PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hobo Garrincha (ranked 1423 p4p, 2680 weight class) and Denis Denisov (ranked 77 p4p, 155 weight class). Denis Denisov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Garrincha
vs
Denisov

170 cm
24
141
6 - 1 - 0

167 cm
29
140
10 - 17 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hobo Garrincha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denisov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Denisov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Denisov tries to clinch there but Garrincha circles away.
Denisov tries to clinch but Garrincha moves out of range.
It looked like Garrincha was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Denisov.
Denisov shoots in and drives through. Garrincha sprawls well.
Garrincha throws the left hand but Denisov avoids the punch easily.
Garrincha throws a jab but it's blocked by Denisov.
Some wild striking there from Denisov.
A left lands for Denisov.
Hobo Garrincha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Denisov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Denisov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Garrincha eats them both and turns towards Denisov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Hobo Garrincha has been cut.
Denisov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garrincha dips to his left and cracks Denisov with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garrincha slips a straight right by Denisov.
Garrincha throws a jab but it's blocked by Denisov.
Denisov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Denisov throws the left hand but Garrincha avoids the punch easily.
Denisov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Garrincha manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A cross from Garrincha lands.
Denisov tries to bum rush Garrincha with a series of wild strikes but Garrincha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garrincha lands a right hook to the body.
Hobo Garrincha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garrincha moves into range and connects with a jab.
Garrincha lands a nice looking body shot.
Garrincha throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Denisov on the side of the head.
Denisov lands a head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Denisov lands a jab to the nose.
Garrincha thuds a left hand into Denisov's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garrincha looks to land a combination but Denisov avoids it well.
Denisov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Garrincha avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Garrincha swings away with a body shot that misses
and Garrincha takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Denisov throws a lazy uppercut
and Garrincha counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Garrincha throws a body shot but no joy.
Garrincha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Denisov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Garrincha.

Garrincha gets caught flat footed, as Denisov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Garrincha keeping moving, preventing Denisov from controlling successfully.
Garrincha looking for a sweep. Not yet Garrincha, not yet.
Garrincha seems keen to control Denisov's posture.
Garrincha seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Denisov tries to free his leg and advance position but Garrincha is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrincha trying to keep a closed guard but Denisov is proving a slippery customer.
Garrincha lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Garrincha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Denisov striking off his back but it's not causing Garrincha any problems.
Garrincha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Denisov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Denisov looking to control.
Denisov keeping moving, preventing Garrincha from controlling successfully.
Denisov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Denisov told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Denisov keeping moving, preventing Garrincha from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Denisov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garrincha wants to control from the top but Denisov keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Garrincha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Denisov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Garrincha wants to sweep here but Denisov controlling him for the moment.

Garrincha has his foot on Denisov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Denisov works his way back into a safe position though.
Garrincha controls Denisov momentarily but Denisov frees himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Denisov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Denisov postures up and lands a big shot to Garrincha's brow.
Denisov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Denisov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hobo Garrincha will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hobo Garrincha's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A lazy left from Denisov finds it's target.
Denisov slips a jab from Garrincha.
Denisov throws a combination that misses
letting Garrincha counter with a right hand.
Denisov moves in looking to clinch but Garrincha pushes him off.
Garrincha misses with a straight left.
Denisov throws a right hand that Garrincha ducks under and follows up with a left that Garrincha also avoids with ease.

Denisov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Denisov is trying to control. Garrincha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov throwing shots but Garrincha is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Garrincha manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Denisov trying to control but Garrincha is working from the bottom.
Denisov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garrincha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garrincha controls Denisov momentarily but Denisov frees himself.
Garrincha seems keen to control Denisov's posture.
Denisov postures up in Garrincha's guard and throws a big left but Garrincha blocks it.
Garrincha managing to control the position.
Garrincha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Denisov is refusing to be controlled, as Garrincha sits in half guard.
Denisov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov is still trying to improve position.
Denisov is trying to control but Garrincha passes into side control!
Denisov wants to control but Garrincha postures up.
Denisov throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Denisov misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Denisov struggling a bit here.
Denisov trying to remain calm as Garrincha controls from the top position.
Denisov manages to get back to half guard.
Denisov wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Denisov is controlling Garrincha's trapped leg to prevent Garrincha from advancing to side control.
Garrincha trying to pass the guard but Denisov defending well.
Garrincha is looking to stall here but Denisov recovers full guard.
Denisov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Denisov working a defensive guard here.
Denisov keeping moving, preventing Garrincha from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Denisov checks a leg kick nicely.
Garrincha misses with a lunging right hand
and Denisov counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Denisov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Garrincha gets back to full guard.
Garrincha is adopting a defensive guard.
Denisov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garrincha wants to sweep here but Denisov controlling him for the moment.
Denisov lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garrincha working a defensive guard but Denisov passes into half guard.
Denisov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Garrincha is controlling Denisov's trapped leg to prevent Denisov from advancing to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hobo Garrincha's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Garrincha throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Denisov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Denisov lands an overhand right.
Garrincha circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Garrincha misses the target.
Garrincha throws a left and a right that both miss
and Denisov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Garrincha ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Denisov there.
Garrincha connects with a good right hand that stumbles Denisov. Denisov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hobo Garrincha is winning the standup battle so far.
Denisov misses with a few strikes there.
Denisov tries to clinch but Garrincha moves out of range.
As Denisov looks to move away, Garrincha throws a big counter combo but Denisov just gets out of the way.
Denisov avoids the body shot from Garrincha.
Denisov staying out of range there.
Denisov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Denisov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Denisov moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denisov pulls Garrincha into guard.
Denisov wants to control but Garrincha passes easily into half guard.
Denisov trying to control from the bottom.
Denis Denisov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garrincha is keen to just control but Denisov is a slippery customer.
Garrincha blocks the strikes from Denisov.
Garrincha is looking to take a break and control but Denisov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garrincha tries to pass to full mount but Denisov defends it.
Denisov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Denisov missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Denisov manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Garrincha keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Garrincha is looking to control Denisov's arms but Denisov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Garrincha has his back to the cage.
Garrincha misses with a knee strike.

Denisov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Garrincha uses from the top position.
Denisov trying to control the position.
Denisov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Garrincha puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Garrincha is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Denisov tries to get to full guard but Garrincha has control of the leg.
Denisov keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Denisov is refusing to be controlled, as Garrincha sits in half guard.
Garrincha works his way into full mount!

Denisov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Garrincha.
Garrincha avoids the attempt from Denisov to control.
Denisov is working to get back to half guard.
Garrincha sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Denisov wants to hold on but Garrincha pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Denisov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Garrincha scores with a couple of nice shots.
Garrincha prevents Denisov from standing back up.
Garrincha content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Denisov is looking to control Garrincha's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Denisov avoid being mounted?
Garrincha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Garrincha is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Denisov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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 Hobo Garrincha.
I think Garrincha has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!