PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Illicenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rulon Oboev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rulon Oboev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Illicenko
vs
Oboev

197 cm
23
272 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

150 cm
23
264 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

NATURAL BEAST

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piotr Illicenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rulon Oboev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oboev fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Illicenko sprawls well initially but Oboev persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Illicenko wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Illicenko strikes from the bottom but Oboev uses the opportunity to move to side control.

Oboev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Illicenko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Illicenko tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Oboev presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Illicenko tries to hold on but Oboev postures up.
Illicenko tries to reverse the position but Oboev maintains control.

Illicenko defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Oboev.
Oboev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Oboev looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oboev prevents Illicenko from getting the reversal.
Illicenko swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Oboev manages to capitalize on a mistake by Illicenko to take his back!

Oboev is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Illicenko controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Good control from Oboev.
Illicenko trying to control but not successfully.
Illicenko rolls, trying to escape but Oboev keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oboev is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Illicenko knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Illicenko for a finish.

Oboev has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Illicenko has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Illicenko breaks Oboev's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Illicenko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Oboev working for a triangle but Illicenko defends it easily.
Illicenko trying to control but Oboev is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Oboev can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oboev wants to sweep here but Illicenko controlling him for the moment.
Illicenko trying to control but Oboev is working from the bottom.
Illicenko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Illicenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Oboev looking for a guillotine here but Illicenko defends easily.
Illicenko throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Illicenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Illicenko with a nice head shot there.

Oboev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Illicenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Oboev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Oboev keeping moving, preventing Illicenko from controlling successfully.

Oboev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Illicenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Illicenko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Illicenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Oboev on the ground.
Illicenko wants to control from the top but Oboev keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rulon Oboev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oboev swats away the attempt to clinch by Illicenko.
Illicenko connects with a looping right hand.
Illicenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oboev was well out of range. Poor timing from Illicenko.
Piotr Illicenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Illicenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Illicenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Oboev feints and as Illicenko raises his hands in defense, Oboev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Oboev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Illicenko will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Oboev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Illicenko will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Oboev is breathing heavily.
Illicenko is trying to control the position but Oboev postures up.
Oboev trying to control the position from guard on top but Illicenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Illicenko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illicenko striking off his back but it's not causing Oboev any problems.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Illicenko does no damage.
Illicenko misses with a wild combination.
Piotr Illicenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Illicenko tries to clinch but Oboev moves out of range.
A head kick from Illicenko lands but Oboev takes it in his stride.
Illicenko scores with a crisp jab that stopped Oboev in his tracks.
Illicenko scores with a three punch combo!
Illicenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Illicenko forces Oboev back against the cage and clinches.
Illicenko just leaning against Oboev, taking a breather.
Illicenko can't find room to land a body shot as Oboev controls the action.
Illicenko stops a takedown attempt from Oboev.
Illicenko lands a shot to the body.
Good body shot from Illicenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illicenko stops a takedown attempt from Oboev.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Illicenko.
Illicenko lands an uppercut.
Oboev has Illicenko pressed against the cage, preventing Illicenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Oboev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Illicenko walks away with a smile on his face. Oboev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Piotr Illicenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rulon Oboev.

Oboev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oboev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Illicenko trying to hold on to Oboev's head to control him but Oboev postures up.
Illicenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Oboev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Oboev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Illicenko's head.

Oboev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Illicenko defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oboev is trying to control the action in half guard but Illicenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Oboev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Oboev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Oboev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Illicenko scores with a jab.
Illicenko misses with a wild combination.
Oboev dodges the punch combination from Illicenko.

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.

Illicenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Illicenko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Illicenko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Oboev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Illicenko throws an elbow that misses.
Illicenko tries to circle away but Oboev has him pinned against the cage.
Illicenko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Oboev.
Oboev wants a takedown.
Illicenko's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Illicenko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Illicenko scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Illicenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Illicenko dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Illicenko lands a jab to Oboev's midsection.
Illicenko is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Illicenko misses with a few strikes there.
Illicenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Illicenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Oboev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oboev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Illicenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Oboev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Oboev wants to take a breather but Illicenko is having none of it.
Illicenko throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oboev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Illicenko is defending against the submission attempts here by Oboev.

Oboev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Illicenko defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illicenko is looking for a sweep. Oboev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Illicenko tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Oboev is looking for a kimura here.
Rulon Oboev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Illicenko is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Oboev is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Illicenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Illicenko throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Oboev wants to pass the guard but Illicenko is defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Illicenko throws a right hand that Oboev ducks under and follows up with a left that Oboev also avoids with ease.
Illicenko swinging wilding here.
Illicenko wants to clinch.
Illicenko tries to clinch but Oboev moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oboev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Illicenko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Oboev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Oboev working away.
Illicenko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Oboev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Oboev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Illicenko is trying to work for a sweep but Oboev has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oboev is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Illicenko is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rulon Oboev!