PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slava Fedorov (ranked 3589 p4p, 4287 weight class) and Alexander Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 584 weight class). Gustafsson has chosen Viking's Hall as his entrance music. Alexander Gustafsson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Fedorov
vs
Gustafsson

182 cm
25
205
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
204
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Slava Fedorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Gustafsson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fedorov lands with a hook. Gustafsson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gustafsson tries to clinch up.
It looked like Fedorov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gustafsson.

Gustafsson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Fedorov quickly recovers to half guard.
Gustafsson wants to pass the guard but Fedorov is defending well.
Gustafsson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gustafsson misses with a head shot.
Fedorov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fedorov tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustafsson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Fedorov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fedorov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gustafsson.
Gustafsson misses with a head shot.
Gustafsson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gustafsson punching from mount but Fedorov doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Gustafsson wants to pass the guard but Fedorov is defending well.

Gustafsson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Fedorov misses with a body shot.
Gustafsson feints the counter takedown.
Fedorov takes a swing at Gustafsson's ribcage but misses.
Fedorov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Alexander Gustafsson has been cut.
Fedorov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gustafsson counters with a nice body shot.
Fedorov swings widly with a right hand
and Gustafsson counters with a left and a right that stings Fedorov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov misses with a straight right.
Gustafsson is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fedorov with a body shot.
Fedorov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Fedorov backs off Gustafsson throws a huge counter combo but Fedorov manages to avoid it all.
Fedorov throws a shot from downtown. Gustafsson moves away and avoids it.
Slava Fedorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Fedorov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fedorov looks to throw the jab but Gustafsson is out of range.
Fedorov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gustafsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Fedorov.
Despite the aggression on Gustafsson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Fedorov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gustafsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Fedorov.
Gustafsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A shot to the liver by Fedorov. Beautiful body shot.
Fedorov throws a right hand that Gustafsson ducks under and follows up with a left that Gustafsson also avoids with ease.

Gustafsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fedorov to the mat! Fedorov manages to get full guard.
Gustafsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Fedorov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fedorov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fedorov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gustafsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gustafsson gets a clinch.

Fedorov manages to break the clinch.
Fedorov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gustafsson.
An attempted straight right counter from Fedorov misses the target.
Fedorov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gustafsson moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Gustafsson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Gustafsson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fedorov misses with a straight right.
Fedorov throws the left hand but Gustafsson avoids the punch easily.
Fedorov throws a body punch but Gustafsson moves out of range.
Gustafsson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fedorov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fedorov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Gustafsson clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fedorov breaks the clinch.
Fedorov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fedorov wants it to stay on the feet.
Fedorov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gustafsson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Fedorov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fedorov throws a body punch but Gustafsson moves out of range.
Fedorov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fedorov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gustafsson.
Gustafsson darts in trying to clinch
enabling Fedorov to counter with a crisp jab.
Fedorov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fedorov. Gustafsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gustafsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fedorov throws a poor cross that misses
and Gustafsson counters with a series of strikes. Fedorov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gustafsson wants to clinch up but Fedorov keeps it at a distance.
Fedorov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gustafsson.
Slava Fedorov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gustafsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fedorov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fedorov throwing a counter right hand but Gustafsson manages to avoid it.
Fedorov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gustafsson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gustafsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Slava Fedorov is winning the standup battle so far.
Gustafsson slips under a jab from Fedorov.
Gustafsson wants to counter with a clinch but Fedorov pushes him away.
Fedorov looks to land a combination. Gustafsson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Fedorov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gustafsson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gustafsson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fedorov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gustafsson looking to pass the guard.
Gustafsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fedorov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gustafsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gustafsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Fedorov is retaining full guard.
Fedorov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gustafsson manages to get himself to full guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Slava Fedorov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Gustafsson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fedorov scores with a punch to the head.
Fedorov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That has opened up Alexander Gustafsson's cut even more.
Fedorov lands a jab to the head.
Fedorov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gustafsson at a distance.
Gustafsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fedorov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fedorov looks to score with a jab to the body but Gustafsson is just out of range.
Gustafsson tries a quick counter leg kick but Fedorov is wise to it.
Gustafsson darts in looking for a takedown but Fedorov gets double underhooks and turns Gustafsson into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustafsson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gustafsson working the strikes but Fedorov uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Fedorov is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gustafsson is trying to control. Fedorov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gustafsson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Alexander Gustafsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gustafsson is looking to pass Fedorov's guard but actually Fedorov recovers to full guard.
Gustafsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gustafsson wants to control from the top but Fedorov keeps moving.
Gustafsson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gustafsson throws an elbow but Fedorov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gustafsson lands some shots froms side control.
Gustafsson tries to advance to mount but can't.

Gustafsson decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov misses with an uppercut. Gustafsson saw that one coming.
Gustafsson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Danga de danga de dang - Gustafsson scores with a four punch combination!
A slow jab from Fedorov misses its intended target.
Gustafsson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gustafsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gustafsson unleashes a big counter combination but Fedorov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gustafsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fedorov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gustafsson instigates a clinch.
Gustafsson is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fedorov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circling - Fedorov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gustafsson looks to clinch
and Fedorov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gustafsson tries to clinch but Fedorov moves away
and Fedorov counters with a nice uppercut.
Gustafsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gustafsson lands with a nice combination. Fedorov backs away looking to recover.
Alexander Gustafsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fedorov lands with a shot to the body.
Fedorov misses with a hook. Gustafsson ducked under it nicely.
Gustafsson wants to counter the offense by Fedorov and move into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slava Fedorov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fedorov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slava Fedorov!
After winning the bout, Slava Fedorov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Alexander Gustafsson had this to say: 'I would like to start off by apologizing to my fans, my family, and my team. I failed you, And for that I am Sorry,'.