PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Israel Hands (ranked 2098 p4p, 1207 weight class) and Grigoriy Petrov (ranked 260 p4p, 173 weight class). Hands comes into the arena with A Collection of Sea Shanties blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hands
vs
Petrov

175 cm
30
160
13 - 10 - 1

165 cm
28
160
10 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Hands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Grigoriy Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Petrov throws a body punch but Hands moves out of range.
Hands uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Petrov throws a jab when Hands was well out of range.
Petrov takes a swing at Hands's ribcage but misses.
Petrov misses with a looping right.
As Petrov backs away, Hands returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A big right from Hands misses.
Petrov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Petrov connects with a right hand. Hands shakes it off.
Hands takes a swing at Petrov's ribcage but misses.
Petrov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A jab from Petrov misses.
Hands appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Petrov connects with a leg kick.
Hands throws a front kick aimed at Petrov's knee but Petrov avoids it well.
Hands lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hands uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petrov.
Hands pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hands has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hands connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hands staying out of range there.
Petrov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hands.
Hands lands the left hand.
Hands throws a good cross that connects.
Hands connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hands tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands lands with a straight right. Petrov didn't see that one coming.
Petrov slips a jab from Hands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Petrov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nice body kick there by Petrov.
Hands stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Petrov throws a looping overhand right but Hands ducks down to avoid it.
Hands throwing a counter right hand but Petrov manages to avoid it.
Petrov moves out of range of the strikes.
Petrov takes a swing at Hands's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Hands wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A low kick lands for Hands.
Hands takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Petrov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hands lands a nice shot that snaps Petrov's head back.
Hands scores with a sloppy right hand. Petrov should have avoided that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrov throws out a loose jab but Hands uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Hands on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hands looks to land a right hand but Petrov moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Petrov misses the target.
Petrov throws a hook but Hands avoids it easily.
Petrov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hands pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hands misses with a leg kick
and Petrov counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov throws out a leg kick but Hands moves out of range and Petrov only half commits.
Petrov throws a leg kick but Hands sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Petrov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hands throws a shot from downtown. Petrov moves away and avoids it.
Petrov catches Hands with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hands looks to throw the jab but Petrov is out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Hands. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hands.
Hands looks to score with a jab to the body but Petrov is just out of range.
Petrov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Petrov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hands staying out of range there.
Hands throwing a counter right hand but Petrov manages to avoid it.
Petrov lands a glancing blow to the side of Hands's head.
Hands scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Petrov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Petrov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Petrov misses with a series of wild punches.
Hands is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Petrov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hands.
Hands tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Petrov.

Hands moves into range and clinches up with Petrov.
Hands misses with some punches.
Petrov digs a right hand into Hands's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hands's gas tank.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hands.
Petrov effectively controlling the action here.

Petrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hands misses with a hook.
Hands paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Petrov moves away from the strike by Hands.
Hands throws a shot from downtown. Petrov moves away and avoids it.
Good leg kick by Petrov.
Hands misses with a hook. Petrov ducked under it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Hands misses the target.
Nice jab there from Hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hands takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hands looks to throw the jab but Petrov is out of range.
Hands throws a big shot that misses.
Petrov misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov cracks Hands with an open hand slap.
Petrov lands with a straight right. Hands didn't see that one coming.
A left lands for Petrov.
Hands fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Petrov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petrov. Hands does a little dance to reset his feet.
Petrov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Petrov misses with a body kick.
Hands is looking to counter punch.
Petrov throws an overhand right that lands on Hands's shoulder, as Hands tries to avoid the shot.
Petrov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick lands for Petrov.
Hands is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Petrov checks a leg kick.
Petrov ducks under a wild hook from Hands.
Petrov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hands swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hands tries to clinch but Petrov is having none of it.
A jab from Petrov misses.
Petrov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hands looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A chopping leg kick lands by Petrov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Grigoriy Petrov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Petrov throws the left hand but Hands avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Hands was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Petrov.
Hands throws a hook but Petrov blocks it.
Petrov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Petrov throws an overhand right that lands on Hands's shoulder, as Hands tries to avoid the shot.
Petrov scores with a nice right hand.
Petrov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hands ducks under a wild hook from Petrov.
Hands is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Petrov throws a big shot that misses.
A low kick from Hands misses
and Petrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Petrov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hands misses with a straight right.
Petrov scores with a decent looking hook.
A jab from Petrov misses.
Petrov fails to land with a series of punches.
Hands scores with a sloppy right hand. Petrov should have avoided that one.
A slow jab from Hands misses its intended target.
Petrov throws a jab but it's blocked by Hands.
Grigoriy Petrov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Petrov misses with a body kick.
Hands tries to clinch there but Petrov circles away.
Petrov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hands misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands throws a low kick but Petrov avoids it.
Petrov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Petrov cracks Hands with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Hands fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Petrov, pushing him back against the cage.
Hands swings wildly with an uppercut but Petrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hands throws a punch but it's blocked by Petrov.
Petrov tries to break free but Hands pushes him back against the cage.
Petrov pushes Hands back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hands swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hands swings wildly with an uppercut but Petrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Petrov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hands is keeping busy.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hands.
Petrov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hands working aggressively here.
Hands misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hands.
Hands has a couple of punches blocked by Petrov.
Petrov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Petrov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Petrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands blocks an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petrov is trying to stall.
Hands lands a right hand that snaps the head of Petrov backwards.
Petrov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hands working aggressively here.
Petrov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Petrov is leaning against Hands and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hands throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hands.
A head punch on the inside from Hands fails to land.

Petrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hands keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hands fires out a quick counter leg kick but Petrov just manages to avoid it.
Hands jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hands tries a low kick but Petrov avoids it.
Petrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Petrov throws a hook but Hands blocks it.
Hands swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A bone on bone clash there as Hands blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hands at a distance.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hands moves away.
Petrov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hands misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petrov.
Petrov lands a right hook to the body.
Petrov looks to land a right hand but Hands moved out of range.
Petrov just misses with a punch to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Hands checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hands on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Petrov. Petrov obviously looking to wear him down.
Hands tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hands takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Some wild striking there from Petrov.
Petrov throws a leg kick but Hands moved away.
Hands was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hands misses with an uppercut.
Hands walks into a left hand.
Hands thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hands sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Petrov throws a body punch but Hands moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Hands misses the target.
Petrov scores with a hook.
Petrov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hands can pounce on him.
Hands misses with a looping right.
Petrov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hands works Petrov's body with a nice hook.
Petrov connects with a body shot.
Hands darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Petrov loads up on a big right hand but Hands slips the punch.
Hands throwing a counter right hand but Petrov manages to avoid it.
Petrov ducks right into an uppercut from Hands.
Hands throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Petrov on the side of the head.
Hands ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little feinted left hand from Hands on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Petrov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Petrov throws a looping overhand right but Hands ducks down to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Petrov.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hands missing with a left hand there. Petrov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hands slips a jab from Petrov.
Petrov misses with a straight left.
Petrov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hands's sensitive parts.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grigoriy Petrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A lazy left from Hands finds it's target.
A jab lands there for Hands.
Petrov misses the jab.
Petrov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hands.
Petrov 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.
Hands takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A slow jab from Petrov misses its intended target.
Hands tries to clinch but Petrov moves out of range.
Hands missing with a left hand there. Petrov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Petrov! But no joy.
Hands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Petrov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Petrov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Petrov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hands is able to avoid easily.
Petrov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Petrov lands a nice looking body shot.
Petrov lunges at Hands with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hands's hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Petrov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Petrov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A big left from Hands misses.
Nice shot lands for Petrov.
Petrov just misses with a punch to the body.
Petrov throws a lazy right hand but Hands sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Petrov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Petrov looks to land a body kick but Hands moved away.
Petrov lands with a hook. Hands tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hands throws a jab but it's blocked by Petrov.
Hands throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Petrov was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hands checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A little feinted left hand from Hands on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Petrov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hands cracks Petrov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Petrov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Petrov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hands throws a body punch but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A slapping body kick lands there for Petrov.
Hands defending well as Petrov loads up on a big left hand.
Hands throwing a counter right hand but Petrov manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut lands for Hands. That snapped Petrov's head back.
The fighters circling - Hands throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hands scores with a body shot.
Petrov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hands throws out the jab.
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!
Petrov is looking to score with low kicks.
It looked like Hands was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Petrov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov throws a low kick but Hands avoids it.
Petrov is looking to chop away at Hands's legs.
Hands throws out a powerful jab.
Petrov scores with a jab to the head.
Hands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Petrov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Petrov misses with a straight right.
Hands catches Petrov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A leg kick checked by Hands.
Hands fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Petrov checks it well.
Petrov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hands.

Hands clinches with his opponent.
Petrov blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hands.
A nice left hand lands by Hands.

Petrov breaks the clinch.
A left lands for Petrov.
Petrov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Petrov throws a low kick but Hands moves out of range easily.
Petrov checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hands.
Petrov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Petrov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hands jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Petrov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Petrov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A good leg kick by Petrov.
Hands lands a jab to Petrov's midsection.
Hands moves out of range as Petrov strikes.
Hands uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Petrov.
Hands throwing a counter right hand but Petrov manages to avoid it.
Hands takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hands throws a shot from downtown. Petrov moves away and avoids it.
Hands misses with a low kick.
Petrov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Petrov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hands bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hands connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hands avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A big left from Hands misses.
Hands thumps Petrov with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hands's sensitive parts.
Hands jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Petrov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hands.

Hands closes the distance and clinches.
Israel Hands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petrov blocking some punches.
Hands throws a head punch that misses.
Hands scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hands misses with some punches.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrov blocks a jab.
A slow jab from Hands misses its intended target.
Petrov scores with a jab.
Hands misses with a straight right.
Petrov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hands with a body shot.
Petrov lands with a straight right. Hands didn't see that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hands avoids the body shot from Petrov.
Hands misses with a straight right.
Hands lands a lovely overhand right.
Hands throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

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 Israel Hands.
I think Petrov 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grigoriy Petrov!
An out of breath Grigoriy Petrov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.