PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Ligachev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Te Guruma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guruma is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by A Tear In The Open. Mikhail Ligachev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Te Guruma's chin.

Ligachev
vs
Guruma

172 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikhail Ligachev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Te Guruma!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guruma misses with a few strikes there.
Guruma thuds his shin into the meat of Ligachev's side.
Ligachev misses the shot to the body.
Te Guruma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guruma closes the distance and clinches up with Ligachev, looking for a takedown. Guruma pushes Ligachev against the cage but Ligachev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ligachev tries for a takedown but Guruma sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ligachev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Guruma.
Guruma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ligachev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Guruma lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ligachev has a takedown stuffed.
Ligachev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Guruma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Guruma misses with a looping right.

Guruma closes the distance and clinches.
Guruma slows down the pace here.
Guruma lands a nice uppercut.
Ligachev is looking to break free of the clinch but Guruma has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guruma keeps control of Ligachev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Guruma looking to stall.
Guruma tries to land knees in the clinch but Ligachev avoids the damage to the body.
Guruma has a couple of punches blocked by Ligachev.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ligachev.
Knees in the clinch landing for Guruma.
Guruma is looking to break free of the clinch but Ligachev has double underhooks.
Guruma wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ligachev has him pressed against the cage.
Ligachev stalling in the clinch.

Guruma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by Guruma or perhaps it was just good defense by Ligachev which made him look bad.
Ligachev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Guruma throws a quick inside leg kick.
Guruma wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Guruma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Guruma misses with a kick to the body.
Guruma throws a hook to the side of Ligachev's head but Ligachev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guruma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ligachev.
Guruma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Guruma throws a head kick that misses.
Guruma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ligachev tries to clinch but Guruma is having none of it.
Guruma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ligachev thuds a left hand into Guruma's body.
Guruma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Guruma looks gassed!
Guruma with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ligachev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Guruma.
Ligachev shoots in for a takedown but Guruma shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Ligachev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guruma throws a nice head kick!
Guruma scores with a spinning back kick!
Guruma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Guruma has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ligachev finds it's way round the side to connect with Guruma's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev slips a jab and a cross from Guruma.

Guruma closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ligachev to the mat! Ligachev manages to get full guard.
Guruma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Guruma would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Guruma won't allow Ligachev to sweep him here.
Ligachev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guruma throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ligachev trying to control the position.
Ligachev is controlling Guruma's posture.
Ligachev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Guruma throws a looping overhand right but Ligachev ducks down to avoid it.
Guruma avoids the body shot from Ligachev.
Guruma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ligachev keeps the fight on the outside.
Guruma displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Guruma misses with a head kick.

Ligachev gets caught flat footed, as Guruma shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Guruma throws a big right hand that misses.
Guruma won't allow Ligachev to get back to his feet.
Guruma tries to stand but Ligachev is controlling from the bottom.
Guruma throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ligachev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Te Guruma dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ligachev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ligachev stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ligachev scores with a hook to the body.
Guruma lands a knee to the body.
A body shot lands from Guruma.
Ligachev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ligachev looking to slow down the pace here.
Guruma fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Guruma wants to get back to striking at distance but Ligachev won't allow it.
Guruma can't break the clinch.
Guruma is trying to drag Ligachev to the mat but Ligachev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Guruma is looking to break free of the clinch but Ligachev has double underhooks.
Ligachev looking to slow down the pace here.
Guruma is breathing heavily.
Ligachev stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ligachev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ligachev wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guruma lands an uppercut.
Ligachev has Guruma pushed against the cage.
Guruma tries to land a knee to the head but Ligachev blocks with his arms.
Ligachev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Guruma using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ligachev keeps control of Guruma as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Guruma is trying to break free.
Guruma missing with knees to the body.
Guruma has had enough of the clinch but Ligachev keeps him there for the moment.
Ligachev tries to pull guard but Guruma won't allow it.
Ligachev is pushing Guruma up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ligachev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Guruma tries a body shot but Ligachev blocks it.
Guruma tries to work over Ligachev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Guruma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ligachev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ligachev pulls guard.
Guruma stopping the sweep attempt from Ligachev.
Ligachev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Guruma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ligachev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Guruma stands up from Ligachev's guard - Guruma perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Guruma.
Guruma throws a combination. Ligachev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ligachev tries to clinch up but Guruma circles away and keeps his distance.
Ligachev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Guruma counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Guruma throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ligachev's waist but Ligachev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Guruma off to one side.

Ligachev rushes Guruma and presses him up against the cage.
Ligachev scores with a shot to the side of Guruma's head.
Ligachev struggles to land a body shot inside as Guruma controls his hands.
Guruma lands a knee to the body.
Ligachev stalling in the clinch but Guruma improves position.

Guruma breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ligachev has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev managing to block the knees to the body from Guruma.
Guruma misses with a body punch.
Ligachev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Guruma is keeping busy.

Guruma manages to break the clinch.

Guruma shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ligachev is trying to keep Guruma in close.
Guruma trying to control the position from guard on top but Ligachev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Guruma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guruma throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Guruma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Te Guruma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Guruma.
Ligachev throws a big shot that misses.
Guruma throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ligachev moves into the clinch.
Ligachev wants to stall.
Ligachev working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Guruma breaks the clinch.
Guruma connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ligachev. Ligachev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Guruma moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guruma throws a head kick but Ligachev moves out of range.
Guruma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A chopping leg kick lands by Guruma.
Guruma scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Guruma throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ligachev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ligachev clinches.
Guruma misses with the head strike.
Ligachev is working Guruma over against the cage.
Ligachev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ligachev wants to stall.

Guruma breaks from the clinch.

Guruma gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Ligachev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ligachev manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Guruma tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Guruma gets back to full guard.
Ligachev passes Guruma's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev wants to pass the guard but Guruma is defending well.
Guruma misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Guruma wants to get back to his feet.

Ligachev stands up from half guard.
Ligachev scores with a punch to the head.
Mikhail Ligachev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guruma swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ligachev counters with a nice body shot.
A jab lands there for Guruma.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev thows a body shot but no joy.

Ligachev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Guruma looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Guruma is trying to control Ligachev's posture but Ligachev avoids it.
Guruma tries to escape but Ligachev is in control.
Guruma has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Guruma is trying to improve his position.
Ligachev prevents Guruma from escaping the position.

Guruma explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Ligachev throws a right hand that Guruma ducks under and follows up with a left that Guruma also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Guruma.
Ligachev is looking to wear down Guruma with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ligachev throws a series of punches but Guruma moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guruma lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Guruma falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ligachev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mikhail Ligachev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Guruma gets a clinch.
Ligachev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Guruma has had enough of the clinch but Ligachev keeps him there for the moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Guruma unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ligachev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Guruma breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Guruma is looking to land body kicks.
Ligachev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Guruma circles away quickly and effectively.
Ligachev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Guruma can pounce on him.
Guruma explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ligachev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Te Guruma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A chopping leg kick lands by Guruma.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Te Guruma.
Well Guruma 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Te Guruma!