PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bogdan Mironov (ranked 4594 p4p, 4046 weight class) and James Litchfield (ranked 534 p4p, 0 weight class). Bogdan Mironov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to James Litchfield's chin.

Mironov
vs
Litchfield

185 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
205
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bogdan Mironov !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Litchfield!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Litchfield has managed to clinch.
Litchfield trying to land knees to the body.

Litchfield breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice body punch from Litchfield.

Litchfield fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mironov sprawls well initially but Litchfield persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Litchfield wants to pass to mount but Mironov is defending the position.
Litchfield throwing shots but Mironov is blocking nicely.
Mironov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Litchfield on the ground.
Litchfield trying to control the pace.
Litchfield's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mironov pushes Litchfield off looking to stand but Litchfield dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Litchfield trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mironov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Litchfield counters by clinching up.
Litchfield is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mironov is defending well.
Mironov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mironov stops a takedown attempt from Litchfield.
Litchfield is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mironov is defending well.
Bogdan Mironov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Litchfield.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mironov lands with a nice body punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Mironov misses the target.
Litchfield steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mironov .
No luck with that takedown attempt from Litchfield.
It looked like Mironov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Litchfield shoots in but no luck this time.
Litchfield shoots for a takedown but Mironov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Litchfield defending well as Mironov loads up on a big left hand.
Mironov swings for the body but Litchfield moves out of range.
Mironov connects with a looping right hand.
Litchfield on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mironov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Litchfield counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mironov being controlled against the cage.
Litchfield is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mironov is trying to push Litchfield away but Litchfield has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Litchfield is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mironov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mironov has had enough of the clinch but Litchfield keeps him there for the moment.
Mironov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mironov is trying to push Litchfield away but Litchfield has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Litchfield escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Litchfield shoots in for a takedown but Mironov shows good takedown defense.
Mironov misses with a series of wild punches.
Mironov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mironov throws a body punch but Litchfield moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Mironov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mironov takes one to the chin there.
Litchfield shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mironov sprawls well. Mironov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Litchfield gets slowly back to his feet.

Litchfield moves into range and clinches up with Mironov .
Litchfield missing with knees to the body.
Mironov wants to break free but Litchfield has control.
Litchfield wants a takedown.
Litchfield is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mironov to keep the fight standing.
Litchfield throws a knee to the head but misses.
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 Bogdan Mironov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Litchfield misses with a takedown attempt - Mironov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Litchfield misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mironov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Litchfield is looking for the big counter here.
Mironov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mironov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mironov misses with a looping right.
Litchfield dives in for a single leg takedown but Mironov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
An attempted straight right counter from Mironov misses the target.
Mironov misses with a lunging right hand
and Litchfield counters with a three punch combo that has Mironov backing up. Mironov nods at Litchfield to acknowledge the strikes.
Mironov misses with an uppercut

and Litchfield counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Litchfield.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Litchfield is working for takedown but Mironov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bogdan Mironov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Litchfield.
Litchfield is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mironov is defending well.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mironov lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Litchfield sprawling to the canvas. Mironov follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Litchfield hang on?
Mironov wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Litchfield uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Litchfield has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mironov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Litchfield lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Litchfield sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litchfield loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Litchfield wants to pass the guard but Mironov is keeping the position.
Mironov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Litchfield advances to half guard.
Mironov tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Litchfield manages to move to mount!
Mironov tries to buck Litchfield off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litchfield sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Litchfield throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mironov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Litchfield tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mironov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Litchfield thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Litchfield throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litchfield looking to control and managing it successfully.

Litchfield has hold of Mironov 's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mironov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Litchfield pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Mironov is trying to stand up.
Mironov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Litchfield controlling from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Litchfield will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mironov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Litchfield fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mironov , pushing him back against the cage.
Litchfield is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Litchfield pulls guard successfully.
Litchfield is adopting a defensive guard.
Litchfield has a closed guard, preventing Mironov from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mironov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Litchfield manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litchfield jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mironov walks away with a smile on his face. Litchfield gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Litchfield lands with a left to the head.
Litchfield is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bogdan Mironov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Litchfield.
A frustrated look appears on Mironov 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Litchfield tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mironov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mironov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Litchfield has him pressed against the cage.
Mironov wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litchfield has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mironov after a bit of a struggle.
Litchfield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mironov avoids it.
Litchfield missing with knees to the body.

Litchfield decides to pull guard.
Litchfield looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mironov is looking to stand up but Litchfield won't let him.
Litchfield lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litchfield is pushing down on Mironov 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mironov is fighting to maintain full guard but Litchfield has managed to sneak the leg through.
Litchfield keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mironov wants to get back to his feet.
Litchfield trying to pass the guard but Mironov defending well.
Litchfield is taking a breather. Mironov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Mironov looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Litchfield moves into full mount! Mironov won't be happy about that!
Litchfield throwing strikes here but Mironov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Litchfield sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Litchfield has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Litchfield looking to ground and pound but Mironov is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Litchfield comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Litchfield 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... James Litchfield!