PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anton Obuhov (ranked 272 p4p, 37 weight class) and Bartholomäus Wolff (ranked 769 p4p, 98 weight class). Bartholomäus Wolff has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Obuhov
vs
Wolff

190 cm
37
200 lbs
27 - 21 - 1

202 cm
28
202 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 27 - 21 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Obuhov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bartholomäus Wolff!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wolff ducks under a wild hook from Obuhov.
Obuhov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wolff is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wolff lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Anton Obuhov has been cut.
Nice straight punches there by Obuhov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Obuhov.
Wolff takes a swing at Obuhov's ribcage but misses.
Obuhov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wolff swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wolff lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wolff throws a body kick, spinning off balance

so Obuhov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Obuhov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wolff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Obuhov stays in close to Wolff's body and controls the position.
Obuhov trying to control but Wolff is working from the bottom.
Wolff is pulling down on Obuhov's head. It's preventing any offense from Obuhov, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obuhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Obuhov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Obuhov lands a couple of elbows.
Wolff preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Obuhov throwing strikes from guard but Wolff blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obuhov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Obuhov throws a big elbow that misses.
Wolff utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wolff has Obuhov pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov stopping the sweep attempt from Wolff.
Obuhov tries to free his leg and advance position but Wolff is retaining full guard.
Obuhov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Obuhov passes Wolff's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Obuhov is looking to take a break and control but Wolff is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Obuhov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Obuhov is looking to take a break and control but Wolff is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Obuhov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Obuhov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obuhov is looking for submissions but instead, Wolff has regained full guard.
Obuhov wants to control from the top but Wolff keeps moving.
Obuhov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wolff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wolff is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Obuhov throwing strikes but missing.
Obuhov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wolff's head.
Obuhov postures up and lands a big shot to Wolff's brow.
Obuhov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wolff looking to hit a scissor sweep but Obuhov is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Obuhov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wolff stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Obuhov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Wolff rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Obuhov's guard! Nice work there by Wolff!
Obuhov looking for a sweep. Not yet Obuhov, not yet.
Wolff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wolff trying to control the position from guard on top but Obuhov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wolff not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Obuhov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anton Obuhov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wolff scores with a hook to the body. Obuhov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wolff misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Obuhov.
Obuhov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Obuhov lands a really nice looking cross but Wolff seems unphased.
Obuhov misses with a takedown attempt
and Wolff finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Wolff.
Wolff takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wolff uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Obuhov.
Wolff steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Obuhov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wolff can do to turn this around?

Obuhov feints and as Wolff raises his hands in defense, Obuhov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wolff keeping moving, preventing Obuhov from controlling successfully.
Wolff avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obuhov working some strikes from top position.
Wolff preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Obuhov throws a big elbow that misses.
Wolff looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wolff holds on and takes a little breather.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Obuhov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Obuhov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Obuhov wants to control from the top but Wolff keeps moving.
Wolff is trying to control the position but Obuhov postures up.
Obuhov trying to control but Wolff is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Obuhov throwing strikes from guard but Wolff blocks nicely.
Wolff preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wolff looking for a sweep. Not yet Wolff, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wolff throws a wild body kick that Obuhov sees coming a mile off.
Wolff uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Obuhov.
Obuhov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Obuhov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wolff throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wolff cracks the inside of Obuhov's front leg.
Wolff misses with a hook
and Obuhov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Wolff.
Obuhov misses with an uppercut.

Obuhov moves into the clinch.

Wolff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Wolff.
A quick step to the side and Obuhov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sloppy strikes from Obuhov. Those never looked like landing.
A swing and a miss from Obuhov.
Obuhov tries to clinch up but Wolff circles away and keeps his distance.
Wolff tries to land a leg kick but Obuhov saw it coming and moves away.
Obuhov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wolff on the side of the head.
Bartholomäus Wolff is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Obuhov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wolff throws a body punch but Obuhov moves out of range.
Obuhov shoots for a takedown but Wolff saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Obuhov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Obuhov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Obuhov throws a hook but Wolff avoids it easily.
Wolff lands a front kick.
Wolff connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Obuhov momentarily.
Wolff throws a leg kick
and Obuhov counters with a nice body shot.
Wolff looks for the body kick but Obuhov saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anton Obuhov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anton Obuhov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Obuhov looks to throw the jab but Wolff is out of range.
Obuhov moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromWolff.
Bartholomäus Wolff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wolff scores with a shot to the body.
Obuhov scores with a nice right hand.
Wolff has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Wolff misses with an attempted mid kick.
Wolff chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wolff misses with a kick to the body.
Wolff throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Obuhov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wolff connects with a solid leg kick.
Wolff looks to land a left hand but Obuhov moved out of range nicely.
Obuhov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wolff in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Obuhov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Obuhov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wolff has his hands clasped together around Obuhov's back. He's all about the action.
Obuhov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Obuhov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Obuhov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Obuhov prevents Wolff from improving his position.
Wolff keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Obuhov with the ground and pound but Wolff uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Wolff has Obuhov pulled in close to control his posture.
Obuhov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Obuhov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Obuhov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Obuhov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Obuhov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wolff dives on top into guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Obuhov is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov passes Wolff's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wolff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Obuhov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Obuhov's back!
Wolff is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Wolff keeps control of the position as Obuhov tries to break free.
Wolff not allowing Obuhov to control his hands.
Wolff has the hooks in. Obuhov is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov trying to control the action but Wolff just sinks the hooks in.

Wolff working for a choke but Obuhov is defending well.
Anton Obuhov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wolff doesn't have the hooks in and Obuhov manages to turn into his guard.
Wolff has momentary wrist control but Obuhov slips an elbow through the middle.
Obuhov distracts Wolff with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Wolff throws his legs up looking for a submission but Obuhov uses it to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Obuhov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Obuhov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Obuhov!
In his post fight interview, Anton Obuhov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.