PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Melly Hartwick (ranked 24985 p4p, 4283 weight class) and Andrey Bolgov (ranked 0 p4p, 320 weight class). Bolgov has chosen RU DRILL 5 as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Andrey Bolgov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hartwick
vs
Bolgov

175 cm
22
155
0 - 1 - 0

171 cm
18
147
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Melly Hartwick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Bolgov!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Bolgov.

Hartwick moves into the clinch.
Hartwick drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bolgov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Bolgov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hartwick takes the fight into the clinch.

Hartwick pulls guard.
Bolgov tries to stand but Hartwick is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hartwick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bolgov is one step ahead there.
Bolgov being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartwick working a defensive guard here.
Bolgov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bolgov gets to his feet. Hartwick looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hartwick fails to land the takedown.

Hartwick forces Bolgov back against the cage and clinches.
Bolgov misses with a knee to the head.
Bolgov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bolgov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hartwick throws a half hearted mid kick.

Bolgov gets a clinch.

Bolgov breaks from the clinch.

Bolgov moves into the clinch.

Bolgov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bolgov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hartwick avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hartwick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bolgov avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melly Hartwick. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bolgov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bolgov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bolgov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hartwick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bolgov sprawls well initially but Hartwick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bolgov pushes Hartwick off looking to stand but Hartwick dives back in and keeps control.
Hartwick is looking to advance position but Bolgov won't allow it.
Hartwick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bolgov keeps working.
Hartwick looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bolgov is trying to stand up here but Hartwick is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hartwick looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hartwick wants to take a breather but Bolgov is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hartwick closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hartwick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bolgov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hartwick tries a body shot but Bolgov blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrey Bolgov will probably get the nod.
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.

Hartwick misses with a head kick.
Bolgov lands with a slapping head kick.
Hartwick tries to clinch up.
Hartwick darts in looking for a takedown but Bolgov gets double underhooks and turns Hartwick into the cage.
Hartwick goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bolgov prevents it.
Bolgov misses with a knee to the head.
Bolgov leaning against his opponent.
Bolgov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bolgov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hartwick has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bolgov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melly Hartwick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bolgov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Hartwick with that takedown attempt.
Bolgov tries to clinch but Hartwick is having none of it.
Bolgov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartwick shoots in but Bolgov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bolgov throws a head kick that half lands.
Hartwick throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bolgov.
Hartwick tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bolgov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hartwick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bolgov as he jumps to the side.
Bolgov tries to clinch but Hartwick is having none of it.
Bolgov scores with a head kick.

Hartwick gets tackled into the cage by Bolgov. Bolgov maintains the clinch.
Hartwick stalling in the clinch but Bolgov improves position.
Hartwick wants a takedown but no success here.
Hartwick tries a body shot but Bolgov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolgov tries a knee to the head but Hartwick blocks it.

Bolgov breaks the clinch.

Bolgov instigates a clinch.
Bolgov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hartwick taking a breather.
Hartwick working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hartwick has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bolgov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hartwick tries to score a body lock takedown but Bolgov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bolgov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hartwick gets tackled into the cage by Bolgov. Bolgov maintains the clinch.
Bolgov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Andrey Bolgov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bolgov tries to land a knee to the head but Hartwick blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartwick is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stalling in the clinch from Bolgov.
Bolgov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bolgov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hartwick is trying to pull guard but Bolgov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bolgov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bolgov misses with a knee strike.

Bolgov manages to break the clinch.
Andrey Bolgov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Bolgov has managed to clinch.
Hartwick has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bolgov after a bit of a struggle.
Bolgov scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hartwick jumps into guard, dragging Bolgov to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolgov won't allow Hartwick to get back to his feet.
Hartwick looking for a sweep. Not yet Hartwick, not yet.

Hartwick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hartwick not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hartwick is looking for a triangle but Bolgov pushes his legs off easily.

Hartwick working for a triangle but Bolgov defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Bolgov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hartwick feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Bolgov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hartwick is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Bolgov scores with a knee to the head.
Hartwick has Bolgov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bolgov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Bolgov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andrey Bolgov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bolgov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartwick swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Bolgov tries to keep at a distance but Hartwick has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bolgov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hartwick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bolgov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartwick being controlled against the cage.
Bolgov tries a knee to the head but Hartwick blocks it.
Bolgov trying to control the position but instead, Hartwick has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bolgov into the cage.
Bolgov landing knees to the head.

Hartwick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bolgov tries to clinch up.

Bolgov moves into range and clinches up with Hartwick.
Bolgov looking to stall.
Hartwick tries to score a body lock takedown but Bolgov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melly Hartwick. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolgov lands a knee to the head.
Bolgov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hartwick has had enough of the clinch but Bolgov keeps him there for the moment.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bolgov.
Hartwick can't break the clinch.
Bolgov misses with a knee strike.

Hartwick has clasped his hands together around Bolgov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Bolgov throws Hartwick to one side and escapes!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melly Hartwick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bolgov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bolgov blocks a head kick by Hartwick.
Hartwick tries to clinch up but Bolgov circles away and keeps his distance.
Bolgov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartwick swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolgov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bolgov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hartwick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bolgov to keep the fight standing.
Bolgov stalling the fight.
Hartwick wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bolgov stalling the fight.
Hartwick jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bolgov walks away with a smile on his face. Hartwick gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bolgov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bolgov clinches.

Bolgov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bolgov pushes Hartwick up against the cage in a clinch.
Hartwick tries to circle away but Bolgov has him pinned against the cage.
Hartwick tries to pull guard but Bolgov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Bolgov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartwick looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bolgov closes the distance and clinches.
Hartwick slows down the pace here.

Bolgov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Bolgov tenderised Hartwick's leg. Hartwick is trying to keep his angry face on.

Bolgov clinches with his opponent.

Bolgov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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!
Bolgov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartwick swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Melly Hartwick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrey Bolgov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bolgov tries to clinch there but Hartwick circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Bolgov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bolgov 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Bolgov!