails to land.
Mirage misses with a punch on the inside.
Mirage struggles to land a body shot inside as Petrovs controls his hands.
Petrovs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mirage lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Petrovs has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mirage.
Petrovs misses with some punches.
Petrovs scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Alphonzo Mirage has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirage is looking to control Petrovs's arms but Petrovs gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mirage has his back to the cage.
Mirage misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petrovs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mirage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Petrovs misses with a knee to the head.
Petrovs working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mirage lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Petrovs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mirage is defending well for now.
Petrovs crunches a lovely knee into Mirage's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Petrovs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Petrovs with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Petrovs throws a head punch that misses.
Mirage misses with some punches.
Petrovs misses with some punches.
Petrovs lands a nice uppercut.
Mirage on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mirage lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Petrovs backwards.
Petrovs landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mirage content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kaspars Petrovs will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Petrovs throws a nice looking combination but Mirage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A low kick from Mirage misses

and Petrovs counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Petrovs.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mirage creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Petrovs looking to throw knees to the head but Mirage is blocking nicely.
Mirage tries a body shot but Petrovs blocks it.
Mirage managing to block the knees to the body from Petrovs.
Mirage blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mirage misses with a body punch.
Petrovs has a couple of punches blocked by Mirage.
Mirage swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Petrovs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mirage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrovs lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mirage or not.
Mirage stalling against the cage.
Petrovs tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mirage's elbow.
Petrovs with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Mirage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage tries to land a body kick
and Petrovs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Mirage darts in and clinches Petrovs up against the cage.

Mirage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mirage throws a predictable looking body shot
and Petrovs counters with a stiff right hand.
Mirage throws a body punch but Petrovs moves out of range.
Petrovs throws a shot from downtown. Mirage moves away and avoids it.
Petrovs lands with a nice body punch.

Petrovs lands a left and a right that sends Mirage crashing to the canvas! Petrovs dives into mount looking to finish!

Mirage is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petrovs wants to get back to his feet but Mirage is holding on tight.
Oh Mirage is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Petrovs is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Alphonzo Mirage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs prevents Mirage from getting the reversal.
Petrovs is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Mirage seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirage sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mirage controlling the position for now.
Mirage continues to stall.
Mirage wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage controlling the position well.

Petrovs stands up from half guard.
Mirage with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Petrovs to score with a decent uppercut.
Petrovs getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Petrovs swings widly with a right hand
and Mirage counters with a low kick, right behind Petrovs 's knee.
Petrovs lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mirage counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Petrovs throws a looping overhand right but Mirage ducks down to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mirage.
Mirage lands with a slapping head kick.
Petrovs throws a right hand that Mirage ducks under and follows up with a left that Mirage also avoids with ease.
A low kick from Mirage is predictable there
and Petrovs counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrovs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mirage.
Petrovs throws a hook but Mirage avoids it easily.
Kaspars Petrovs is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Petrovs missing with a left hand there. Mirage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaspars Petrovs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Petrovs has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaspars Petrovs!
Kaspars Petrovs thanked the fans post fight for their support.