PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Boitsov (ranked 1560 p4p, 210 weight class) and Huwan Bagwis (ranked 1410 p4p, 189 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Huwan Bagwis enters the cage!

Boitsov
vs
Bagwis

179 cm
21
222 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
211 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Boitsov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Huwan Bagwis!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Bagwis.
Bagwis tests Boitsov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Huwan Bagwis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boitsov swinging wildly here.
A countering left hand to the body from Bagwis misses.
Boitsov 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.
Bagwis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Boitsov throws a lazy uppercut
and Bagwis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Boitsov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bagwis.
Boitsov misses with a hook. Bagwis ducked under it nicely.
Boitsov scores with a body shot.
Boitsov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bagwis circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bagwis misses with a hook

and Boitsov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagwis is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boitsov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boitsov is trying to control. Bagwis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boitsov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bagwis defending well though.
Boitsov throwing shots but Bagwis is blocking nicely.
Boitsov slips a nice elbow through Bagwis's hands, connecting with Bagwis's forehead.
Boitsov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Boitsov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Boitsov is keen to just control but Bagwis is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagwis keeping control of the position.
Boitsov tries to pass to full mount but Bagwis defends it.
Boitsov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Boitsov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bagwis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Boitsov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bagwis sees it coming and defends easily.
Bagwis is not content to let Boitsov control the position.

Boitsov is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bagwis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Boitsov is looking for a kimura here.
Boitsov throwing shots but Bagwis is blocking nicely.
Boitsov trying to control the action but Bagwis is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boitsov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boitsov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boitsov misses with a looping left.
Boitsov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Bagwis does it's job there.
Bagwis lands a body shot.
Bagwis moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Boitsov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bagwis lands a nice shot that snaps Boitsov's head back.
Bagwis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bagwis slips a jab and a cross from Boitsov.
A little jabbing left from Bagwis on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bagwis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Boitsov at a distance.
Bagwis cracks Boitsov with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Huwan Bagwis will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bagwis cracks the inside of Boitsov's front leg.
Bagwis misses with a body shot.
Boitsov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bagwis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bagwis connects with a body shot that sends Boitsov's belly button to the back.
Bagwis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Boitsov dodges the punch combination from Bagwis.
Boitsov is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bagwis misses the shot to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Boitsov misses its target.
Bagwis misses with a looping right.
Boitsov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bagwis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bagwis misses with a body shot.
Boitsov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Huwan Bagwis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagwis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boitsov misses the shot to the body.
Boitsov throws a right hand that Bagwis ducks under and follows up with a left that Bagwis also avoids with ease.
Bagwis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Boitsov.
Bagwis is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Bagwis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Boitsov.
Boitsov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bagwis stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Boitsov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bagwis counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice defenses there by Boitsov.
Boitsov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bagwis in his tracks.
Bagwis throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Boitsov misses.
Bagwis misses with a looping right.
Huwan Bagwis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Boitsov throws a jab when Bagwis was well out of range.
Boitsov throws a right hand that Bagwis ducks under and follows up with a left that Bagwis also avoids with ease.
Boitsov takes a swing at Bagwis's ribcage but misses.
Boitsov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bagwis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boitsov connects with a right hand. Bagwis shakes it off.

Bagwis gets caught napping as Boitsov dives in and scores a takedown. Bagwis manages to retain guard.
Bagwis controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bagwis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagwis controlling the action here.
Boitsov is looking to control Bagwis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boitsov avoid being mounted?
Bagwis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Boitsov is looking to control Bagwis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boitsov avoid being mounted?
Bagwis controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boitsov tries to roll over but Bagwis keeps him under control.
Dmitry Boitsov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boitsov is concentrating on defense, preventing Bagwis from advancing position.

Boitsov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bagwis pulls his head out easily.
Bagwis is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bagwis controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boitsov is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Huwan Bagwis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Boitsov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bagwis.
An attempted straight right counter from Boitsov misses the target.
Bagwis shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Boitsov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bagwis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boitsov throws a big shot that misses.
Bagwis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Boitsov in his tracks.
Boitsov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bagwis misses with a jab to the body
and Boitsov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bagwis jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bagwis throws out a powerful jab.

Boitsov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boitsov tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boitsov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bagwis keeps working.
Boitsov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Boitsov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bagwis down.
Boitsov wants to control but Bagwis is keeping him busy.
Boitsov working the ground and pound but Bagwis is defending the strikes.
Boitsov scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagwis defending against the ground and pound.
Bagwis gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Boitsov throws some wild stikes that Bagwis manages to avoid easily.
Poor strikes thrown by Boitsov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Boitsov wants to control the pace but Bagwis is squirming around nicely.
Boitsov unloads with some shots from mount but Bagwis bucks and avoids them well.
Boitsov breaks from Bagwis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Boitsov is trying to control here but Bagwis has managed to regain half guard.
Boitsov prevents Bagwis from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagwis moves into full guard.
Dmitry Boitsov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bagwis keeping moving, preventing Boitsov from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Boitsov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Boitsov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bagwis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Huwan Bagwis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boitsov looking to sit in guard and control but Bagwis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boitsov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bagwis passes into side control.
Bagwis controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov is trying to control Bagwis's posture but Bagwis avoids it.
Boitsov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bagwis gets to mount! Boitsov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Boitsov is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bagwis looking to control and managing it successfully.

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 Dmitry Boitsov.
I think Bagwis 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Huwan Bagwis!