PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Millward (ranked 4258 p4p, 5075 weight class) and Igor Pushikov (ranked 526 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Millward
vs
Pushikov

170 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Millward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Pushikov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Millward fails to land the takedown.
Millward fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Pushikov does no damage.
Millward seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Millward dodges the punch combination from Pushikov.
Pushikov shoots for a takedown but Millward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pushikov shoots in but Millward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Millward shoots in for a takedown but Pushikov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Millward throws a lazy head kick

and Pushikov moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Millward - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pushikov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Millward smiles and moves away.
James Millward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Pushikov.
Millward doesn't manage to clinch there - Pushikov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pushikov.
Millward fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pushikov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pushikov wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Pushikov as Millward shoots in.
Pushikov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pushikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pushikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Millward takes a swing at Pushikov's ribcage but misses.
Millward shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pushikov counters with a right hand to the body.
A punch combination from Pushikov misses.
Pushikov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Millward in his tracks.
Pushikov shoots in and drives through. Millward sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Millward fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pushikov throws a series of punches but Millward moves out of range.

Pushikov forces Millward back against the cage and clinches.

Pushikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pushikov looks winded!
Millward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pushikov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pushikov tried to score with a low kick but Millward checks it.
Millward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pushikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pushikov misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Pushikov misses.
Millward shoots in but Pushikov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Millward tries to clinch but Pushikov moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pushikov! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushikov sizes up Millward with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Millward throws a sloppy head kick and Pushikov moves out of range easily.
Pushikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Millward.
Pushikov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Millward is out of range.
A jab from Pushikov misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Millward.

Pushikov gets tackled into the cage by Millward. Millward maintains the clinch.

Pushikov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Millward tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pushikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pushikov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Millward tries to clinch but Pushikov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Millward shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pushikov pinned against the cage. Pushikov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Millward instigates a clinch.

Millward decides to pull guard.

Millward kicks Pushikov off and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pushikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pushikov unleashes a big counter combination but Millward bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Millward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pushikov sprawls well. Pushikov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Millward gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Pushikov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Millward moves in looking to clinch but Pushikov pushes him off.
Pushikov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Millward has a takedown stuffed.
Pushikov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Millward shoots in looking for a takedown. Pushikov tries to sprawl out of it but Millward keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pushikov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pushikov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Millward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pushikov!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pushikov darts in and clinches Millward up against the cage.

Pushikov breaks from the clinch.
Pushikov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Millward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushikov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Millward is able to avoid easily.
Igor Pushikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Millward closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pushikov circles away.
A head kick misses from Millward.
Millward fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Millward avoids a punch combination nicely.
Millward changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pushikov tries to avoid it but Millward manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pushikov to the ground. Pushikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pushikov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Millward has time to react.
Igor Pushikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Millward misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pushikov throws a low kick but Millward avoids it.
James Millward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Pushikov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pushikov throws a low kick but Millward moves out of range easily.
Millward tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Pushikov manages to circle out of the way.

Millward moves into the clinch.

Pushikov breaks the clinch.
Pushikov misses with a wild combination.
Pushikov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Millward sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pushikov somewhat.
Millward feinted with a counter takedown.
Pushikov with a poor takedown
and Millward cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Millward shoots in for a takedown but Pushikov shows good takedown defense.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Millward shoots in for a takedown but Pushikov shows good takedown defense.
Pushikov unleashes a big counter combination but Millward bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Millward moves into range and clinches up with Pushikov.
Millward tries for a takedown but Pushikov manages to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Millward as Pushikov tries to tie him up.

Millward drags the fight down to the ground.
Pushikov is looking to work some ground and pound but Millward has wrist control.
Millward lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pushikov working for submissions but it's allowed Millward to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Millward missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pushikov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Millward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Millward controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Pushikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Millward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pushikov sprawls well. Pushikov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Millward gets slowly back to his feet.
Millward looks to throw a body kick
and Pushikov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Millward tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pushikov defends well and Millward ends up having to push Pushikov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Pushikov breaks from the clinch.
Pushikov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Horrible takedown attempt by Millward or perhaps it was just good defense by Pushikov, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Millward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Millward has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pushikov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pushikov duly obliges.
Pushikov tries to clinch but Millward moves out of range.
Millward throws a quick counter kick to the body but Pushikov avoids it.
Pushikov throws a right hand that Millward ducks under and follows up with a left that Millward also avoids with ease.
Pushikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushikov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Millward.
Pushikov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sloppy strikes from Pushikov. Those never looked like landing.
Pushikov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Millward misses with a takedown attempt
and Pushikov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Millward changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pushikov tries to avoid it but Millward manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pushikov to the ground. Pushikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Millward tries to clinch there but Pushikov circles away.
Millward shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pushikov but Pushikov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Millward slips a jab and a cross from Pushikov.
A combination from Pushikov does no damage.
A leg kick checked by Pushikov.
Millward closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pushikov circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushikov slaps away a takedown attempt from Millward, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pushikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Millward shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pushikov but Pushikov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Millward tries to close the distance and clinch but Pushikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Millward slips a jab and a cross from Pushikov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Millward shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pushikov as he avoids it easily.
Pushikov tries to bum rush Millward with a series of wild strikes but Millward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pushikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Millward.

Millward takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Millward tries a body shot but Pushikov blocks it.
Pushikov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Millward drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pushikov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Millward misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pushikov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Millward lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pushikov throws a low kick but Millward moves out of range easily.
Millward shoots in looking for a takedown. Pushikov tries to sprawl out of it but Millward keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pushikov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pushikov stuffs the takedown.
Millward on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
No luck for Millward with that takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Pushikov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Pushikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pushikov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Pushikov!